Limbo (2021 film)
{{For|the British comedy-drama film|Limbo (2020 film)}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Use Hong Kong English|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Limbo
| image = Limbo (2018 film).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Official film poster
| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese|child=yes
| t = 智齒
| s = 智齿
| p = Zhì Chǐ
| j = Zi3 Ci2}}
| director = Soi Cheang
| producer = Wilson Yip
Paco Wong
| writer = Au Kin-yee
Shum Kwan-sin
| screenplay =
| story =
| based_on = {{Based on|Wisdom Tooth|Lei Mi}}
| starring = Gordon Lam
Cya Liu
Mason Lee
Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
| narrator =
| music = Kenji Kawai
| cinematography = Cheng Siu-Keung
| editing = David Richardson
| studio = Sun Entertainment Culture
Bona Film Group
Er Dong Pictures
Aether Film Production
| distributor = Just Distribution Limited
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2021|03|1|Berlinale|2021|11|18|Hong Kong}}
| runtime = 118 minutes
| country = China, Hong Kong
| language = Cantonese
Japanese
English
}}
Limbo is a 2021 Hong Kong action thriller film directed by Soi Cheang and starring Gordon Lam, Cya Liu, Mason Lee and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi. The film is based on the novel Wisdom Tooth by Chinese novelist Lei Mi.{{cite web | url=https://mubi.com/en/notebook/posts/keep-pressing-on-soi-cheang-discusses-limbo | title=Keep Pressing on: Soi Cheang Discusses "Limbo" | date=6 August 2021 }}
The film had its worldwide premiere at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival on 1 March 2021,{{cite web|title=Berlinale Unveils Competition Line-Up: New Pics From Daniel Bruhl, Celine Sciamma, Radu Jude, Xavier Beauvois & Hong Sang-soo|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/berlinale-unveils-competition-line-up-follow-live-1234692026/ |first=Tom|last=Grater|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 11, 2021}} and was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 18 November 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://ol.mingpao.com/ldy/showbiz/latest/20200827/1598531219247/%e3%80%902021%e5%b9%b4%e4%b8%8a%e6%98%a0%e3%80%91%e9%84%ad%e4%bf%9d%e7%91%9e%e6%96%b0%e4%bd%9c%e3%80%8a%e6%99%ba%e9%bd%92%e3%80%8b-%e5%9b%9e%e6%ad%b8%e6%b8%af%e7%94%a2%e6%9a%b4%e5%8a%9b%e7%be%8e%e5%ad%b8|title=【2021年上映】鄭保瑞新作《智齒》 回歸港產暴力美學 (20:26) - 20200827 - SHOWBIZ|website=明報OL網}} The film enjoyed box office success in France.{{cite web | url=https://cinedweller.com/movie/x-la-critique-du-film-de-ti-west/ | title=X : La critique du film de Ti West }}
Plot
Rookie police officer Will Yam (Mason Lee) is a recent graduate of the police academy. Due to a wave of serial killings, Will is partnered with veteran officer Cham Lau (Gordon Lam), who was recently reinstated on the force. However, the duo is unable to solve the cases and instead causes a series of incidents. Later, Cham re-encounters a drug-addicted street urchin, Wong To (Cya Liu), who ran over his wife and daughter in the past, and his anger makes him spiral out of control and continuously abuse her. Will clumsily loses his pistol, which is found by the serial killer. With the killer lurking in the city, a crisis grows closer.
Cast
- Gordon Lam as Cham Lau (劉中選), respectfully referred to as Brother Cham (斬哥), a veteran police officer of the Regional Crime Unit.
- Cya Liu as Wong To (王桃), a drug-addicted street urchin who ran over Cham's wife in a DUI, leaving her in a vegetative state and becomes Cham's informant in order to repent her past mistake.
- Mason Lee as Will Yam (任凱), a rookie police officer of the Regional Crime Unit and Cham's new partner.
- Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as Yamada Akira (山田收), a waste picker with Oedipus complex and acrotomophilia.
- Fish Liew as Coco (可樂), a disabled drug dealer.
- Hugo Ng as Chief (大Sir), Cham and Will's superior officer.
