Breaking News (Limited Booklet, Region Free)

Johnnie To 2004 Hong Kong 90 mins

The premiere of Johnnie TosBreaking Newsat Cannes marks the moment when art cinema finally embraced the Hong Kong action genre. Here is a film as intelligent as it is tense as it is well-made. From the breathtaking intricacy of its seven-minute opening take, shot on location in a grungy side street in the New Territories, the complex oppositions that form Hong Kong society are subjected to ruthless scrutiny. The familiar opposition of cops and robbers (led by pop-star Richie Jen) is complicated by a further division between no-nonsense street cops (led by Nick Cheung) and the media-savvy inspector (Kelly Chen).

A stake-out goes wrong and a very public shoot-out leads to an official panic. When the violent, though quietly decent bandits are run to ground in a typically cramped apartment building, it sparks a media circus. Inspector Rebecca Fong (Chen) sees the whole thing as a show, as imagery to be manipulated to her advantage, but the outlaws armed with mobile phones and an internet connection, show that two can play that game. Hong Kong may be a city where media spin is king, but To delves beneath the imagery to the gritty realities that make HK truly unique.

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Limited first-pressing collector’s booklet featuring new essays by film writerHayley Scanlon& film historianMike Walsh
• New audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expertFrank Djeng
• “A Propaganda Duel” – a newly extended video essay onBreaking News(6 mins)
• Newly translated and improved optional English subtitles

Archival Extras:

• Melbourne International Film Festival 2004 Q&A withJohnnie To(19 mins)
• Two newly unearthed interviews from Cannes 2004 withJohnnie To(12 mins) andKelly Chen&Nick Cheung* (8 mins)
• Behind the scenes (3 mins)
• Deleted scene [Mandarin only] (2 mins)
• Photo gallery
• Theatrical trailer