Man jeuk (2008)

Director:

Johnnie To

Writers:

Kin Chung Chan (written by) and
Chi Keung Fung (written by)

Release Date:

4 June 2008 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Free as a Bird...

Plot:

A gang of pickpockets roam the streets of Hong Kong. |

Plot Keywords:

Pickpocket | Bicycle | Dinner | Bird Cage | Wallet

Awards:

1 win & 11 nominations

Cast

Simon Yam	...	Kei
Kelly Lin	...	Chung Chun Lei
Ka Tung Lam	...	Bo (as Lam Ka Tung)
Hoi-Pang Lo	...	Mr. Fu Kim Tong (as Lo Hoi Pang)
Wing-cheong Law	...	Sak (as Law Wing Cheong)
Kenneth Cheung	...	Mac
Suet Lam	...	Lung (as Lam Suet)
Chun-shun Lo	...	Mr. Fu's Henchman (as Lo Chun Shun)
Jonathan Lee	...	Boy in Cap
Jackson Ha
Ka-kit Cheung		(as Jeff Cheung)
Wai Leung Hung	...	Policeman (as Hung Wai Leung)
Yee-Yee Yeung		(as Yeung Yee Yee)
Keung Law	...	Old Pickpocket (as Lo Hau Keung)
Chi Ping Cheung	...	Old Pickpocket (as Cheung Chi Ping)
Pui Chung Tong	...	Old Pickpocket (as Tong Pui Chung)
Tiffany Wu		(as Wu Wai Ling Tiffany)
Charis Chung		(as Chung Hoi Ying Charis)
Tang Tai Wo		(as Tang Tai Wo)
Manjit Singh	...	Mover in Elevator (as Singh Manjit)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Courtney Wu	...	Henchman

Directed by
Johnnie To

Writing credits
Kin Chung Chan		(written by) (as Chan Kin Chung) and
Chi Keung Fung		(written by) (as Fung Chih Chiang)

Produced by
Alvin Lam	....	administrative producer
Daniel Lam	....	executive producer (as Daneil Lam)
Johnnie To	....	producer
Chiu Suet Ying	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Fred Avril
Xavier Jamaux

Cinematography by
Siu-keung Cheng		(director of photography) (as Cheng Siu Keung)

Film Editing by
David M. Richardson		(as David Richardson)

Art Direction by
Tony Yu

Costume Design by
Stanley Cheung

Makeup Department
Miko Chu	....	makeup artist (as Midco Chu)
Joe Kwong	....	hair stylist
Yun-Ling Man	....	makeup artist (as Man Yuen Ling)

Production Management
Elaine Chu	....	project manager
Yuin Shan Ding	....	production supervisor (as Ding Yuin Shan)
Chung-mo Tang	....	production manager
Eric Tang	....	associate production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Chan	....	second assistant director
Wai Hung Chan	....	first assistant director (as Chan Wai Hung)
Ka-kit Cheung	....	first assistant director (as Jeff Cheung)

Art Department
Kin Wah Ko	....	property master (as Ko Kin Wah)
Wai Ming Lam	....	property master (as Lam Wai Ming)
Brian Lau	....	assistant art director
Kwok On Lau	....	property master (as Lau Kwok On)

Sound Department
Hiu Tao An	....	dubbing: Mandarin (as An Hiu Tao)
Heidi Chan	....	dialogue recordist
Heidi Chan	....	foley artist
Martin Richard Chappell	....	foley artist (as Martin Chappell)
Martin Richard Chappell	....	supervising sound editor (as Martin Chappell)
Tim Morin	....	foley artist
Ho Wong	....	dubbing: Mandarin (as Wong Ho)

Special Effects by
Derek Ansell	....	project engineer
Calmen Lui	....	project supervisor
Wendy Nam	....	project supervisor

Visual Effects by
Kwok-Shing Chau	....	digital compositor (as Chau Kwok Shing)
Ying-Ho Cheng	....	project technician (as Cheng Ying Ho)
Kai-Wai Ho	....	digital compositor (as Ho Kai Wai)
Leo Lam	....	project technician
Chi Kit Lau	....	digital compositor (as Lau Chi Kit)
Chris Lee	....	digital colorist (as Li Kin Sing)
Kam Fat Liu	....	digital compositor (as Liu Kam Fat)
Raymond Man	....	digital colorist (as Man Siu Lun)
Edwin Van Huizen	....	digital colorist
Kuen Man Yip	....	project technician (as Yip Kuen Wan)

Stunts
Bun Yuen	....	action choreography (as Yuen Bun)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tsz Pun Ko	....	making-of camera (as Ko Taz Pun)
Ting Fung Kwong	....	best boy (as Kwong Ting Fong)
Hirotake Okazaki	....	still photographer
Chak-Shun Tang	....	still photographer
Kwok Chiu Wu	....	gaffer (as Wu Kwok Chiu)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kit Ling Chan	....	dresser (as Chan Kit Ling)
Wanee Chu	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Cathy Lau	....	post-production assistant
Allen Leung	....	assistant editor
Calmen Lui	....	post-production executive
Hung Poon	....	color timer (as Pun Hung)

