The Bodyguard,also known asMy Beloved Bodyguard,(Chinese:Đặc công gia gia) is a 2016Hong Kong Chinese action film[2][4]starring and directed bySammo Hungin his first film as directedsince 1997,and produced byAndy Lau,who makes a special appearance.[5]The film was released on 1 April 2016.
| The Bodyguard | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Official film poster | |||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | Đặc công gia gia | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | Đặc công gia gia | ||||||||||
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| Directed by | Sammo Hung | ||||||||||
| Screenplay by | Kong Kwan | ||||||||||
| Produced by | Andy Lau William Kong Chan Pui-wah Ivy Ho Lau Yee-tung | ||||||||||
| Starring | Sammo Hung Andy Lau Zhu Yuchen Li Qinqin | ||||||||||
| Cinematography | Ardy Lam | ||||||||||
| Edited by | Kwong Chi-leung Lo Wai-lun | ||||||||||
| Music by | Alan Wong Janet Yung | ||||||||||
Production companies | Irressistible Films Edko Films Focus Films EDKO (Beijing) Distribution Good Friends Entertainment Shanghai Tencent Qie Pictures BDI Films Lava Bear Films | ||||||||||
| Distributed by | Edko Films | ||||||||||
Release date |
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Running time | 99 minutes[1] | ||||||||||
| Countries | Hong Kong China[2] | ||||||||||
| Languages | Cantonese Mandarin | ||||||||||
| Box office | US$52.4 million[3] | ||||||||||
Plot
editThe film is set in the 2000s in a medium-sized Chinese city located in northeast China, close to theRussian border.An old, overweight man named Ding witnesses a man being stabbed by a gang, but when he is summoned by the police to identify the suspect, he hesitates and is unable to. The police research Ding's background and discover that he is a retiredCentral Security Bureauofficer from Beijing, and they figure that he is suffering fromdementia.Back at his home, Ding is frequently invited for supper by his land-lord, Park, an elderly lady who is attracted to him. Ding, in turn, frequently cares for a little girl next door named Cherry, whose father, Li, is an abusivegambler.
When Li becomes heavily in debt because of his gambling, Choi, a Chinese person of Korean descent, who happens to be the leader of the aforementioned gang, forces Li to embark on a criminal assignment. Li is driven to a hotel and told to steal the shoulder-bag of aRussian gang leader.The alarm is raised but Li escapes with the bag after a protracted chase. However, upon being told that his debt isn't absolved, Li goes into hiding, taking the bag with him. Choi reacts by sending men to abduct Li's daughter. Meanwhile, the Russian gang leader feels angry and plans an attack against Choi's gang for violating their territory.
Choi's gang members follow Cherry and assault Ding's home after she enters it, but to their dismay, Ding proves to be a remarkable fighter, and they are repelled. To avoid arrest, two of them are sent by Choi to hide in the countryside. The police, noticing that Li has disappeared, send Cherry to live with her aunt and uncle. However, within a short time, the aunt and uncle wish to eject her, and Ding agrees to provide for her living. Then one night, Cherry goes missing, and what is more, Li suddenly appears in Ding's home, bringing money in order to compensate Ding for his service. As Li exits the house, he is assaulted by Choi's gang and killed, and the shoulder-bag is taken back.
Ding, who has been plagued with guilt for years, ever since his granddaughter went missing on a hiking trip, resolves to bring Cherry back using force. He visits the gambling house demanding Cherry's release, and when Choi's gang attempts to kill him, he overpowers around 20 of them including a skilled knife assassin. At that moment, some of the Russian gang members appear and start to kill the rest of Choi's men in an attempt to reclaim their stolen money. Seeing this, Choi escapes, but not before Ding wounds his leg. The Russians proceed to attack Ding, believing that he works for Choi, and Ding is forced to kill them. At the same time, the police, led by Park's son, chase after two leaders of the Russian gang, who die when they collide with a truck. Choi, who thinks he is safe, is approached by the two subordinates he sent into the countryside. They proceed to murder Choi and to rob him, having accepted a Russian bribe to do so.
In the aftermath of the incident, Ding's dementia worsens, and he is paralyzed by the loss of Cherry. The police make no attempt to blame Ding, recognizing that his actions wereself-defense.Suddenly, Cherry returns, revealing that she simply ran off to live at a friend's house. Even as Ding forgets his family members, he remembers his relationship with Cherry, who cares for him well into his senescence. In a scene after the credits, the two countryside criminals accidentally encounter a group of drillingPLAmilitary police, who turn and give chase. After a short chase the remaining criminals are captured.
