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Sparrow (film)
Encyclopedia
Sparrow is a 2008 Hong Kong caper film produced and directed by Johnnie To
. The film stars veteran Milkyway Image cast and crew alumni Simon Yam
, Lam Ka-Tung
, Law Wing-Cheong
and Kenneth Cheung as a small gang of pickpockets, with each member being mysteriously approached by a beautiful Taiwanese woman (Kelly Lin
) with a hidden agenda.
Sparrow remained in pre-production for three years from 2005 to 2008, with To shooting the film in between other projects. The film was selected in competition at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival
, premiering during the festival in February 2008. It was released in Hong Kong on 19 June 2008.
.(Pickpockets are also known as "Sparrows" in Hong Kong slang). He enjoys a carefree lifestyle taking photos with his vintage Rolleiflex
. One day a dashing beauty, Chun-Lei (Kelly Lin), suddenly appears in Kei's viewfinder. Kei is mesmerized. Every member of his team has an encounter with her.... But behind Chun-Lei's attractive facade lies a mysterious past and a mission to set herself free.
over a three-year period. In an interview, To said he and his crew would shoot every three or four months between projects.
Johnnie To
Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas...
. The film stars veteran Milkyway Image cast and crew alumni Simon Yam
Simon Yam
Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
, Lam Ka-Tung
Lam Ka-Tung
Gordon Lam Ka-tung is a Hong Kong actor known for his supporting roles in films from the likes of Andrew Lau to Johnnie To.-Career:Lam graduated from TVB's 15th Artist Training Class in 1988. For the next seven to eight years, he was no more than an extra in most television productions...
, Law Wing-Cheong
Law Wing-Cheong
Law Wing-Cheong is a Hong Kong film editor, an assistant director, film director and actor. He is best known for collaborating as an associate director for films made by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai of Milkyway Image.-Biography:...
and Kenneth Cheung as a small gang of pickpockets, with each member being mysteriously approached by a beautiful Taiwanese woman (Kelly Lin
Kelly Lin
Kelly Lin Hsi-Lei is a Taiwanese actress and model who has appeared mainly in Hong Kong films.-Biography:Lin was born in Taiwan in 1975. She moved to Santa Barbara, California with her family at the age of 12. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Degree in Economics...
) with a hidden agenda.
Sparrow remained in pre-production for three years from 2005 to 2008, with To shooting the film in between other projects. The film was selected in competition at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
, premiering during the festival in February 2008. It was released in Hong Kong on 19 June 2008.
Plot
Kei (Simon Yam) is the experienced leader of a team of pickpocketsPickpocketing
Pickpocketing is a form of larceny that involves the stealing of money or other valuables from the person of a victim without their noticing the theft at the time. It requires considerable dexterity and a knack for misdirection...
.(Pickpockets are also known as "Sparrows" in Hong Kong slang). He enjoys a carefree lifestyle taking photos with his vintage Rolleiflex
Rolleiflex
Rolleiflex is the name of a long-running and diverse line of high-end cameras originally made by the German company Franke & Heidecke, and later Rollei-Werk. The "Rolleiflex" name is most commonly used to refer to Rollei's premier line of medium format twin lens reflex cameras...
. One day a dashing beauty, Chun-Lei (Kelly Lin), suddenly appears in Kei's viewfinder. Kei is mesmerized. Every member of his team has an encounter with her.... But behind Chun-Lei's attractive facade lies a mysterious past and a mission to set herself free.
Cast
| Role | Actor |
|---|---|
| Kei/The Sparrow | Simon Yam Simon Yam Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague.... |
| Chung Chun-Lei | Kelly Lin Kelly Lin Kelly Lin Hsi-Lei is a Taiwanese actress and model who has appeared mainly in Hong Kong films.-Biography:Lin was born in Taiwan in 1975. She moved to Santa Barbara, California with her family at the age of 12. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Degree in Economics... |
| Bo | Lam Ka-Tung Lam Ka-Tung Gordon Lam Ka-tung is a Hong Kong actor known for his supporting roles in films from the likes of Andrew Lau to Johnnie To.-Career:Lam graduated from TVB's 15th Artist Training Class in 1988. For the next seven to eight years, he was no more than an extra in most television productions... |
| Sak | Law Wing-Cheong Law Wing-Cheong Law Wing-Cheong is a Hong Kong film editor, an assistant director, film director and actor. He is best known for collaborating as an associate director for films made by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai of Milkyway Image.-Biography:... |
| Mac | Kenneth Cheung |
| Fu Kim-Tong | Lo Hoi-Pang |
| Lung | Lam Suet Lam Suet Lam Suet is a Hong Kong actor.-Biography:Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after all the money had been squandered and Lam had to work various odd jobs to make a living.In the mid-eighties he got employment... |
Production
Director Johnnie To shot the film in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
over a three-year period. In an interview, To said he and his crew would shoot every three or four months between projects.
Awards and nominations
| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award | Category | Name | Outcome |
| 45th Golden Horse Film Awards Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962, by Government Information Office, Republic of China... |
Best Original Film Score | Xavier Jamaux, Fred Avril | Nominated |
| Best Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung Cheng Siu-Keung Cheng Siu-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer, writer, and director. He is known for frequently collaborating with directors Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai as a cinematographer for their independent film production company, Milkyway Image.-Cinematographer:... |
Won | |
| 28th Hong Kong Film Awards 28th Hong Kong Film Awards Ceremony for the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 19 April 2009 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and hosted by Eric Tsang, Teresa Mo, Sandra Ng, Vincent Kok, Kay Tse, Denise Ho, Lam Chi Chung, Chin Kar-lok, Louis Fan, Tin Kai Man, Michelle Lo and Wong Cho Lam.-Best Film:-Best Director:-Best... |
Best Director | Johnnie To Johnnie To Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas... |
Nominated |
| Best Actor | Simon Yam Simon Yam Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague.... |
Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung | Nominated | |
| Best Film Editing | David M. Richardson | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Score | Xavier Jamaux, Fred Avril | Nominated | |
| 3rd Asian Film Awards 3rd Asian Film Awards The 3rd Asian Film Awards was given in a ceremony on 23 March 2009 as part of the Hong Kong International Film Festival.-Best Film:*Winner: Tokyo Sonata **Forever Enthralled... |
Best Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung | Nominated |
| 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Asia Pacific Screen Awards The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Events Queensland, to honour and promote the films, actors, directors, and cultures of Asia-Pacific to a global audience and to realise the objectives of UNESCO to... |
Best Feature Film Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Feature Film The winners and nominees of the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Feature Film are* 2007 Secret Sunshine - Republic of Korea - Kim In-Soo, Lee Chang-Dong, Hanna Lee**Caramel - Lebanon - Anne-Dominique Toussaint... |
Nominated | |
| Best Achievement in Directing Asia Pacific Screen Award for Achievement in Direction The winners and nominees of the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Achievement in Directing are* 2007 Rakhshan Bani Etemad and Mohsen Abdolvahab - Mainline - Iran**Nadine Labaki - Caramel - Lebanon... |
Johnnie To | Nominated | |
| Best Performance by an Actor | Simon Yam | Nominated | |
| Best Achievement in Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung | Nominated | |
| Berlin International Film Festival Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978... |
||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Award | Result |
| 2008 | Golden Bear Golden Bear According to legend, the Golden Bear was a large golden Ursus arctos. Members of the Ursus arctos species can reach masses of . The Grizzly Bear and the Kodiak Bear are North American subspecies of the Brown Bear.... |
In Competition |