Sparrow文雀

Genre: Drama
Directed by Johnnie To Kei-Fung
Starring Simon Yam, Kelly Lin, Gordon Lam Ka-Tung, Law Wing-Cheong, Kenneth Cheung, Lo Hoi-Pang, Lam Suet

Caged Bird Runs Free
This movie feels like an indulgence on the part of the director, shooting in the name of art and clearly loving it! Artistically and beautifully crafted, this film shines in the creative aspect, though the plot seems to be a bit thin.

This movie is filmed from the point of view of a group of pickpockets in Hong Kong, also known as sparrows. A mysterious and beautiful woman keeps appearing before the four men and we gradually grow to know that she is seeking their help to fly out of her cage.

The story of where she came from and where she’s going is not important. The director chooses to focus on the dynamics of the four men and one woman. How the appearance of one woman actually puts the friendship between the four men to the test.

The comedic factors are well inter-weaved into the film, as with the artistic aspects of the film. The director also unabashedly displays his love and nostalgia Hong Kong in the photographs taken by the Simon Yam character. I especially love the scene where the female protagonist, acted by Kelly Lin, sharing a cigarette with Simon Yam. The billowing smoke from her mouth, the stain of her red lipstick on the cigarette butt, the touching of lips which is not quite the touching of lips is extremely well-portrayed.

Another scene that was handled very deftly is the act of pickpocketing, which is the livelihood of our leads. The splattering of the rain on the black umbrellas, the professional pickpockets donning their black suits, at work is superbly shown with a tinge of humour and pathos. Excellent choreography and great framing!

Another thing I love about this film has got to be its music! How shall I put it? Its so mesmerizing and so appropriate, setting the tone of the film. The soundtrack totally rocks!

This film has none of the bloodshed and gangsterism that has come to personify HK. The director chooses to portray another side of HK while playing up the beauty of HK. In the process, we see his love for filmmaking and his country.