Fallen Angels (1995) Duo luo tian shi (original title)

Director:

Kar Wai Wong

Writer:

Kar Wai Wong

Release Date:

30 January 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Romance

Plot:

A disillusioned killer embarks on his last hit but first he has to overcome his affections for his cool...

Plot Keywords:

Hong Kong | Killer | Partner | Mute | Drifter

Awards:

8 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Leon Lai	...	Wong Chi-Ming / Killer
Michelle Reis	...	The Killer's Agent (as Michele Reis)
Takeshi Kaneshiro	...	He Zhiwu
Charlie Yeung	...	Charlie / Cherry
Karen Mok	...	Punkie / Blondie / Baby
Fai-hung Chan	...	The Man Forced to Eat Icecream
Man-Lei Chan	...	He Zhiwu's father (as Chen Man Lei)
Toru Saito	...	Sato
To-hoi Kong	...	Ah-hoi
Lee-na Kwan	...	Woman Pressed to Buy Vegetables
Yuhao Wu	...	Man forced to have his clothes washed

Directed by
Kar Wai Wong

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Kar Wai Wong

Produced by
Jeffrey Lau	....	producer
Norman Law	....	associate producer
Jacky Pang Yee Wah	....	executive producer
Kar Wai Wong	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Frankie Chan
Roel A. García

Cinematography by
Christopher Doyle

Film Editing by
William Chang
Ming Lam Wong

Production Design by
William Chang

Costume Design by
William Chang

Makeup Department
Lee-na Kwan	....	makeup artist
Wu Xuhao	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Carly Wong Tung Fa	....	executive production manager
Agnes Leung	....	assistant production manager
Jacky Pang Yee Wah	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Johnnie Kong	....	assistant director (as Johnny Kwong)

Sound Department
Xiaolong Cheng	....	sound effects
Raymond Mak	....	sound mixer
Leung Tai	....	sound recordist
Doris Wang	....	dubbing editor: mandarin

Stunts
Kin-Kwan Poon	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Guanghong Chen	....	camera operator: second unit
Ping Bin Lee	....	camera operator: second unit
Chi Ming Wong	....	gaffer (as Wong Chi Ming)

Editorial Department
Ming Lam Wong	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Shirley Kwan	....	composer: song "Wang Ji Ta"

Other crew
Ji-chiang Kuo	....	production assistant
Pak-Shing Leung	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Chan Ye-Cheng
• Jet Tone Production

Distributors

• Accent Film Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Aska Film Distribution (1998) (Canada) (as "Fallen Angels") (subtitled)
• Electric
• Kino International (1998) (USA) (subtitled)

Other Companies

• Mark-1 Music Centre  music recording studio

Also Known As:

"Duo luo tian shi" - Hong Kong (original title)

Runtime:

96 min | Hong Kong:97 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA (cable rating) | Australia:M (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:R

Company:

Chan Ye-Cheng

Trivia:

The character He Zhiwu, who is mute but able to communicate with the audience through narration, tells us he became mute after eating a tin of pineapple with a past expiration date. A character in the earlier Kar Wai Wong film, Chungking Express (1994), is obsessed with the expiration dates on tins of pineapple. In addition, they are both named He Zhiwu (though the character in Chungking Express (1994) is a cop, and the character in this film is a former criminal) and both are played by the actor Takeshi Kaneshiro. Also his cop number and prisoner number are the same.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The Killer's Agent:Are we still partners?
Wong Chi-Ming:[voiceover] We've been business partners for nearly three years. This is the first time we've ever sat together. We hardly ever see each other. I know how hard it is for a man to control his passion. Partners shouldn't get emotionally involved with each other.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Home Alone 3 (1997)

Soundtrack:

Karmacoma

Powerful, stunning work

Wow. Fallen Angels really surprised me. I rarely read reviews or synopses of movies before viewing. So, I expected to see classic Hong Kong shoot 'em up gangsta film. Instead, I was intrigued and stunned by this incredible movie.

The characters are the focus as they each tell their stories. Literally, the title "Fallen Angels" gives you an idea of their plight. The film doesn't glorify the criminal lifestyle and shows aspects like isolation and loneliness. It's funny how the killer even tries to imagine how happy he'd be trying to live a "normal" life working a 9 to 5. Unfortunately, life's placed him in his predicament and must deal with the ramifications of it. Add to it his agent (played by knockout Michelle Reis) who is really enigmatic in this one. Her scene at the jukebox is one that displays the pain, agony, and confusion that she is going through. Plus, that song is like joy and torture for her at the same time!

Then, there is He. A man of few words who's story may be one of the most moving. Who could've thought a video could be so powerful and sentimental? This may be one of the most strangest, complex, yet fascinating characters I've ever onscreen. His silent nature, line of work (which is the oddest form of coercion I've ever seen!), and his struggles are really played well by Takeshi Kaneshiro, especially his scenes with his dad.

Wong Kar Wai's direction really makes the film. I really loved the dark, trippy music soundtrack which helped glaze on a slick, surreal coating. It sounds like something that would've been produced by Tricky, Massive Attack, or Portishead. While this may not have a bloody, high body count, the story told here makes this such a worthwhile movie and can be appreciated after repeated viewings.