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Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
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Overview
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Release Date:
24 August 1990 (USA)
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Tagline:
A scathing new black comedy from the director of "Dim Sum" and "Chan Is Missing"
Plot:
A man is hired by a group of people he believes to be gangsters to escort a briefcase from America to Hong Kong...
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Awards:
1 win
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1 nomination
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User Comments:
an in-your-face Hong Kong postcard
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Cheng Wan Kin | ... | Duck Killer (as Chan Kim Wan) |
| John Chan | ... | The Son-in-Law (as John K. Chan) |
| Kwan-Min Cheng | ... | Uncle Cheng (as Cheng Kwan Min) |
| Allen Fong | ... | Taxi Driver |
| Rocky Wing Cheung Ho | ... | Punk #2 (as Rocky Ho) |
| Cinda Hui | ... | Kitty |
| Gary Kong | ... | Punk #1 |
| Chung Lin | ... | Ex-Red Guard (as Lam Chung) |
| Lieh Lo | ... | Pianist |
| Wei Lo | ... | The Boss (as Lo Wai) |
| Cora Miao | ... | Money |
| Spencer Nakasako | ... | Yat Boon Jai |
| Bonnie Ngai | ... | The Daughter |
| Victor Wong | ... | Blind Man |
| Wu Kin Man | ... | Spiritualist |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
83 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Wayne Wang's experimental style of guerrilla filmmaking was met with legal consternation by Disney attorneys after Wayne used Mickey Mouse ear caps in a scene as a satirical prop for his scathing commentary on the cultural effects of global capitalism in a pre-emerging China. Subsequently the Disney icons were digitally fogged out of all exhibition prints.
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Where can I find this? | Joshinator1989 |
| Following the S---Trail | stefano15 |
| Following the S--- trail | stefano15 |
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| IMDb Comedy section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |
Memorable mixture of surreal comedy and drama by Wayne Wang, about a stranger from overseas on a mission in Hong Kong - but he's not quite sure what the mission is. During the process he wanders around the city and gets caught up with a variety of dodgy, weird and alluring characters.
Semi-documentary material (interviews, animal slaughter) is inserted throughout, giving "Life is Cheap..." an intriguing texture. Memorable for possibly the longest foot chase sequence in the history of movies, ending in the infamous and now demolished Walled City near the former Kai Tak Airport.
Not a movie for everyone by any means (especially not the blinkered MPAA ratings board), but those who love Hong Kong and its movies should make the effort and hunt down this strange, near-forgotten little movie. Fans of "Pink Flamingos" will connect with the penultimate scene.