The Sparring Partner
The Sparring Partner is a 2022 Hong Kong legal affairs crime thriller film directed by Ho Cheuk Tin in his directorial debut. The film stars Yeung Wai Lun, Mak Pui Tung, Louisa So, and Michael Chow,[4] with Jan Lamb and Gloria Yip listed as special performers. The story is adapted from the 2013 Tai Kok Tsui double parricide and dismemberment case.
| The Sparring Partner | |
|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 正義迴廊 |
| Directed by | Ho Cheuk Tin |
| Screenplay by | Frankie Tam Oliver Yip Thomas Leung |
| Produced by | Philip Yung |
| Starring | Yeung Wai Lun Mak Pui Tung Louisa So Michael Chow Jan Lamb |
| Cinematography | Leung Yau Cheong |
| Edited by | J.Him Lee Zhang Zhao Jojo Shek |
| Music by | Sara Fung Chi Han |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Golden Scene Mei Ah Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 138 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Languages | Cantonese English(partial) German(partial) |
| Budget | HK$10 million (US$1.29 million) [1] |
| Box office | HK$43 million (US$5.53 million)[2] (Hong Kong) NT$590,000 (Taiwan)[3] |
The film was premiered at the The 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival. It was approved by the Film Development Fund with a financing amount of HK$2.5 million.[5] and released by Golden Scene and Mei Ah Entertainment. The film was officially released in Hong Kong on October 27, 2022. It earned HK$43 million and becomes the tenth highest-grossing movie of 2022 in Hong Kong.
Premise
The case of a double parricide becomes complicated and confusing. Two barristers represent the two defendants in court. Nine jurors with different backgrounds are involved in the debate of right and wrong in justice at the same time.
Cast
- Yeung Wai Lun as Henry Cheung, the first defendant; a Hitler admirer with an IQ of 127
- Mak Pui Tung as Angus Tong, the second defendant of the case; an accountant with an IQ of 84
- Louisa So as Barrister Carrie Yau, a senior counsel and Angus' representative lawyer
- Michael Chow as Barrister Allen Chu, a solicitor in Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice; He can perform excellent English but is bad at Cantonese
- Jan Lamb as Barrister Wilson Ng, Henry's representative lawyer
- Gloria Yip as Wai-Ping Yip, one of the jurors; a retired teacher and housewife
- Choi Tsz-Ching as Barrister Chan Yuk-Yu, a senior counsel in Prosecutions Division of the Department of Justice and Chu's assistant
- David Siu as Cheung Shiu, DCS sergeant
- Chu Pak-Him as Hin Jo Cheung, Henry's brother
- Harriet Yeung as Man Shan Tong, Angus' sister
- Xenia Chong as Pui King Shiu, Henry and Hin's cousin; a devout christian
- Au Shiu Hee James as Kuen Kwai Cheung, Henry and Hin's father and the murder victim
- Fung-Kam Chan as Suet Yee Shiu, Henry and Hin's mother and the murder victim
- Brenda Chan Kwai-Fan as Yim-Or Suen, one of the jurors; a former principal
- Amen Au Cheuk-Man as Siu-Hung Mak, the jury foreman
- Ursula Wong Yue-Si as Mei Fan Liu, one of the jurors
- Chung Suet-Ying as Ka-Man Cheng, one of the jurors
- Yau Man-Shing as Kin-Shing Lee, one of the jurors; a merchant
- Lam Sen as Si-Kwan Ko, one of the jurors; a Philosophy graduate
- Wong Wa-Wo as Fu Ho, one of the jurors who is retired
- Kiki Cheung Hoi Kei as Ka-Yan Koo, one of the jurors; an office lady
- Nicky Wong as Little O, a DCS officer
- Matt Chow as Superintendent Kam, the DCS superintendent
- Rachel Leung as Man Yee Ho, Ng's apprentice
- Joe Cheung as judge
- Larine Tang as Mika, Angus' ex-girlfriend
- Crystal Kwok as Amanda, a magazine editor
- Myth Or Yik-Ki as Kate, a reporter who works for Amanda
- Patra Au as Little O's mother
Release
According to the movie rating system in Hong Kong, the film is listed as category III, only allowing aged 18 or above to watch.
The film had its world premiere as the opening film at the 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival on August 30, 2022. On September 1 the same year, Distributor Golden Scene announced that the film would be officially released in Hong Kong and Macau on October 27, with the first screenings began in the same month.