- Sammy Sum as Boss Spark (逼啪)
- Hanna Chan as Will's wife
- Kumer as Grizzly (灰熊)
Production
Principal photography for Limbo began in September 2017 in Hong Kong and wrapped up after three months filming, with To Kwa Wan and Kwun Tong being the main filming locations as many old buildings are located in these districts of the city.{{Cite web|url=https://kknews.cc/entertainment/lxvg8yg.html|title=雷米小說《智齒》改編電影在港熱拍}}
On 2 October 2017, filming of a fight scene between actors Gordon Lam and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi took place on a rooftop in Kwun Tong. Both Lam and Ikeuchi lost 8 pounds and 30 pounds of weight respectively for their roles in the film.{{Cite web|url=http://hd.stheadline.com/news/daily/ent/608483/|title=挑戰古天樂做打仔 林家棟 雨中肉搏 爆肌日星}} On 8 October 2017, which was also Lam's birthday, filming took place in Kowloon Bay for a scene where Lam was going through a garbage chute looking for evidence.{{Cite web|url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/gordon-lam-cheang-pou-soi-040700320.html|title=Gordon Lam: Cheang Pou Soi loves his trash!|website=sg.style.yahoo.com|date=11 October 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=https://hd.stheadline.com/life/ent/realtime/1014488/即時-娛樂|title=Headlife | 頭條日報|website=頭條日報 Headline Daily}}
Release
Limbo had its world premiere at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival, which was held virtually from 1 to 5 March 2021. The film was later shown in competition at the 23rd Far East Film Festival from 25 to 26 June 2021{{Cite web|url=https://www.fareastfilm.com/film/limbo/|title=Limbo|website=www.fareastfilm.com}} where it won the Purple Mulberry Award {{Cite web|url=https://www.fareastfilm.com/eng/news/midnight-swan-giappone-vince-il-far-east-film-festival-23/?IDLYT=13308|title=Japan's Midnight Swan wins the Far East Film Festival 23!|website=www.fareastfilm.com}} The film was released in Hong Kong on 18 November 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://ol.mingpao.com/ldy/showbiz/latest/20200827/1598531219247/%e3%80%902021%e5%b9%b4%e4%b8%8a%e6%98%a0%e3%80%91%e9%84%ad%e4%bf%9d%e7%91%9e%e6%96%b0%e4%bd%9c%e3%80%8a%e6%99%ba%e9%bd%92%e3%80%8b-%e5%9b%9e%e6%ad%b8%e6%b8%af%e7%94%a2%e6%9a%b4%e5%8a%9b%e7%be%8e%e5%ad%b8|title=【2021年上映】鄭保瑞新作《智齒》 回歸港產暴力美學 (20:26) - 20200827 - SHOWBIZ|website=明報OL網}}
Reception
{{Multiple image|perrow=2|total_width=340
| image1 = Gordon Lam 2017-08-15 HKIFF SUMMER 2017.jpg
| image2 = Cya Liu at Hong Kong Film Festival 2022.png
| footer = Gordon Lam and Cya Liu's performance received critical acclaim. Liu's performance earned her Best Actress award at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards.
}}
=Box office=
In Hong Kong, the film grossed HK$740,238 during its first four days of release, opening at No. 5 during its debut weekend. In its second weekend, the film grossed HK$563,365, coming in at No. 10, and have grossed a total of HK$1,276,603 so far.{{Cite web|url=https://event.hktdc.com/fair/hkfilmart-en/s/11082-General_Information/Hong-Kong-International-Film---TV-Market--FILMART-/Weekly-Box-Office.html|title=HKTDC|website=event.hktdc.com}}
The film enjoyed box office success in France with 51,254 tickets sold nationwide,https://www.cbo-boxoffice.com/v4/page000.php3?inc=fichemov.php3&fid=33333 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}} the film outgrossed X (2022) and became distributor Kinovista's highest-grossing release.{{cite web | url=https://cinedweller.com/movie/x-la-critique-du-film-de-ti-west/ | title=X : La critique du film de Ti West }}{{cite web | url=https://www.cbo-boxoffice.com/v4/page000.php3?Xnumitem=110&inc=ficheact.php3&aid=148894 | title=KINOVISTA (Distributeur) - Fiche Acteur }}
=Critical reception=
Lee Marshall of Screen Daily praises director Cheang Pou-soi's "dystopian vision of an Asian metropolis in the throes of a political and social identity crisis" as the film's "most striking feature."{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/limbo-berlin-review/5157682.article|title='Limbo': Berlin Review|first=Lee|last=Marshall2021-03-03T16:30:00+00:00|website=Screen}} Jessica Kiang of Variety praises the film's well-choreographed action sequences which complement Cheng Siu-Keung's dazzling camera work.{{cite web|url=https://www.variety.com/2021/film/reviews/limbo-review-1234920597/|title='Limbo' Review: A Stylish but Sordid Hong Kong Cop Thriller That Doesn't Know When to Quit|date=11 March 2021}}
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|14032696|Limbo}}
{{Cheang Pou-soi}}
{{Wilson Yip}}
Category:2021 action thriller films
Category:Hong Kong action thriller films
Category:Hong Kong black-and-white films
Category:Hong Kong serial killer films
Category:Police detective films
Category:2020s Cantonese-language films
Category:Films directed by Cheang Pou-soi
Category:Films based on Chinese novels
Category:Films based on thriller novels
Category:Films set in Hong Kong