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World Fantastic Cinema

Bangkok Dangerous

Danny PANG

Thailand2000105min 35mm color

Synopsis

Wisit Sasanatieng's , this year's Un Certain Regard at Cannes, received attention from the world. Major American film distributors are fighting over the rights for , a Thai film currently in production. Amidst this favorable current for Thai films, the Pang brothers, known as Thai John Woo, have brought to the screen , an original, refreshing, and shocking action noire. Oxide and Danny Pang are twin brothers who have worked in film in both Hong Kong and Thailand, and they have co-directed the action noire . With restrained dialogue, sensuous visuals of music video, and the strong beat of techno rhythm, the Pang brothers created postmodern poetics out of a typical killer movie. Cold and sepia tone color stand in stark contrast to the glitter of Bangkok at night, dazzling camera movement and superb editing, wavering space captured by the wide-angle, all in gear with the gloomy and pessimistic mood of the film, create a unique style and unforgettable characters. Kong, who was born mute, and his only friend Jo are both killers. Kong falls in love with a woman named Fon, but when she accidentally finds out about Kong's identity, she distances herself from Kong. When gangsters rape his girlfriend Aom, Jo sets out for revenge; however, both Jo and Aom end up getting killed by the gangsters. After losing everyone he loves, Kong leaves a note to Fon and sets out for his last mission. After a standoff with the police, Kong aims the gun to his head. (JOO You-shin)

Diretor

Danny PANG

Danny is well known as a film director, screenwriter, and editor. In 1998, he worked as the film editor of the action film The Storm Riders, and won the Best Editing Award at the 18th Hong Kong Film Awards. In 1999, he filmed Bangkok Dangerous’ together with his brother, Oxide Pang, which won the Best Director Award at the Thailand Film Awards and the International Film Critics Award at the 25th Toronto International Film Festival. In 2002, he was nominated for the Best Editing Award at the 22nd Hong Kong Film Awards for his horror thriller The Eye. In 2003, as the film editor of the crime film Infernal Affairs II, he won the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards - Best Editing Award.