Johnnie To’s SPARROW is a love letter to Hong Kong, which is finding its arteries increasingly clogged with Starbucks and bank branches, while its charm is bulldozed to make way for more steel and glass luxury condominiums. More of a musical than anything else, SPARROW is full of grand entrances, intricately choreographed scenes that unfurl like dance numbers and a 60’s Euro-cool soundtrack full of marimba glissandos, crooned whispers and sparkling jazz pianos. Shot over the course of several years, SPARROW is a loving tribute to the films of the 1960’s, those of the “French New Wave” in particular. It revolves around a group of pickpockets (or “sparrows” as they are known by in Hong Kong slang) led by Kei (Simon Yam), who each meet up with the beautiful Lei (Kelly Lin), who has a very jealous older beau in the form of Mr. Fu (Lo Hoi-Pang). Taking care to shoot in the older parts of Hong Kong (the few that still exist) and making a conscious effort to dress his characters in clothes that could have very well have stepped off the set of a Godard picture, Johnnie To brings back a different time and different feeling in this film, where the mise-en-scene itself was paramount. SPARROW opens a the 4 Star Theatre on December 25th.
Nominated For “Golden Berlin Bear” Award 2008 Berlin International Film Festival
Directed by: Johnny To
Starring: Simon Yam, Kelly Lin, Lam Ka Tung, Lo Hoi Pang
Running Time: 87 Minutes | Genre: Drama
Language: Cantonese with English subtitle
Year Released: 2008
4 Star Movie Theatre
2200 Clement St.@23rd Ave
San Francisco, Ca. 94121
(415) 666-3706
