Mainland Chinese director Feng Xiaogang collaborated with Hong Kong star Andy Lau Tak-Wah for the first time in "A World Without Thieves" (2004). Before the film was released, it was considered by Chinese media as a step forward for Feng Xiaogang's films and a road of no return to bid farewell to "serious" films.
In fact, Feng Xiaogang as a blockbuster film director, his films are actually quite "meaningful" to Hong Kong audiences, especially his last film "Cell Phone" (2003), which describes the defensive battle of the relationship between men and women. The sharp dialogue is rich in entertainment, and it also exposes the problems of male and female couples in Chinese society. However, Feng Xiaogang has always been under a lot of pressure from public opinion, believing that he led Chinese films to leave a rigid rule that since the founding of the country, films have served society and art, even if it's an international production directed by Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, it must dress up as a face that promotes the quintessence of the country, Zhang Yimou mentioned in many interviews that Chinese films have never had the concept of commercial films. Their generation's understanding of films was only within the scope of "clear rules and regulations" such as politics and art, until the market opened up and was affected by Hong Kong Cinema, began to have a serious exploration of commercial films.
When the major directors had not yet grasped the elements of commercial films, Feng Xiaogang with his keen sense, developed a commercial film road that was different from Hong Kong Cinema, and achieved the throne of the best-selling director. However, at the same time, he also has to bear the pressure from the industry and public opinion, and his cooperation with Hong Kong actors and film companies makes people feel that he has no return to pure business. However, "A World Without Thieves" makes people look different. The protagonist Wang Bo, played by Andy Lau, finally lost his life for his lover Wang Li, who was pregnant with his child. Wong Bo's behavior was recognized by the police security Han. In the end, Han told Wang Li that when their child was born, she should tell the child what kind of person his father was, and it was absolutely "not ashamed". The touching story has educational significance, and domestic critics also gave positive comments to the film, "turning over" for Feng Xiaogang.
Even so, "A World Without Thieves" still has a lot of roughness in Feng Xiaogang's films, such as the incongruity between the train scene shot in studio setting and the picture outside the window. The opening scene of the film, which resembles a foreign car advertisement, does not match the style of the film. However, Feng Xiaogang still maintains his strengths in storytelling. The characters' distinctive personalities and wonderful dialogues make the film stable and solid. Coupled with the humanistic handling, the audience suffers greatly. In one part of the film, when Wang Bo, played by Andy Lau, stole money from Uncle Bill, played by Ge You, from his pickpocket group. This originally belonged to orphan migrant worker Sha Gen, played by Wang Baoqiang. Wang Li, played by Rene Liu Ruo-Ying insists on returning the money to Sha Gen. Wang Bo thinks that Sha Gen have no right to think that "there are no thieves in the world". The loss of this money is a lesson in life for him. Wang Bo's point of view is actually it has been recognized by many audiences, especially the general public who have encountered fraud and theft. They will think why Sha Gen receives such a "preferential".
As for Wang Li's temporary kindness, she wanted to accumulate blessings for the child in her belly, and she didn't want her child to have the same "thief nature" as herself, to be a normal person, like Sha Gen. Wong Li represents another point of view. People who grow up in difficult years will inevitably have more or less evil deeds, always thinking that the next generation can have a better life. Under the moral barrier, people will make up for their sins by accumulating virtue, building bridges and roads for the masses, virtuous after becoming wealthy, etc., which is a very Chinese atonement. Wang Li's temporary kindness is also based on this, and it's also recognized by people. The police security Han played by Zhang Hanyu, to a certain extent, represents a positive and official role. He watched the desperate couple fight with a group of big thieves for Sha Gen who met by chance. What finally solved his doubts was Wang Li's statement of atonement, which he felt was "reasonable". Compared with Wang Bo's cynicism, which needs to be tempered, Wang Li's accumulation of virtue seems more attractive. She has done many "big cases" and can basically "go ashore" (retire), for the sake of her children. And doing a good deed is more praised and recognized by the people, including director Feng Xiaogang.
This "reasonable" actually bears the burden of history. In order to survive and live, the Chinese have gone through countless battles and hardships in the past 100 years. It has become a rare miracle to be a normal human being. Public security Han faced with this pair of male and female robbers who had "reformed" for a while, based on sympathy and recognition of their kindness for the sake of accumulating virtue, and fought fiercely with the thieves in order to protect Sha Gen. Public security Han wanted to "let them go", but because they had a "criminal record", he decided to "handle them according to the law". Standing on the high moral platform, public security Han made a "correct" judgement.
But the director standing behind public security Han asked Wang Bo to lose his life, make sacrifices for his crime, and create a touching scene. This extends to the people who are burdened with historical crimes, to make contributions to the next generation. In Feng Xiaogang's eyes, it turns out that sacrifices are required. Does this extend to our country as well? In any case, Feng Xiaogang, a high-level referee hidden behind, was recognized by many audiences. In terms of dramatic effect and Feng Xiaogang's moral orientation, Wang Bo "must die".