The Walt Disney Company has purchased the exclusive copyright of the film. It was streamed exclusively online on Disney+ at 9:30 p.m. on March 25, 2023 and premiered exclusively on Fox Networks Group's Star Chinese Movies.[6]
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, The Sparring Partner has an approval rating of 100% based on reviews from 7 critics.[7] Cath Clarke of The Guardian gave the film three stars out of five, and described the movie as "part stylish courtroom drama, relishing the intellectual sparring of the barristers".[8] Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com awarded the film three point five stars out of four, writing that ""The Sparring Partner" is more about the culpability and partiality of a jury of Hong Kong residents, some of whom have read about this case in the tabloids, despite being told they should not".[9]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Results | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival | Best New Actor in a Chinese Film | Mak Pui Tung | Nominated | |
| AEG Entertainment Most Popular 2022 | Best Drama | The Sparring Partner | Won | ||
| Best New Director (Film) | Ho Cheuk Tin | Won | |||
| Best Actor (Film) | Yeung Wai Lun | Won | |||
| Best New Actor (Film) | Mak Pui Tung | Won | |||
| 2023 | 29th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award | Best Screenplay | Frankie Tam, Oliver Yip, Thomas Leung | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Mak Pui Tung | Nominated | |||
| Recommended Movie | The Sparring Partner | Won | |||
| 2022 Hong Kong Screenwriters' Guild Award | Recommended Screenplay of the Year | Won | |||
| Best Movie Character of the Year | Mak Pui Tung | Won | |||
| 16th Asian Film Awards | Best Newcomer | Won | |||
| 2022 Hong Kong Film Directors Guild Annual Awards | Best New Director | Ho Cheuk Tin | Won | ||
| The 1st Hong Kong Online Film Critics HIGHLIGHT Awards | Most HIGHLIGHT Director | Won | |||
| Most HIGHLIGHT New Director | Won | ||||
| Most HIGHLIGHT Movie | The Sparring Partner | Won | |||
| Most HIGHLIGHT Screenplay | Frankie Tam, Oliver Yip, Thomas Leung | Won | |||
| Most HIGHLIGHT Actor | Mak Pui Tung | Won | |||
| Most HIGHLIGHT Supporting Actress | Harriet Yeung | Won | |||
| MOVIE6 People's Choice Movie Award | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |||
| Best Picture | The Sparring Partner | Won | |||
| Best Film Poster | Nominated | ||||
| Best Director | Ho Cheuk Tin | Won | |||
| Best New Director | Won | ||||
| Best Actor | Mak Pui Tung | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Louisa So | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jan Lamb | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Song | "Twisted Fate", composer：Sara Fung Chi Han, Kenny Wong | Nominated | |||
| 41st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film | The Sparring Partner | Nominated | ||
| Best Director | Ho Cheuk Tin | Nominated | |||
| Best New Director | Won | ||||
| Best Screenplay | Frankie Tam, Oliver Yip, Thomas Leung | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Mak Pui Tung | Nominated | |||
| Yeung Wai Lun | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actress | Louisa So | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jan Lamb | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Harriet Yeung | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Leung Yau Cheong | Nominated | |||
| Best Film Editing | J.Him Lee, Zhang Zhao, Jojo Shek | Won | |||
| Best Art Direction | Ida Mak | Nominated | |||
| Best Visual Effects | Shigeharu Tomotoshi | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Design | Tu Duu Chih, Chiang Yi Chen | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Film Score | Sara Fung Chi Han | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Film Song | "Twisted Fate", composer：Sara Fung Chi Han, Kenny Wong | Nominated |
References
- "電影發展基金融資製作電影《正義迴廊》本地首映". The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Press Releases. 18 October 2022. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
- As of February 21, 2023
- "全國電影票房2023年01/23-01/29統計資訊". Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute. 2 February 2023.
- "正義迴廊｜蘇玉華拍到幾乎虛脫 感激林海峰及時出手相助". Ming Pao. 31 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- Ryan (15 February 2020). "何爵天《正義迴廊》獲電影發展基金融資". 講。鏟。片. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
- "《正義迴廊》將於這天上架香港 Disney+ ，還有這五部 2022 港產片票房十大電影上架…". 港角. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- "The Sparring Partner". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- Clarke, Cath (14 November 2022). "The Sparring Partner review – a stylish take on a gruesome real-life murder". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- Abrams, Simon (9 December 2022). "The Sparring Partner". RogerEbert.com.