BREAKING NEWS

The premiere of Johnnie To's Breaking News at Cannes marks the moment when art cinema finally embraced the Hong Kong action genre. Here is a film as intelligent as it is tense as it is well-made. From the breathtaking intricacy of its seven-minute opening take, shot on location in a grungy side street in the New Territories, the complex oppositions that form Hong Kong society are subjected to ruthless scrutiny. The familiar opposition of cops and robbers (led by pop-star Richie Jen) is complicated by a further division between no-nonsense street cops (led by Nick Cheung) and the media-savvy inspector (Kelly Chen). A stake-out goes wrong and a very public shoot-out leads to an official panic. When the violent, though quietly decent bandits are run to ground in a typically cramped apartment building, it sparks a media circus. Inspector Rebecca Fong (Chen) sees the whole thing as a show, as imagery to be manipulated to her advantage, but the outlaws armed with mobile phones and an internet connection, show that two can play that game. Hong Kong may be a city where media spin is king, but To delves beneath the imagery to the gritty realities that make HK truly unique. EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FEATURES: Limited first-pressing collector's booklet featuring new essays by film writer Hayley Scanlon & film historian Mike Walsh New audio commentary by Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng "A Propaganda Duel" - a newly extended video essay on Breaking News Newly translated and improved optional English subtitles Melbourne International Film Festival 2004 Q&A with Johnnie To Newly unearthed interviews with Johnnie To, Kelly Chen & Nick Cheung at Cannes 2004* Behind the scenes Deleted scene [Mandrain only] Photo gallery Theatrical trailer Reversible sleeve