By Kam Po LAM (original in Chinese)
In fact, Feng Xiaogang as a blockbuster film director, his films are actually quite "meaningful" to Hong Kong audiences, especially his last film "Cell Phone" (2003), which describes the defensive battle of the relationship between men and women. The sharp dialogue is rich in entertainment, and it also exposes the problems of male and female couples in Chinese society. However, Feng Xiaogang has always been under a lot of pressure from public opinion, believing that he led Chinese films to leave a rigid rule that since the founding of the country, films have served society and art, even if it's an international production directed by Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, it must dress up as a face that promotes the quintessence of the country, Zhang Yimou mentioned in many interviews that Chinese films have never had the concept of commercial films. Their generation's understanding of films was only within the scope of "clear rules and regulations" such as politics and art, until the market opened up and was affected by Hong Kong Cinema, began to have a serious exploration of commercial films.
When the major directors had not yet grasped the elements of commercial films, Feng Xiaogang with his keen sense, developed a commercial film road that was different from Hong Kong Cinema, and achieved the throne of the best-selling director. However, at the same time, he also has to bear the pressure from the industry and public opinion, and his cooperation with Hong Kong actors and film companies makes people feel that he has no return to pure business. However, "A World Without Thieves" makes people look different. The protagonist Wang Bo, played by Andy Lau, finally lost his life for his lover Wang Li, who was pregnant with his child. Wong Bo's behavior was recognized by the police security Han. In the end, Han told Wang Li that when their child was born, she should tell the child what kind of person his father was, and it was absolutely "not ashamed". The touching story has educational significance, and domestic critics also gave positive comments to the film, "turning over" for Feng Xiaogang.
Even so, "A World Without Thieves" still has a lot of roughness in Feng Xiaogang's films, such as the incongruity between the train scene shot in studio setting and the picture outside the window. The opening scene of the film, which resembles a foreign car advertisement, does not match the style of the film. However, Feng Xiaogang still maintains his strengths in storytelling. The characters' distinctive personalities and wonderful dialogues make the film stable and solid. Coupled with the humanistic handling, the audience suffers greatly. In one part of the film, when Wang Bo, played by Andy Lau, stole money from Uncle Bill, played by Ge You, from his pickpocket group. This originally belonged to orphan migrant worker Sha Gen, played by Wang Baoqiang. Wang Li, played by Rene Liu Ruo-Ying insists on returning the money to Sha Gen. Wang Bo thinks that Sha Gen have no right to think that "there are no thieves in the world". The loss of this money is a lesson in life for him. Wang Bo's point of view is actually it has been recognized by many audiences, especially the general public who have encountered fraud and theft. They will think why Sha Gen receives such a "preferential".
As for Wang Li's temporary kindness, she wanted to accumulate blessings for the child in her belly, and she didn't want her child to have the same "thief nature" as herself, to be a normal person, like Sha Gen. Wong Li represents another point of view. People who grow up in difficult years will inevitably have more or less evil deeds, always thinking that the next generation can have a better life. Under the moral barrier, people will make up for their sins by accumulating virtue, building bridges and roads for the masses, virtuous after becoming wealthy, etc., which is a very Chinese atonement. Wang Li's temporary kindness is also based on this, and it's also recognized by people. The police security Han played by Zhang Hanyu, to a certain extent, represents a positive and official role. He watched the desperate couple fight with a group of big thieves for Sha Gen who met by chance. What finally solved his doubts was Wang Li's statement of atonement, which he felt was "reasonable". Compared with Wang Bo's cynicism, which needs to be tempered, Wang Li's accumulation of virtue seems more attractive. She has done many "big cases" and can basically "go ashore" (retire), for the sake of her children. And doing a good deed is more praised and recognized by the people, including director Feng Xiaogang.
This "reasonable" actually bears the burden of history. In order to survive and live, the Chinese have gone through countless battles and hardships in the past 100 years. It has become a rare miracle to be a normal human being. Public security Han faced with this pair of male and female robbers who had "reformed" for a while, based on sympathy and recognition of their kindness for the sake of accumulating virtue, and fought fiercely with the thieves in order to protect Sha Gen. Public security Han wanted to "let them go", but because they had a "criminal record", he decided to "handle them according to the law". Standing on the high moral platform, public security Han made a "correct" judgement.
But the director standing behind public security Han asked Wang Bo to lose his life, make sacrifices for his crime, and create a touching scene. This extends to the people who are burdened with historical crimes, to make contributions to the next generation. In Feng Xiaogang's eyes, it turns out that sacrifices are required. Does this extend to our country as well? In any case, Feng Xiaogang, a high-level referee hidden behind, was recognized by many audiences. In terms of dramatic effect and Feng Xiaogang's moral orientation, Wang Bo "must die".
By Kam Po LAM (original in Chinese)