Cast
edit- Main cast
- Sammo HungasDing Hu
- Zhu YuchenasPark Chan-Seong, Madam Park's son who work as cop
- Li Qinqin asPark Seo-Neon, Ding's neighbour
- Feng Jiayi asChoi Dong-hoon
- Jacqueline Chan asCherry Li, Li Zheng Jiu's daughter
- Special appearance
- Andy LauasLi Zheng Jiu
- Guest appearances
- Hu JunasCop #3
- Feng ShaofengasDoctor Hu
- Eddie PengasCop #2
- Song JiaasCherry's mother
- Tsui HarkasOld Man #3
- Karl MakaasOld Man #2
- Dean ShekasOld Man #1
- Yuen BiaoasCop #1
- Yuen QiuasSchool teacher
- Yuen WahasMail Man
- Yuen Ting
- Yuen Po
- Jonathan Kos-ReadasDing's son-in-law
- James Lee Guy asSergei
- Tomer Oz asVasily
- Yi Heng Du asJin Si
Production
editJackie Chanwas originally offered a role in the film. However, Chan turned down the role due to scheduling conflicts and his sonJaycee Chan's recent drug arrest.[5][6][7]Filming forThe Bodyguardbegan in August 2014.[5]On 22 September, guest starAndy Laufilmed an action scene inVladivostok,Russia in which he portrays a thief who stole a bag of diamonds and flees by jumping from a building to the top of a car.[8][9]That same day, directorSammo Hungalso said that there were only ten days of scenes left that had yet to be filmed.[6]
Filming took place inSuifenheandMudanjiang,Heilongjiangprovince of China and in Vladivostok, Russia and its surroundings.[10]After arriving in Vladivostok on 18 September,[11]the film crew of 150 members began shooting scenes two days later, which were being done near the Hotel Versailles, onRussky Islandand at an old cemetery outsideUssuriyskduring a five-day-long shoot.[12]
Reception
editThe film grossedUS$8.4 millionon its opening day in mainland China[13]and was number-one on the opening weekend, with CN¥164 million (US$25.2 million).[2]It grossedUS$52.8 millionworldwide.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Đặc công gia gia"(in Chinese). The Metroplex. Archived fromthe originalon 23 April 2016.
- ^abcFrater, Patrick (3 April 2016)."China Box Office: Sammo Hung's 'Bodyguard' Beats Up 'Batman v Superman'".Variety.Retrieved4 April2016.
- ^ab"Wo de te gong ye ye (2016) - Financial Information".The Numbers.Retrieved30 December2016.
- ^Ma, Kevin (25 September 2014)."Sammo Hung returns to directing with Bodyguard".Film Business Asia.Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2014.Retrieved26 September2014.
- ^abc"Hồng kim bảo bạo thành long nhân nhi từ diễn 《 lão vệ binh 》: Na cá ba ba tâm tình hội hảo".ETtoday(in Chinese). 21 September 2014.Retrieved14 June2020.
- ^ab"【 tổ danh thiệp độc 】 tân hí mão thành long hồng kim bảo: Đẳng cừ tĩnh nhất luân tiên".Apple Daily(in Chinese). 20 September 2014.Retrieved14 June2020.
- ^Mighty Peking Man (13 March 2015)."Sammo Hung does some serious damage in 'The Bodyguard'".cityonfire.com.Archived fromthe originalon 19 March 2015.
- ^"Dữ tam mao tái hợp tác 《 lão vệ binh 》 hoa tử khiêu lâu lục xa đỉnh trạng thái y nhiên".Apple Daily(in Chinese). 22 September 2014.Retrieved15 June2020.
- ^"Andy cameo in new Sammo Hung film".AndyLauSounds.23 September 2014.Retrieved14 June2020.
- ^Kay, Jeremy (22 September 2014)."Lava Bear boards The Bodyguard".Screen Daily.Retrieved14 June2020.
- ^"Съемочная группа фильма" Старый солдат "прибыла во Владивосток (ФОТО)".VL.ru(in Russian). 18 September 2014.Retrieved15 June2020.
- ^"Как снимали азиатский боевик в центре Владивостока: подробности".VL.ru(in Russian). 6 October 2014.Retrieved15 June2020.
- ^"Box office data for Friday, 1st April 2016 (Estimates as of 21:30 CST)".Box Office China.Archived fromthe originalon 15 April 2016.Retrieved1 April2016.