| Election 2 | |
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Original Hong Kong theatrical poster |
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| Traditional | 黑社會:以和爲貴 |
| Simplified | 黑社会:以和为贵 |
| Directed by | Johnnie To |
| Produced by | Dennis Law Johnnie To |
| Written by | Yau Nai-Hoi Yip Tin-Shing |
| Starring | Louis Koo Simon Yam Nick Cheung Cheung Siu-Fai Lam Suet Lam Ka-Tung |
| Music by | Robert Ellis-Geiger |
| Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung |
| Editing by | Law Wing-Cheong Jeff Cheung |
| Studio | Milkyway Image One Hundred Years of Film |
| Distributed by | Hong Kong: China Star Entertainment Group China: China Film Group United States: Tartan Films |
| Release date(s) | April 27, 2006 |
| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin |
Election 2 (simplified Chinese: 黑社会:以和为贵; traditional Chinese: 黑社會:以和爲貴 Literal Title: Black Society: Value Peace Most), also known as Triad Election in the United States, is a 2006 Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To with a large ensemble cast that includes Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Nick Cheung. A sequel to the 2005 film Election, the film concludes the events of the first film centering on Lok (Yam), who this time struggles to keep his title as triad boss as a triad re-election draws near, while Jimmy (Koo) attempts to retire as a triad to become a legitimate businessman.
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Lok (Simon Yam) is now holding his position as triad chairman of the Wo Shing society unthreatened in Hong Kong. As his two-year term expires, a new chairman election nears, but Lok contemplates breaking tradition, attempting to seek re-election. At the same time, Jimmy (Louis Koo) is trying to escape Wo Shing by building a legitimate business empire in mainland China. When he is arrested in an illegal financial trade with a government official for the building of a new logisitics center and highway, the section chief of the National Security Bureau forbids him to re-enter the mainland to do business, unless he becomes Wo Shing's next chairman. Reluctant, but forced to accept the reality he can never truly exit the triads, Jimmy enters into the election nomination, with Jet (Nick Cheung) and Kun (Lam Ka-Tung) also seeking the chairman position.
Lok first negotiates with Kun, claiming Wo Shing's "Uncles" will support Kun, so long as they team up for a joint election bid. Kun then kidnaps and places Jimmy's financial supporter Mr. Kwok in a coffin alive with Big Head, so as to eliminate the competition. Lok also asks Jet to asssassinate Jimmy, also claiming the "Uncles" will support Jet. Unfortunately, Jet does not complete the assassination, following Jimmy warning the youth Lok will most likely have him and Kun killed, once Jimmy is dead. Mr. So, having been similarly arrested in the mainland for an illegal gambling ring, allies with Jimmy to see to his election as chairman. Meanwhile, Lok hides the Dragon Head Baton, the symbol of Wo Shing's leadership, in mainland China, hoping to reassert his power, then outright kills "Uncle" Teng Wai (Wong Tin-Lam), after Teng blasts Lok for breaking Wo Shing tradition. Seeing the corruption and civil war escalating in the society, Jimmy kidnaps Lok's lieutenants and bribes them to work for him. After exposing Kun for kidnapping Mr. Kwok and Big Head, while ordering Lok's lieutenants to murder the chairman, Jimmy's nomination is successful, and he wins the election.
Back in mainland China, the section chief congratulates Jimmy for winning and hands the Dragon Head Baton Lok hid. However, the Security Bureau is tired of seeing the baton entering the mainland for years and having to re-deliver it back to Wo Shing. In the hopes this will not happen again, the section chief orders Jimmy to become Wo Shing's chairman permanently, establishing the society as a family enterprise. The furious Jimmy cannot believe these turn of events, hoping once his two-year term as chairman expires, he can finally go "clean". Upon visiting his wife, whom he sent into hiding during the election for her safety, she announces her pregnancy. Jimmy embraces her hiding both fear and horror at the prospect of his son being trapped in a life he wants no part of.
The film first appeared at the 2006 Hong Kong International Film Festival. Election 2 was also shown in "Out of Competition" (midnight screenings) section at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival,[1] where the movie was very well received by international critics. Afterward, Election 2 became a popular hit on the international film festival circuit.
Election 2 opened in Hong Kong on April 27, 2006, and went on grossing about HK$13.57 million in Hong Kong; it was less than the original's HK$15.89 million total gross, but HK$13.57 million total gross was still quite high for a movie that received a Category III rating (18+ restriction) in Hong Kong.
Despite receiving very little promotion, in the United States, the film still had the highest per-screen average box office on the weekend it opened. [1]
Election 2 received very positive reviews in the United States, with more than 96% "Fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.[2] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times wrote that the movie is an "exemplary gangster thriller."[3]
In May 2006, Tartan Films acquired all US distribution rights of Election 2. Tartan Films released this movie in the US theatrically under the new title Triad Election on April 25, 2007.[4]
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