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Once Upon a Time in Triad Society
|     review    |     awards     | "Whoops!"
Loletta Lee and Francis Ng
Year: 1996
Director: Cha Yuen-Yee
Cast: Francis Ng Chun-Yu, Loletta Lee Lai-Chun, Edmond So Chi-Wai, Pauline Chan Bo-Lin, Spencer Lam Seung-Yi, Michael Chan Wai-Man, Allen Ting Chi-Chun, Farini Chang, Jamie Luk Kin-Ming, Bat Leung-Gum
The Skinny: Francis Ng returns to Ugly Kwan in this entertaining and off-beat triad story.
Review
by Kozo:
     Cheap-looking film features the return of Ugly Kwan...sort of. Francis Ng plays Kwan, a character who’s exactly like the bad guy in Young and Dangerous. Except it’s not him. Think of this as Kwan in an alternate universe. Anyway, Kwan gets wounded in the film’s opening sequence, and from then we begin to relive his life from his beginnings as a dopey wanna-be triad to his future as a classically scummy triad boss. Along the way, we see how his character was shaped by betrayal, loss, and other soul-taxing events (most of them involving Loletta Lee, who seems older than usual).
      Word of warning: this film is entirely told from Kwan’s perspective, so get ready for a few surprises, and even a few fibs, too. Well written, fun and entertaining at times (but not as good as the sequel). This film is something we thought we’d never see: a star vehicle for Francis Ng’s specific acting talents (especially that overdone, squeaky Kwan voice). Creative, entertaining, and definitely worth watching. (Kozo 1996)
Awards: 16th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards
• Nomination - Best Screenplay (Chung Gai-Cheung)
3rd Annual Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
• Winner - Best Actor (Francis Ng Chun-Yu)
 
image courtesy of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society
   
 
 
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