Where the Wind Blows (Chinese: 風再起時), previously known as Theory of Ambitions, is a 2022 Hong Kong crime thriller film written and directed by Philip Yung and starring Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Chiu-wai respectively as Lui Lok and Lam Kong two notorious corrupt Hong Kong police officers during the 1960s.

Where the Wind Blows
Teaser film poster
Traditional	風再起時
Simplified	风再起时
Mandarin	Fēng zài qǐ shí
Cantonese	Fung1 Zoi3 Hei3 Si4
Literally	When the wind rises again
Directed by	Philip Yung
Screenplay by	Philip Yung
Produced by	Julia Chu
Starring	Aaron Kwok Tony Leung
Production companies	Mei Ah Film Production Dadi Century Films Global Group Films
Distributed by	Mei Ah Entertainment
Release date	15 August 2022 (2022-08-15) (HKIFF)
Running time	144 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Budget	US$38 million[1]

Originally set for release at the end of 2018,[2] the film's release was delayed due to trouble getting approved by the National Radio and Television Administration.[3] The film was scheduled to make its world premiere and open the 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 1 April 2021, but was pulled from the lineup three days before.[4][5][6] The film made its world premiere the following year and opened the 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 15 August 2022 instead.[7]

Where the Wind Blows was selected as the Hong Kong entry for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming 95th Academy Awards.[8]

Plot

Lui Lok (Aaron Kwok) became a police officer in order to uphold justice. But the rampant corruption within the police force made it impossible for him to remain independent. As a result, he decides to make a name for himself within the police force by controlling organized crime.

Nam Kong (Tony Leung Chiu-wai), who seems like gentleman on the surface, operates with a dagger under his cloak. He is socially active among the police force as well as in social circles, laying the groundwork for the empire of corruption he builds with Lui. Nam and Lui, the brains and the brawn working in perfect unison, respectively become Chinese Chief Detective of Hong Kong Island and Kowloon / New Territories in 1962. They lord over organized crime, and lead tens of thousands of policemen.

Nam has long seen through Lui's cynicism and naiveté, and has been plotting a hostile takeover of power. When Lui discovers that everything is not as he had imagined, he vows to forcibly regain controlling leadership from Nam.

Cast

• Aaron Kwok as Lui Lok (呂樂), Chief Detective Staff Sergeant of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force garrisoned in Hong Kong Island.
• Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Nam Kong (南江), Chief Detective Staff Sergeant of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force garrisoned in Kowloon and the New Territories
• Du Juan as Choi Chan (蔡真), Lui Lok's wife.
• Michael Hui as George Lee (李子超), principal investigator of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong) (ICAC). (special appearance)
• Jessie Li
• Patrick Tam as Yim Hung (嚴洪), Detective Staff Sergeant of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and a drug trafficker.
• Michael Chow as Fatty Sam (肥仔森), Detective Staff Sergeant of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force garrisoned in Yau Ma Tei and Mongkok.
• Jeana Ho
• Elaine Jin
• Ron Ng
• Louis Cheung
• Maggie Cheung Ho-yee
• Tse Kwan-ho
• Lam Yiu-sing
• Chui Tien-you
• Michael Ning
• Cheung Siu-fai
• Stephen Ho
• Tai Po
• Eddie Chan
• Lawrence Ko
• Wan Yeung-ming
• Belinda Yan
• Rose Chan

Production

Development

The project was first announced at the 2017 Hong Kong Filmart in March 2017 slated to respectively be directed by and star Philip Yung and Aaron Kwok, whom have both previously collaborated in the 2015 film, Port of Call.[9]

In August 2017, it was announced that Tony Leung Chiu-wai has joined the cast, along with Patrick Tam and Michael Chow. Kwok, Leung, Tam and Chow will portray the "Four Great Sergeants" (四大探長) of Hong Kong who were notorious for accumulating mass wealth from corruption.[10]

Filming

Filming for Where the Wind Blows began in October 2017. The film later held its production commencement ceremony press conference on 13 November 2017.[11][12] Kwok, who portrays Lui Lok in the film, has previously portrayed Lui's fictional son, Bill Lee, in the 1991 film, Lee Rock II, which starred Andy Lau as Lui.[12]

Release

Where the Wind Blows made its world premiere and opened the 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival along with the film Warriors of Future on 15 August 2022.[7][13] The film was originally set to be released globally by the end of 2018 with Mei Ah Entertainment handling the film's distribution and launching sales operations for the film at the 2017 American Film Market.[2][14] However, the film's release was delayed as it was unable to get approval from the National Radio and Television Administration due the film's plot dealing with corrupt policeman and triads.[3] The film was approved in late 2020 and was scheduled to make its world premiere as one of the two opening films of the 45th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 1 April 2021, but had its screenings cancelled on 29 March at its producers' request, citing "technical reasons".[4][5][6] The film released a trailer at a national theater promotional event in October 2021.[15]

See also

• Aaron Kwok filmography
• Lee Rock, a 1991 biographical crime film about Lui Lok starring Andy Lau.
• Lee Rock II, sequel to Lee Rock released in the same year.

• List of submissions to the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
• List of Hong Kong submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

References