Exiled

Johnnie To
Hong Kong
2007

The state of exile does not have to be an involuntary expulsion. It is an action of voluntary absence in search of a higher ideal.

113", 35mm
Color, Cantonese, English subtitles

about the film

The year is 1999. Everyone in Macau is out to make a quick buck before the Portuguese colony ushers in a new era under Chinese rule. Against this background of fin-de-siècle malaise come two hit men from Hong Kong sent to take out a renegade member Wo, who is trying to turn over a new leaf with his wife and newborn baby. They soon find themselves in the throes of a dilemma when two of their former associates also show up, intent on thwarting them at every cost. While waiting for Wo to come back home, it becomes apparent these five were once good friends, and rose from nothing to become successful hitmen. Unable to reach a solution, the five get into a short but brutal encounter and decide to take up again the following day. That is until Boss Fay intervenes and sends the five men on a new mission involving a hotel lobby, a prostitute and bags full of gold bars, and of course their personal problems. Masterful director To uses his total command of the Asian gangster-Western film genre to full effect here, resulting in a breath-taking action film that also touches on themes of brotherhood, honour and exile.

about the director

A veteran producer and a maverick of genre filmmaking, Johnnie To is one of the most respected and versatile directors in Hong Kong. His The Heroic Trio and its sequel Executioners were international cult classics (1993). Running Out of Time (1999), The Mission (1999), Full Time Killer (2001) and PTU: Into the Perilous Night (2003), established him as a household name in the international film arena. Breaking News (2004) and Election (2005) won him many awards internationally. Throw Down (2004) was presented in the Venice Film Festival and Election II was a favorite at the 2006 Cannes, Toronto and New York film festivals.

awards

2006 Venice Film Festival: Nominated for Golden Lion
Toronto Film Festival
2007 Hong Kong Film Festival
Mar del Plata Film Festival
Karlovy Vary Film Festival

screenings

February 19 Tuesday, 9:30 PM AFM Fitaş Beyoğlu 2

February 21 Thursday, 3:00 PM AFM Fitaş Beyoğlu 2

February 23 Saturday, 7:30 PM AFM Budak Caddebostan

March 01 Saturday, 9:30 PM AFM CEPA Ankara 2

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