Music Department
Fred Avril	....	movie composer
Elsa Fourlon	....	musician: cello
Gan Guo	....	musician: erhu (as Guo Gan)
Xavier Jamaux	....	movie composer
Thomas Jamois	....	soundtrack coordinator
Paolo Vignaroli	....	musician: flute

Other crew
Siu Kuen Chiu	....	tea lady (as Chiu Siu Kuen)
Jack Lai	....	continuity
Ching Ting Law	....	set runner (as Lu Ching Ting)
Grace Lu	....	subtitler
Andy Ma	....	continuity
Tiffany Ng	....	subtitler
Angel Tang	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Universe Entertainment
• Milky Way Image Company (co-production)
• Newlink Development (co-production)
• FOJ (co-production)

Distributors

• Universe Films Distribution Company (2008) (worldwide) (all media)
• Universe Entertainment (2008) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• MFA Filmdistribution (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Videorama (2008) (Greece) (all media)

Special Effects

• Shaw Brothers (digital effects) (compositing)

Other Companies

• Milkyway Creative Team  written by
• China Star Production Services Limited  post-production facilities
• Milky Way Image Company  sound post-production
• Showreel Film Facilities  sound post-production
• Fork-Media  foley design
• Shaw Brothers  digital intermediate post-production
• China Star Production Services Limited  digital intermediate post-production
• Shaw Brothers  digital film output
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  subtitles
• Milky Way Image Company  camera and lighting equipment provided by
• Cinerent  camera and lighting equipment provided by
• Tai Fung (Tsu's) Co. Ltd.  film supplied by
• Citic Insurance Brokers  insurance
• Shaw Brothers  prints

Also Known As:

"Cultured Bird" - Hong Kong (English title) (literal title)
"Sparrow" - International (English title) (imdb display title)
"Wen que" - China (Mandarin title) (alternative title)
"Johnnie To's Sparrow" - Germany (DVD title)
"Sparrow" - France (imdb display title)

Runtime:

Germany:87 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, China

Company:

Universe Entertainment

Trivia:

It took 3 years to shoot the film.

A Nutshell Review: Sparrow

Taking almost 3 years to make, and finally making its way to our shores, Sparrow is worth every moment of waiting, and again cements Johnnie To's reputation as a living maestro who conjures up magical cinematic moments from the tired Hong Kong crime genre. This time though it's totally sans violence and elaborate gunplay, and what came across was a short film idea that's brimming with class, injected with well placed humour, postcard picturesque framing and the unflappable Simon Yam who can do no wrong as the lead.

Clearly this movie plays up on the sparrow motif, of a bird trapped in a cage, and one from the avian family associated with, as this story goes, ill fortune that will soon befall. The figural bird here refers to Kelly Lin's Chung Chun Lei, a mysterious, statuesque beauty who baits our gang into unlocking the cage that's trapping her in a life of misery. The first act plays out like a little mystery, weaving in a deeper introduction of our gang of pickpockets, played by Lam Ka Tung, Kenneth Cheung, Law Wing-cheong and led by their leader Kei (Simon Yam). Thinking they got lucky individually when they each encounter Chun Lei, they soon realize the hard way about who they're dealing with, and realize that they stand a better chance as a group, with unity in strength rather than playing individual lone wolf.

Here's where you'll find the quintessential To movie dripping with camaraderie and brotherhood, written by Chan Kin Chung and Fung Chi Keung. The story unfolds in a rather unconventional manner that leaves you guessing, before it even keels into a mid-section, all the while avoiding big sets and big action sequences. They allow for Yam to play up on his well known photography hobby by working it into the story, and Yam delivers what audiences and fans would have expected, that of a charismatic leader.

Unlike To's previous movies like Exiled and the Election series which were rather heavy in nature and tone, Sparrow, like the bird, is very much light and breezy. It doesn't try to cram too many subplots into its close to 90 minute running time, and provides you a main thread to focus your thoughts on. As mentioned, it is like a short film idea extrapolated effectively into a feature film length, allowing moments of To's signature style of stand-offs to enter the fray, building much needed anticipation, with good natured humour. Some however, might want to draw parallels with Feng Xiaogang's World Without Thieves given its subject matter and its core one-upmanship challenge.

There are two gems in Sparrow that makes its ticket price more than worthwhile. First, the wonderful original music and score by Fred Avril and Xavier Jamaux, whose theme for Sparrow will definitely linger in your mind for quite a while after the end credits roll. With a jazzy feel and a combination of western and eastern musical instruments, the score has a life of its own, and elevates Sparrow to a higher plateau with something memorable to take away, emphasizing the lightness the general tone of the movie takes.

The other gem, will be its fantastically designed major action piece that occurs in the last act. Probably the only "action" you'll see in the movie, it decompresses normal time into slow- motion, in order to exaggerate the lightning quick reflexes all the operatives in the movie possess. The rain, the umbrellas, action designed around them and all done at a single traffic light crossing, remains a cinematic marvel which deserves a second, third helping, and more. Just thinking how it's done technically will already send you into a frenzy, and this likely served undoubtedly as a showpiece for Sparrow.

Sparrow is an elegant movie, which reminds us that while To might have his off-days with movies like Linger, he's back at the top of his game again delivering a movie with deftness in skill, and adding to his already glowing repertoire of movies defining the new wave of crime genre stories that speak volumes of his signature style.