Along with South Korean cinema, Hong Kong cinema is among the most exciting in the world. And this new film, revealed at the Cannes Film Festival, seems to prove it in the most beautiful way, according to the first unanimous reviews.
City of Darkness, the film that beats up the Cannes public
While Hollywood cinema seems more and more to tire a part of the Western public, many spectators have found it difficult. in Asian cinema a new El Dorado. At Hitek, we have regularly discussed our passion for South Korean cinema (as evidenced by this selection of 15 masterpieces) or for Japanese cinema (this other selection of 15 films is quite interesting). eloquent). But we do not sufficiently mention the very rich Hong Kong cinema, which also excels in poetic love dramas – with the gigantic Wong Kar-wai as its tutelary figure. (In the Mood for Love, As Tears Go By) – than in thrillers and nervous action films (the trilogyInfernal Affairs by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak,The Killer em> by John Woo, Time and Tide by Tsui Hark).
Fortunately, certain events push us to do more. correct our mistake, and the release at the Cannes Film Festival of Soi Cheang's new film is one of them. The director, who carved out a solid reputation with its grimy thrillerLimbo, returns this year withCity of Darkness, a hair-raising action film according to first reviews< /strong>, telling us the adventures of Chan Lok-kwan, an illegal who takes refuge in the Kowloon Citadel – a Chinese enclave transformed into a lawless zone – to escape the men of a Triad boss .
Distributed in France by Metropolitan FilmExport – à; like the pharaonic western by Kevin Costner, of which we discovered the exceptional trailer -, City of Darknesswill be released in French cinemas at from September 4, 2024. On the Croisette, the lucky ones who had the opportunity to discover it are unanimous: the film is an uppercut, which puts one into the spotlight. The fine part of Hollywood action cinema.
It is impossible not to be galvanized. by the dynamism of #CityOfDarkness, which combines the precision of Time and Tide with the (offbeat) exuberance of a Miike. Fierce, brutal, but also beautiful, even epic, it's the little bomb of rebellious energy that awakens the @Festival_Cannes. pic.twitter.com/HyglPMb5wj
May 17, 2024
Soi Cheang reconnects with his love of fighting and a colossal cast to tell a fascinating chapter in Hong Kong history.
My first review for Konbini: #CityofDarkness (or #WarriorsoftheTwilightWalledIn) project ; yesterday at #Cannes2024.https://t.co/YH8KAwuirv
May 17, 2024
The citadel is impressive, a high-flying fight, but at times a bit grotesque. We will easily forgive anyone Soi Cheang, because the film exudes real tenderness for these characters. #CityOfDarkness #cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/MeJ2ELRJW4
May 17, 2024
Between Tsui Hark and Stephen Chow, #CityOfDarkness by Soi Cheang (Limbo) is above all the best fights seen in HK cinema for 20 years. The Kowloon setting provides a welcome social dimension, even if the protagonist's arc remains slight. Nice pick!#Cannes2024 pic.twitter.com/8N8gfF8Rbl