Screenhead

American filmmakers most certainly can learn something of value from Asia filmmakers – let the story be told. Asian films are rich in story and character. Naysayers will argue that Asian films are over the top or too melodramatic, but I say nay.

For example, I popped the movie Protégéin my DVD player the other night. Directed by Tung-Shing Yee with a cast of Asian cinema superstars including Andy Lau (House of Flying Daggers), Daniel Wu (Legend of the Black Scorpion), Louis Koo (Flash Point) and Jingchu Zhang (Seven Swords), Protégé is the saga of a young cop infiltrating the deepest levels of a secret drug ring.  He survives seven years of violent, nail-biting close calls, as he works his way from dealer to heir of the drug empire.  Every step consolidates his power and reveals another piece of his boss’s operations, bringing him closer to destroying a brutal heroin empire…or inheriting it.

The story is complete bar any quick cuts to the next scene. Each scene is complete with the heart wrenching reality of heroin’s insidious end.  Koo plays an abusive drug-addict husband whose pain and angst is only allowed by a director like Tung-Shing Yee, who is bold enough to “tell it like it is.”

One scene that comes to mind is where Wu’s character, and undercover cop, must confront his boss (Lau) whom he would have inherited his heroine empire if he wasn’t an undercover cop, and tell him the truth of his role in destroying the empire.  The scene plays out completely with a slow suicidal death of Wu.  The audience is able to experience the full emotion of the scene, brilliantly executed, no close ups but a three-quarter shot of both men in eternal pain.

Protégé earned Lau a 2007 Hong Kong Award for Best Supporting Actor and received nine Hong Kong Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Zhang) and Best Supporting Actor (Koo).  Based on true stories of undercover agents on the police force, Protégé follows their story among the clandestine drug world, as they struggle to balance both justice and crime. 

I enjoy Asian films because the stories are colorful and brilliant with truth.  Each scene is given its due time to grow and bloom fully like a flower.  Award winning Protégé is a fine example.

Protégé is available on the shelves. The DVD includes special features:

• Commentary By Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
• The Making Of Protégé
• Undercover & Over The Edge: An Exclusive interview With Leading Man Daniel Wu
• Chasing The Dragon: An Exclusive interview With Leading Lady Zhang Jing-chu
• The Dealer: An Exclusive Interview With Producer Peter Cha
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• English Dolby 5.1 and Cantonese Dolby 5.1 
• Subtitles: Spanish, English and English SDH subtitles

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