Han Hongfei Movies
- 2008
A love grows between two people in a place where compassion is in short supply in this historical drama. Born in Japan, Liu Lang (Kiichi Nakai) has spent most of his life in China, and even though it's his home, he doesn't always feel as if he belongs. One day in 1914, Liu gets in a fight with a man who has spoken ill of his wife; Liu loses control of himself and seriously injures the man, leading to his arrest. Liu is sentenced to life in prison for his crime, and behind bars he strikes up a cautious friendship with Liang (Guo Tao), a strong-tempered criminal who is also serving a life sentence. Liu happens to see a woman named Zhou Hong (Miao Pu) is who serving time in the women's wing of the prison, and he senses a kinship with her. Liu learns that Zhou was found guilty of killing her husband who repeatedly beat her, and while they have little opportunity to speak, through glances and chance meetings the two develop a strong affection for one another. Over the decades, the love between Liu and Zhou helps them survive life in lockup, while the political and social landscape of China changes dramatically outside the walls of the penitentiary. Huangfeng (aka Crossing Over) was the opening night feature at the 2007 Tokyo Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2008
A secret nemesis puts the skills of a part-time explosives expert on trial in this thriller from China. Yu Liqing (Ma Guowei) is a veteran police officer in Harbin who in his younger days was an engineer in the Army. As Yu whiles away his last years in uniform, he grooms his son (Song Wenchao) to take his place on the police force and tries to keep his cranky wife (Gu Erli) happy. One day, a bomb is discovered in a Harbin poultry plant; with the usual experts unavailable, Yu is pressed into service thanks to his engineering background, and while he's always been more of a tinkerer than an expert in high-tech explosives, he's able to disarm the device before it goes off. After examining the bomb, Yu is impressed with its sophisticated design, and comes to the sobering realization his success was more a matter of luck than skill. The next day, Yu and his new partner Hu Xiaolin (Pan Xingyi) are called in to defuse another bomb, and more are discovered in the days that follow; each one is a more challenging design than the last, and Yu begins to suspect someone with a grudge is putting his limited talents to the ultimate test. Qian Jun Yi Fa (aka Old Fish) marked the film debut of non-professional actor Ma Guowei in the leading role; his performance earned him Best Actor honors at the 2008 Shanghai Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ma Guowei, Pan Xingyi, (more)
Hong Kong action star Michelle Yeoh serves as both producer and leading lady for this bit of slam-bang adventure. By day, Lulu Wong (Yeoh) is a mild-mannered environmental activist, but when the going gets tough, she transforms herself into Silver Hawk, a battle-ready heroine who finds herself chasing after Alexander Wolfe (Luke Goss), a suave British rogue agent. Wolfe has abducted a brilliant Chinese scientist (Chen Daming) who has invented a new artificial intelligence technology that could have dramatic worldwide impact; Silver Hawk sets out to find Wolfe and his captive before he forces him to reveal his secrets, but matters become more complicated when the daughter of a powerful industrial tycoon also goes missing. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michelle Yeoh, Luke Goss, (more)
Infernal Affairs III picks up where the first film left off. Ming (Andy Lau) is cleared of any charges involving Yan's (Tony Leung) death, and is eventually assigned to the Internal Affairs division. He discovers that another cop, Yeung (Leon Lai of Fallen Angels), quickly rising through the ranks of the police department, has a mysterious link to Shen (Chen Daoming of Hero), who was apparently Sam's (Eric Tsang) connection to the mainland. Ming strongly suspects that Yeung is another one of Sam's moles, and is determined to expose him, while keeping his own connection to Sam a secret. It's a tricky proposition because Yeung also seems to suspect Ming, and appears to have the same goal in mind. With the help of Dr. Lee (Kelly Chen), Yan's psychiatrist, Ming looks deeper into Yan's final days, and flashbacks explore the undercover cop's dealings with both Yeung and Shen. Eventually, Ming finds an incriminating tape of Sam conversing with his mole, and has a climactic confrontation with Yeung. Anthony Wong and Chapman To also reprise their roles from the first two films in flashbacks. Infernal Affairs III was shown, along with the rest of the trilogy, at the 2004 New York Film Festival, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Andy Lau, (more)
- 2002
- PG13
Peter Pau, the oscar winning cinematographer of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, directed Tian Mai Chuanqi (The Touch). Pak Yin-fay (Michelle Yeoh) and Pak Yeuk-tong (Brandon Chang) are siblings in a family of acrobats. Bad guy Karl (Richard Roxburgh) employs gifted thief/acrobat Eric (Ben Chaplain) to steal an item created in the 1200s. Eric is successful, but the fact that he is Yin-fay's adopted brother makes his motivations less than clear. While everyone attempts to possess the item, it is Yeuk-tong who ends up with it. He and his girlfriend take off with the object, with all of the other characters in pursuit. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michelle Yeoh, Ben Chaplin, (more)
