Protégé

An excellent portrayal of an undercover cop working to bring an end to a huge drug network in Hong Kong.

The film gives three sides of the story and shows the viewer a glimpse into the world of the drug-lord, the undercover cop and the addict.

All three main characters (Andy Lau, David Wu and Zhang Jingchu) gives an excellent and flawless performance. Where does one draw the line between business and drug smuggling, crime prevention and aiding crime, addiction and family? Is David Wu's character the protégé or are the addicts the protégé? At the end of the day, drugs destroys everything. One could turn a blind eye, but everything comes round in a circle.

One of the best films I've seen in years. (The director, Derek Yee, wrote and directed the excellent ONE NIGHT IN MONGKOK)

Watching it was like going into a surreal alternate universe--part horror, part human drama, part cop story.

The plot description does not do it justice, as it sounds like a typical HK action drama, or at best a copycat of INFERNAL AFFAIRS, or TRAFFIC.

This harrowing film is complex and has its own vision. Addiction, despair and betrayal are at its core.

The cop-mole plot is only part of the story. The world of heroin is explored on several levels: poppy growers, "cookers", suppliers, an amazing sequence in Thailand in the heart of the "Golden Triangle", and --best of all-- a look inside the world of a young mother and heroin addict-- which is shot with such a dreamlike but gritty reality you are horrified yet entranced.

The cinematographer and production designer should be commended for creating such a fascinating universe for the actors to inhabit.

The actors all give strong performances, but it's Zhang Jing Chu who is mesmerizing and heartbreaking as Jane, who plays the heroin addict as if she were a "living ghost."

I saw this movie in the Hong Kong IFC mall before I got the train to the airport. It is one of the best films I have ever seen. I am a huge Daniel Wu fan anyway, and I related to his relationship with his smack-head neighbour straight away, having lived with a smack-head with a little daughter. Some of the "it's not my fault" statements by the neighbour and her slimy husband seemed very familiar to me. Judging by the reaction of other (Chinese) people in the cinema, it was familiar to them as well. I expect this film to be available soon on DVD. When it does I will buy it instantly. I can recommend it totally to any HK film fan, and to anyone else who appreciates films that make you think.

Ordinary development, good research on today's drug-dealing, satisfactory (only) acting, a just so-so plot plus a perfunctorily didactic story, nevertheless, I still recommend this as a light Sunday afternoon amuse-bouche.

We are living in a world of mixed, confusing values. What is right? What is wrong? Lin Quin is an extremely careful businessman. He has a clean family and clean life (he doesn't even smoke, not to mention drug). He is very clear-minded to the point of having a frozen heart without much feeling for the others. He knows, very rationally, all the tricks and danger of drug and drug-dealing. He knows, super-sensibly, the wants and behaviour of the drug consumers. Trafficking drug to him is only a means of accumulating wealth regardless whether it is harmful or evil. He even makes an analogy between cigarette and drug. According to the world system and world values, he is correct: as there is a demand, I supply. As the buyers (drug users) get what they want and I get what (the money) I want, we are both happy. Isn't that the world we are living in? Nick's remark at the opening and closing of the film somehow is a futile didactic statement. "For long, I didn't understand why people take drug.... actually it's all because of emptiness (loneliness). And, which is more horrible? Loneliness or drug? I really can't tell." No philosophy class but loneliness kills more, for sure, more destructive than drugs.

What touches my heart is the ending. Nick promises to continue his duty as a special agent (undercover). When loneliness comes, he also intends to take drug but at last his salvation is brought by "innocence" (personified by Jane's little daughter) who dumps the syringe for him. Only when we come to purity and innocence, goodness and kindness can we have a way out from evil.

One of the highly anticipated films of the year, Derek Yee's 'Protege' brings together Andy Lau and Daniel Wu in a tale centred around the world of drug trafficking in Asia.

Nick (Daniel Wu) is a young and ambitious cop who has been working undercover in a drug ring headed by diabetic crime-lord Lai (Andy Lau). During a long course of being undercover, Nick has been able to gain the trust and support of Lai by doing may things against his duty as a policeman - and he is chosen to be his 'protege'. During this he meets Jane (Zhang Jingchu), a young mother who has become an addict due to her husbands' (Louis Koo) actions. While expressing sympathy for Jane's daughter, Jane ends up falling for Nick - but he cannot see past the point that his actions are responsible for people like her becoming addicts. Thus Nick feels the need to reform and do his bit for society.

The film itself resembles Steven Soderbergh's award-winning 'Traffic', the world of drug trafficking is shown in different perspectives. Derek Yee uses detailed character work, exploratory cinematography and visually impeccable locations. Like his previous film 'One Nite In Mongkok' Yee uses the camera and characters to bring the locations to life - highlight being scenes shot at the Golden Triangle - an area of Hong Kong where a lot of the drug-trafficking and production takes place.

Daniel Wu seems to improve with every film he does, this time he plays a rather mixed up man that is guilt ridden by his actions.. where as Andy Lau plays a negative character with ease, looking at the drug trade as pure business: supply and demand. Zhang Jingshu steals the show from everyone as a junkie mother living in a run-down apartment. For instance, the opening shots where she's shown shooting up - no dialogue yet physically expressing her character with such brilliance (her daughter coming into-the shot just touches so deep, hard to not be compelled). Louis Koo proves to be above average as a very unlikeable addict and manages not to overact at times. Support cast such as Anita Yuen and Mei Tan-Hei are underused and represented as one-dimensional characters.

The script is rather tightly wove, that is until the end where it just follows a conventional ending and stating that 'Drugs are bad', which does make the effort seem rushed. But amazing direction, notable performances and a rather interesting point makes 'Protege' a one-of-a-kind Hong Kong movie. There are some action sequences which carry tension,and the chemistry between the main cast carries off as really convincing. This is the kind of movie that a lot of film buffs would love to see: its smart, gritty, intense and shocking. One of the best Hong Kong movies of the year, if not one of the best movies of the year.

Highly recommended.