Josie Ho Movies

Sent away to rural Taiwan after entering into a forbidden affair with the daughter of his father's most dangerous rival, the musically gifted son of a powerful Triad boss experiences a newfound sense of balance in life upon entering into an apprenticeship with a Zen drumming troupe. Sid Kwan is a reckless musician who threatens to rock the entire underworld when he makes love to the beautiful Carmen. Carmen is the daughter of Stephen Ma, perhaps the most notorious Triad leader in the Hong Kong underworld. Should Carmen's father find out about the clandestine affair, the streets would likely be ablaze with gunfire, and Sid would certainly be the first to fall. Hoping that his son's life will be spared if he is out of sight, Sid's father sends the restless boy to lie low in rural Taiwan. Shortly after his arrival, Sid stumbles across a Zen drumming troupe who live and play together deep in the forest. Their passion and athleticism instantly mesmerizing to the entranced newcomer, Sid immediately asks if he might become a part of the unique community. While Sid's apprenticeship is at first straining, the clarity that he experiences after ingratiating himself to the community helps him make sense of the chaos that nearly consumed him back in Hong Kong and discover the peace that comes from owning up to his father's dark legacy. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Johnny To returns to the characters of his international success The Mission (aka Chueng Fo) with this action-packed thriller. It's 1998, and the Portuguese colony of Macau, a city along the Southern coast of China, is about to be handed over to Chinese authorities under a long-standing agreement. As the people of Macau ponder how their new leaders will deal with the criminal underground that's long been part of the city's support system, a pair of hit men from Hong Kong arrive in town to execute a gangster who has turned his back on the syndicate to make a new life for his wife and children. While the Chinese syndicate want to be sure he doesn't share anything he learned while in their employ, two strong-arm men also arrive in Macau, determined to see to the former gangster's safety. Starring Nick Cheung, Simon Yam and Francis Ng, Exiled received its world premiere at the 2006 Venice Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This drama, based on actual events, concerns a young woman who is trying to come to terms with the news that she has contracted a fatal illness. Fion (Josie Ho) has received the news that her test for the HIV virus has come back positive, and she's understandably distraught. A hospital volunteer (Sylvia Chang) comes by to comfort the woman, and begins telling her stories about her son Chi Mo (Chris Lee), a hemophiliac who fought a brave struggle against AIDS (which he contracted through a blood transfusion) before dying at the age of 23. Chi Mo's courage and good humor prove to be an inspiration to Fion as she learns to live with HIV. Dei Gau Tin Cheung was adapted from two books written by the real Chi Mo, who succumbed to AIDS in 1996. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Slow Fade is one man's journey to his personal hell and back again. In a nameless city and an unspecified time, Fin (Ken Wong) hits an emotional low when his wife is killed in a car accident. He goes on a binge of self-destruction with heroin. He is salvaged by a young prostitute, Kim Josie Ho whom he meets at the detoxification clinic. Through Kim's eyes, we see Fin's efforts to leave the underworld for the sake of his wife before she died. His best friend Alex (Jimmy Wong), who got him into the crime circuit in the first place, won't let him go. Fin tries to find redemption by helping Kim leave his boss, Chan (Roy Cheung), which sets off a series of betrayals and double crosses that end tragically. The film explores the connections between circumstance and destiny, friendship and betrayal. The director pursues experimental methods of dramatic structure and cinematography while employing modern visual technology such as "cross-processing" -- developing positive film as negative -- to enhance the non-linear narrative which gives the film a special look and feel. Slow Fade was screened as part of the International Forum of New Cinema section of the 49th Berlin Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, All Movie Guide