ELECTION 2
Hong Kong, 2006, 91 minutes, Colour.
Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Mick Cheung.
Directed by Johnny To.
No, not public or government elections. Rather, the election of the head of a traditional Chinese gangster mob. Johnnie To has shown in recent years that he can direct smart, political action films like Breaking News and the original Election.
There is nothing new in Triad rivalries and warfare and they are presented here in all their ruthlessness and violence – some particularly nasty hammer murders and some dismembering mentioned just in case audiences may feel squeamish. What is new is the increasing investigation into the relationship between the Triads and the Chinese mainland government or, at least, some of their security representatives.
Our hero is such a clean-cut, good-looking seeming family man that it is difficult to think of him as a villain. However, he has made his fortune, to the admiration of fellow Triad members, with pirate DVDs, especially pornography, on the mainland. Now he wants to go legitimate. Will his conscience allow him to be elected as the Chairman? Will the other members? Will the Chinese government? These are the dilemmas as we watch the internecine warfare and its cynical outcomes.
1. The popularity of the first Election film? A portrait of the triads? Hong Kong in the 21st century? Politicking, gangsterism?
2. The sequel, the spirit of the original? Continuing the exploration of the triads? The introduction of themes of the Chinese government? Chinese business practices?
3. The Hong Kong settings, the city itself and its streets, buildings? The surrounding countryside? Mainland China? The musical score?
4. The credits: Lok and his close-up, speech? The explanation of the triads and their traditions? The long history, the domination of people, business? The election of the chairman? The rules? Lok wanting another term?
5. The transition to the country site, the plan for the new business centre, the highway? Those present, Jimmy Lee and his business interests, the Hong Kong interests? The representatives of the Chinese government?
6. The election situation? The inner council doing the electing? Canvassing votes? Lok and his alliances? Other possibilities – the gangsters thinking they could be chairman but their merely being used? The suggestion that Jimmy stand for chairman?
7. Jimmy Lee, the hero of the film? Dubious hero? His age, experience, background? Presentable and with charm? Pirate videos and DVDs? In mainland China? Pornography? Admiration for his business sense? His wanting to go legitimate? The pressures on him to stand for election? His visits to his uncle? The visit of the Chinese security officer? Meals, discussions, networking, politicking? His realisation that to be legitimate he had to be elected? His involvement with his henchmen, the brutality exercised? The bashings, pursuits? His being involved in brutal practices? The ugliness of the thug killed, the axing of his limbs, their being minced – and fed to the dogs? Jimmy and his wife, hopes for his children, the house on the hill, his children being lawyers and doctors? The election, his acceptance? The thug running in the streets and his decision to pick him up? Hostility? The meals, the delivery of money, warnings about police being present in restaurants? The different targets? The final opening of the business site for building? His going up the hill with the security man? His realisation of the government manipulation? His having to be a mediator? His plans for the future?
8. Lok, his ambitions, his ruthlessness? The meetings, discussions with Jimmy? His henchment and their loyalty? Their brutality?
9. The various henchmen, personalities? Their obedience? Willingness to bash and to kill? Their being put in cells? The dogs? The pursuits in the street? Jimmy and the car, the manoeuvre to get the coffin with the official in it? The thugs jumping in the back of the van, their brutality?
10. The importance of Hong Kong, relationship with the mainland? The governments? The Chinese way of doing business? The Chinese way of saving face, of manipulating behind the scenes? A picture of a way of government? Possibilities for corruption, violence?
