One of the reasons why Hong Kong gangster films tend to look refreshingly different from their Hollywood or Western counterparts might be found in the peculiarities of organised crime in that part of the world. One of the films that uses those peculiarities to provide something exotic and even thought-provoking to an international audience is Election, a 2005 crime drama directed by Johnnie To.
The film is set in the milieu of Hong Kong triads, criminal organisations that centuries ago started as politically driven secret societies in China. One of these is the Wo Sing Society, which holds a hundred-year-old tradition that their chairman can only hold the position for two years, meaning that one comes to power through democratic elections. The main favourite in the next contest is young Big D (played by Tony Leung Ka Fai), but his temperament frightens the old and experienced "uncles” who ultimately decide on someone more level-headed and serious, and that person is Lok (played by Simon Yam). Big D is not willing to graciously accept defeat, so he seeks revenge on the "uncles" who betrayed him. Meanwhile, Lok must work hard to establish authority over the triad, while Police Commissioner Hui (played by David Chiang) attempts to, at least temporarily, prevent bloodshed by arresting triad leaders.
Election was supposed to be, at first glance, an intriguing combination of a gangster film and a political drama, full of exciting twists that keep the viewer guessing until the last moment about who will ultimately become Barack Obama and Donald Trump, and who will end up like Hillary Clinton and Nikki Haley. However, although To is a very good director who knows how to create several fascinating scenes, including an unconventional ending, the viewer will still need some time to grasp all the threads of the complicated plot. The reason for this is not so much the exotic setting and customs around which the film revolves, but rather the effort to force epic material worthy of The Godfather into an hour and a half.
Nevertheless, even this imperfect Hong Kong gangster film represents a refreshing change, especially compared to Hollywood examples of the same genre. Despite some censorship issues in Hong Kong and mainland China, Election was commercially successful and generally praised by critics, allowing To to make a sequel, Election 2, two years later.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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