Plots(1)
Hong Kong, summer 1997: while preparations are underway for the handover of the British Crown Colony to China, the underworld finds that it too must adapt to profound changes. With the opening of the border to China, new codes and mores make their way into the world of the triads – and those who don't adjust their business models have already lost.
A genre film from Hong Kong that chooses to set its story during those years of turmoil is tantamount to a double swan song. For these political changes also effectively spelled the end of an independent Hong Kong cinema that was admired across Asia. One of the few directors who has continued to defend and develop the genre is Johnnie To. By producing Triviṣa, To is flying the flag for three up-and-coming directors who tell the stories of three legendary gangsters of the period. This is not an anthology film, but rather an overlapping story of men who become victims of their own legends. As chance brings them all together one day in the same restaurant on the Chinese side of the border, rumours swirl that the three are planning a joint coup. In elegant fashion, hype and hubris lead to their downfall.
(Berlinale)
Cast
Jordan Chan
Hong Kong
Best movies:
Lost and Found (1996)
Initial D (2005)
Throw Down (2004)
Richie Ren
Taiwan
Best movies:
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (2024)
Exiled (2006)
Fly Me to Polaris (1999)
Gordon Lam
Hong Kong
Best movies:
Ip Man (2008)
Infernal Affairs (2002)
A Simple Life (2011)
Tommy Wong
Hong Kong
Best movies:
The Killer (1989)
City on Fire (1987)
School on Fire (1988)
Suet Lam
China
Best movies:
Love on Delivery (1994)
Triad Election (2006)
Ip Man Zero (2010)
Philip Keung
Hong Kong
Best movies:
Unbeatable (2013)
Angel Terminators (1992)
The Beast Stalker (2008)
Xinxin Xiong
China
Best movies:
Once Upon a Time in China II (1992)
Skinny Tiger and Fatty Dragon (1990)
Dragon Inn (1992)
Yueh Hua
China
Best movies:
Clans of Intrigue (1977)
Death Duel (1977)
Death Chamber (1976)
Kar-Yung Lau
China
Best movies:
Drunken Master II (1994)
Dirty Tiger, Crazy Frog (1978)
Dragon's Claws (1979)
Jimmy Wa-Wo Wong
Best movies:
Fist of Legend (1994)
Forbidden City Cop (1996)
Running Out of Time (1999)
Xingkui Ma
Best movies:
Trivisa (2016)
Sam Leung
Hong Kong
Best movies:
Ten Years (2015)
Trivisa (2016)
Shock Wave 2 (2020)
Vincent Wan
Macau
Best movies:
Burger Cop (1995)
All for the Winner (1990)
Isabella (2006)
Frankie Chi-hung Ng
Hong Kong
Best movies:
School on Fire (1988)
You Shoot, I Shoot (2001)
Touch and Go (1991)
Loi-Kwan Kam
Best movies:
My Wife Is a Gangster 3 (2006)
Beast Cops (1998)
Time and Tide (2000)
Stephen Au
Hong Kong
Best movies:
Forbidden City Cop (1996)
Unbeatable (2013)
Overheard (2009)
Pok-fu Chow
Best movies:
Lost in Time (2003)
Infernal Affairs (2002)
Running Out of Time (1999)
Bill Man-Biu Lee
Hong Kong
Best movies:
Love on Delivery (1994)
Fist of Legend (1994)
Police Story (1985)
David Tat-chi Yu
Best movies:
Ten Years (2015)
Revenge: A Love Story (2010)
Trivisa (2016)
Chi-sing Law
Best movies:
Trivisa (2016)
Vampire Cleanup Department (2017)