The Story of Woo Viet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Story of Woo Viet
Directed by Ann Hui
Produced by Teddy Robin Kwan
Starring Chow Yun Fat, Cora Miao, Lieh Lo, Cherie Chung
Music by Lin Minyi (林敏怡)
Release date(s) 1981
Running time 92 min
Country Flag of Hong Kong Hong Kong
Language Cantonese
Followed by Boat People
IMDb profile

The Story of Woo Viet (Chinese Title: 胡越的故事 , Woo yuet dik goo si) is a 1981 Hong Kong political drama made by director Ann Hui. Actor Chow Yun Fat played the title character, Woo Viet. The assistant director was Stanley Kwan and the action choreographer was Ching Siu-tung.

The movie was one of the first few political dramas made in Hong Kong. It used the story of Vietnamese refugees (boat people) to reflect on Hong Kong's handling of the refugee issue, and also on Hong Kong's sentiment regarding their uncertain future of sovereignty at the time.

[edit] Plot synopsis

Woo Viet wants to leave his country, Vietnam, behind and start over in the United States. But he first must make his way to Hong Kong. In a refugee detention camp there, he discovers many of his countrymen are disappearing under mysterious circumstances. As Woo tries to find out what is happening, he realizes his life is in danger, and has to leave for the United States immediately using a false passport instead of seeking asylum. In the process, he meets a beautiful woman, Cham Thanh, who then travels with him. When Woo and his new love stop over in the Philippines, they discover that the females are conned to stay there to become prostitutes. Instead of taking the plane to the United States, Woo Viet decides to stay in the Philippines to save his love. However, as he is stranded in Manila's Chinatown, Woo Viet is forced to work as a hired killer.

[edit] Trivia

  • It is Cherie Chung's debut in a movie role (as Cham Thanh / Shum Ching).
  • After Chow Yun-Fat's rise to international fame (The Killer (1989) and Hard Boiled (1992)), this movie was released on video in the United States under the title God of Killers. It was marketed as an action thriller to help generate more attention.

[edit] External links

Languages