Sparrow (2008 film)

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Sparrow
Promotional poster
Directed by	Johnnie To
Produced by	Johnnie To
Written by	Chan Kin-Chung Fung Chih-Chiang Milkyway Creative Team
Starring	Simon Yam Kelly Lin Lam Ka-Tung Law Wing-Cheong Kenneth Cheung
Music by	Xavier Jamaux Fred Avril
Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung
Editing by	David M. Richardson
Studio	Universe Entertainment Milkyway Image
Distributed by	Universe Films Distribution Co. Ltd. China Film Group
Release dates	11 February 2008 (2008-02-11) (Berlinale) 19 June 2008 (2008-06-19) (Hong Kong)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Box office	$3,547,972^[1]

Sparrow (Chinese: 文雀; pinyin: Wen que; Cantonese Yale: Man jeuk) is a 2008 Hong Kong caper film produced and directed by Johnnie To. The film stars veteran Milkyway Image cast and crew alumni Simon Yam, Lam Ka-Tung, Law Wing-Cheong and Kenneth Cheung as a small gang of pickpockets, with each member being mysteriously approached by a beautiful Taiwanese woman (Kelly Lin) with a hidden agenda.

Sparrow remained in pre-production for three years from 2005 to 2008, with To shooting the film in between other projects. The film was selected in competition at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival, premiering during the festival in February 2008. It was released in Hong Kong on 19 June 2008.

Plot

Kei (Simon Yam) is the experienced leader of a team of pickpockets.(Pickpockets are also known as "Sparrows" in Hong Kong slang). He enjoys a carefree lifestyle taking photos with his vintage Rolleiflex. One day a dashing beauty, Chun-Lei (Kelly Lin), suddenly appears in Kei's viewfinder. Kei is mesmerized. Every member of his team has an encounter with her.... But behind Chun-Lei's attractive facade lies a mysterious past and a mission to set herself free.

Cast

Role	Actor
Kei/The Sparrow	Simon Yam
Chung Chun-Lei	Kelly Lin
Bo	Lam Ka-Tung
Sak	Law Wing-Cheong
Mac	Kenneth Cheung
Fu Kim-Tong	Lo Hoi-pang
Lung	Lam Suet

Production

Director Johnnie To shot the film in Hong Kong over a three-year period. In an interview, To said he and his crew would shoot every three or four months between projects.^[2]

Awards and nominations

Awards
Award	Category	Name	Outcome
45th Golden Horse Film Awards	Best Original Film Score	Xavier Jamaux, Fred Avril	Nominated
45th Golden Horse Film Awards	Best Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung	Won
28th Hong Kong Film Awards	Best Director	Johnnie To	Nominated
	Best Actor	Simon Yam	Nominated
	Best Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung	Nominated
	Best Film Editing	David M. Richardson	Nominated
	Best Original Film Score	Xavier Jamaux, Fred Avril	Nominated
3rd Asian Film Awards	Best Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung	Nominated
2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards	Best Feature Film		Nominated
	Best Achievement in Directing	Johnnie To	Nominated
	Best Performance by an Actor	Simon Yam	Nominated
	Best Achievement in Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung	Nominated

Berlin International Film Festival
Year	Award	Result
2008	Golden Bear	In Competition

References

External links

v t e Films directed by Johnnie To

Films	Happy Ghost III (1986) The Eighth Happiness (1988) All About Ah-Long (1989) The Royal Scoundrel (1991) Casino Raiders II (1991) Justice, My Foot! (1992) The Heroic Trio (1993) The Mad Monk (1993) A Moment of Romance 3 (1996) A Hero Never Dies (1998) Running Out of Time (1999) The Mission (1999) PTU (2003) Breaking News (2004) Throw Down (2004) Yesterday Once More (2004) Election (2005) Election 2 (2006) Exiled (2006) Linger (2008) Sparrow (2008) Vengeance (2009) Don't Go Breaking My Heart (2011) Life Without Principle (2011) Drug War (2012) Blind Detective (2013)

Films with Wai Ka-Fai	Needing You... (2000) Wu yen (2001) Love on a Diet (2001) Fulltime Killer (2001) Fat Choi Spirit (2002) My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (2002) Turn Left, Turn Right (2003) Running on Karma (2003) Mad Detective (2007)

Co-director	The Big Heat (1988) Executioners (1993) Running Out of Time 2 (2001) Triangle (2007)

See also	Milkyway Image Filmography Awards and honors Tactical Unit series

v t e Milkyway Image

Films	Final Justice (1996) Intruder (1997) The Longest Nite (1998) Expect the Unexpected (1998) A Hero Never Dies (1998) Running Out of Time (1999) The Mission (1999) Needing You... (2000) Wu yen (2001) Love on a Diet (2001) Fulltime Killer (2001) Running Out of Time 2 (2001) Second Time Around (2001) Fat Choi Spirit (2002) My Left Eye Sees Ghosts (2002) Love For All Seasons (2003) PTU (2003) Turn Left, Turn Right (2003) Running on Karma (2003) Breaking News (2004) Throw Down (2004) Yesterday Once More (2004) Election (2005) 2 Become 1 (2006) Election 2 (2006) Exiled (2006) Eye in the Sky (2007) Triangle (2007) Hooked on You (2007) Mad Detective (2007) Linger (2008) Sparrow (2008) Tactical Unit - Comrades in Arms (2009) Accident (2009) Vengeance (2009) Don't Go Breaking My Heart (2011) Punished (2011) Life Without Principle (2011) Drug War (2012) Blind Detective (2013) A Complicated Story (2014)

Filmmakers	Johnnie To Wai Ka-Fai Law Wing-cheung Patrick Yau Matt Chow Cheang Pou-Soi Lawrence Ah Mon Ringo Lam Tsui Hark Jeffrey Lau

Screenwriters	Yau Nai-Hoi Au Kin-Yee Yip Tin-Shing Szeto Kam-Yuen Ivy Ho

Crew	Dennis Law Cheng Siu-Keung Martin Chappell May Mok Patrick Tam Lai Yiu-fai

See also	Tactical Unit series

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