Limbo is a 2021 Hong Kong action thriller film directed by Cheang Pou-soi and starring Gordon Lam, Cya Liu, Mason Lee and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi. The film is based on the novel Wisdom Tooth by Chinese novelist Lei Mi.[3]

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Limbo
Official film poster
Traditional	智齒
Simplified	智齿
Mandarin	Zhì Chǐ
Cantonese	Zi3 Ci2
Directed by	Soi Cheang
Written by	Au Kin-yee Shum Kwan-sin
Based on	Wisdom Tooth by Lei Mi
Produced by	Wilson Yip Paco Wong
Starring	Gordon Lam Cya Liu Mason Lee Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung
Edited by	David Richardson
Music by	Kenji Kawai
Production companies	Sun Entertainment Culture Bona Film Group Er Dong Pictures Aether Film Production
Distributed by	Just Distribution Limited
Release dates	1 March 2021 (2021-03-01) (Berlinale) 18 November 2021 (2021-11-18) (Hong Kong)
Running time	118 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Budget	US$16 million[1]
Box office	HK$1,276,603[2]

The film had its worldwide premiere at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival on 1 March 2021,[4] and was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 18 November 2021.[5]

Plot

Rookie police officer Will Yam (Mason Lee) is a recent graduate of the police academy. Due to a wave of serial killings, Will is partnered with veteran officer Cham Lau (Gordon Lam), who was recently reinstated on the force. However, the duo is unable to solve the cases and instead causes a series of incidents. Later, Cham re-encounters a drug-addicted street urchin, Wong To (Cya Liu), who ran over his wife and daughter in the past, and his anger makes him spiral out of control and continuously abuses her. Will clumsily loses his pistol, which is found by the serial killer. With the killer lurking in the city, a crisis grows closer.

Cast

• Gordon Lam as Cham Lau (劉中選), respectfully referred to as Brother Cham (斬哥), a veteran police officer of the Regional Crime Unit.
• Cya Liu as Wong To (王桃), a drug-addicted street urchin who ran over Cham's wife in a DUI, leaving her in a vegetative state and becomes Cham's informant in order to repent her past mistake.
• Mason Lee as Will Yam (任凱), a rookie police officer of the Regional Crime Unit and Cham's new partner.
• Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as Yamada Akira (山田收), a waste picker with Oedipus complex and acrotomophilia.
• Fish Liew as Coco (可樂), a disabled drug dealer.
• Hugo Ng as Chief (大Sir), Cham and Will's superior officer.
• Sammy Sum as Boss Spark (逼啪)
• Hanna Chan as Will's wife
• Kumer as Grizzly (灰熊)

Production

Principal photography for Limbo began in September 2017 in Hong Kong and wrapped up after three months filming, with To Kwa Wan and Kwun Tong being the main filming locations as many old buildings are located in these districts of the city.[6]

On 2 October 2017, filming of a fight scene between actors Gordon Lam and Hiroyuki Ikeuchi took place on a rooftop in Kwun Tong. Both Lam and Ikeuchi lost 8 pounds and 30 pounds of weight respectively for their roles in the film.[7][6] On 8 October 2017, which was also Lam's birthday, filming took place in Kowloon Bay for a scene where Lam was going through a garbage chute looking for evidence.[8][9]

Release

Limbo had its world premiere at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival, which was held virtually from 1 to 5 March 2021.[4] The film was later shown in competition at the 23rd Far East Film Festival from 25 to 26 June 2021[10] where it won the Purple Mulberry Award [11] The film was released in Hong Kong on 18 November 2021.^{[citation needed]}

Reception

Gordon Lam and Cya Liu's performance received critical acclaim. Liu's performance earned her Best Actress award at the 40th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Box office

In Hong Kong, the film grossed HK$740,238 during its first four days of release, opening at No. 5 during its debut weekend. On its second weekend, the film grossed HK$563,365, coming in at No. 10, and have grossed a total of HK$1,276,603 so far.[2]

Critical reception

Lee Marshall of Screen Daily praises director Cheang Pou-soi's "dystopian vision of an Asian metropolis in the throes of a political and social identity crisis" as the film's "most striking feature."[12] Jessica Kiang of Variety praises the film's well-choreographed action sequences which compliment Cheng Siu-Keung's dazzling camera work.[13]

Awards and nominations

References