Election 2

The Age

Thursday February 22, 2007

PHILIPPA HAWKER

DVD REVIEW: Election 2, Hopscotch, 88 mins, MA, drama, 2006, ****

Hong Kong master Johnnie To's tale of gangster rivalries and political machinations is a tense, elegantly structured and violent exploration of the exercise of power. Its focus is Hong Kong's underworld, but its reach is broad: it is not only a savagely entertaining crime drama, but also a scorching political critique of the nexus between crime, business and the authorities. Although it helps to have seen Election, this sequel stands alone. Like its predecessor, it is about the biennial election of the chairman of the Wo Sing triad. Two years earlier, Lok (Simon Yam, whose smile is proportional to his menace) would stoop to any lengths to be elected. He bucks tradition to stand again. The twists and double-crosses are relentless and unpredictable and To's vision of post-handover Hong Kong is grim and compelling.

In last week's review, the credits for the Rock'n'Roll High School DVD should have referred to a commentary by "director Allan Arkush, writer Peter Whitley and producer Michael Finnell".