Triangle (2007) Tie saam gok (original title)

Directors:

Ringo Lam
Johnnie To
(more)

Writers:

Sharon Chung (written by)
Kenny Kan (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

1 October 2007 (China)

Genre:

Action

Tagline:

Temptation. Jealousy. Destiny.

Plot:

Told in three 30-minute segments, three friends seek out the buried treasure of a mysterious stranger. |

Plot Keywords:

Shot In The Chest | Pregnancy | Shot In The Head | Murder | Flat Tire

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Louis Koo	...	Fai
Simon Yam	...	Lee Bo Sam
Honglei Sun	...	Mok Chung Yuan (as Sun Hong Lei)
Ka Tung Lam	...	Wen (as Lam Ka Tung)
Kelly Lin	...	Ling
Yong You	...	Policeman (as Yao Yung)
Suet Lam	...	Fat Bo (as Lam Suet)
Haitao Li	...	Lung (as Li Hai Tao)
Kai Wa Chan	...	Kwan (as Chan Kai Wa)
Chun Yip	...	Chan Fok-sui (as Yip Chun)
Ho Sai Chan		(as Chan Ho Sai)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Libby Brien	...	Fai's Mother / Radio Voices (voice: English version)
Philip Hersh	...	Wen (voice: English version)
Chi-Shing Chiu	...	Mob Boss (uncredited)

Directed by
Ringo Lam
Johnnie To
Hark Tsui		(as Tsui Hark)

Writing credits
Sharon Chung		(written by)
Kenny Kan		(written by)
Nai-Hoi Yau		(written by) (as Yau Nai Hoi) &
Kin-Yee Au		(written by) (as Au Kin Yee) &
Tin-Shing Yip		(written by) (as Yip Tin Shing)

Produced by
John Chong	....	executive producer
Kok Leung Kuk	....	line producer (as Kuk Kok Leung)
Ringo Lam	....	executive producer
Ringo Lam	....	producer
Dennis Law	....	executive producer
Zhong-Jun Ma	....	line producer (as Ma Zhong Jun)
Johnnie To	....	executive producer
Johnnie To	....	producer
Hark Tsui	....	executive producer (as Tsui Hark)
Hark Tsui	....	producer (as Tsui Hark)
Dong Yu	....	executive producer (as Yu Dong)

Original Music by
Dave Klotz
Guy Zerafa		(music composer)

Cinematography by
Siu-keung Cheng		(director of photography) (as Cheng Siu Keung)

Film Editing by
David M. Richardson		(as David Richardson)

Art Direction by
Raymond Chan
Tony Yu

Costume Design by
Stanley Cheung
William Fung

Makeup Department
Kit Ling Chan	....	dresser (as Chan Kit Ling)
Sau-Han Chan	....	makeup artist (as Chan Sau Han)
Miko Chu	....	makeup artist (as Midco Chu)
Joe Kwong	....	hair stylist
Ping Tong	....	dresser

Production Management
Chi-Shing Chiu	....	unit manager
Elaine Chu	....	project manager
Yuin Shan Ding	....	production supervisor (as Ding Yuin Shan)
Jackson Ha	....	production manager
Eric Huen	....	assistant production manager
Chung-mo Tang	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ho-ming Chan	....	second assistant director (as Chan Ho Ming)
Joe Chan	....	second assistant director
Pou-Soi Cheang	....	associate director (as Soi Cheang)
Ka-kit Cheung	....	first assistant director (as Jeff Cheung)
Jonathan Li	....	second assistant director
Kai Kwong Mak	....	first assistant director (as Mak Kai Kwong)
Danny Wong	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kwong-hung Chan	....	assistant art director (as Chan Kwong Hung)
Sonia Ko	....	assistant art director
Pak Shing Lai	....	property master (as Lai Pak Shing)
Sam Lam	....	set designer
Wai Ming Lam	....	property master (as Lam Wai Ming)
Wing Hing Lo	....	property master (as Lo Wing Hing)
Molly Siu	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Kenneth Chan	....	assistant sound editor
Martin Richard Chappell	....	sound designer (as Martin Chappell)
Tony Cheng	....	location sound
Ka-Fai Lai	....	assistant sound editor (as Lai Ka Fai)
Chung Wai Leung	....	location sound (as Leung Chung Wai)
Chung-hau Leung	....	boom operator (as Leung Chung Hau)
Marie Louise Ng	....	dialogue recordist
Chun Ming Wong	....	boom operator (as Wong Chun Ming)
Tomy Yu	....	foley artist (as Tommy Yu)

Visual Effects by
Ka-Ling Cheung	....	CGI animator (as Cheung Ka Ling)
Jacky Chung	....	CGI animator
Hin Pu Ho	....	CGI animator (as Ho Hin Pun)
Pak Chung Kwan	....	CGI animator (as Kwan Pak Chung)
Peony Lam	....	visual effects coordinator
Chi Wai Law	....	CG director (as Law Chi Wai)
Stephen Ma	....	visual effects supervisor
Ka Yung Tse	....	CGI animator (as Tse Ka Yung)
Lai Kuen Wong	....	optical effects coordinator (as Wong Lai Kuen)

Stunts
Man Cheong Chan	....	car stunt choreographer (as Chan Man Cheong)
Kar Lok Chin	....	action choreography (as Chin Ka Lok)
Kar Lok Chin	....	car stunt choreographer (as Chin Ka Lok)
Kar Lok Chin	....	car stunts
Roger Lee	....	car stunt choreographer (as Roger Li)
Bruce Mang	....	action choreography (as Mang Fan Lun)
Gobi Ng	....	stunt driver
Wai-Fai Wong	....	assistant car stunts choreographer (as Wong Wai Fai)
Bun Yuen	....	action choreography (as Yuen Bun)

Camera and Electrical Department
Hung Yan Cheung	....	making-of camera (as Cheung Hung Yan)
Tsz Pun Ko	....	making-of camera (as Ko Tsz Pun)
Chan Siu Kwan	....	focus puller
Ting Fung Kwong	....	best boy (as Kwong Ting Fong)
Hirotake Okazaki	....	still photographer
Chak-Shun Tang	....	still photographer
Hung Mo To	....	camera operator (as To Hung Mo)
Kwok Chiu Wu	....	gaffer (as Wu Kwok Chiu)
Kai Yuen Yeung	....	still photographer (as Yeung Kai Yuen)
Ray Richards	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wanee Chu	....	assistant costume designer
Anna Lai	....	assistant costume designer
Kar Yan Yip	....	assistant costume designer (as Karen Yip)

Editorial Department
Cathy Lau	....	post-production assistant
Allen Leung	....	assistant editor
Calmen Lui	....	post-production executive

Music Department
Dave Klotz	....	music arranger
Dave Klotz	....	music recordist
Dave Klotz	....	orchestrator
Guy Zerafa	....	music arranger
Guy Zerafa	....	music recordist
Guy Zerafa	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Hiu Tao An	....	dubbing coach: Mandarin (as An Hiu Tao)
Siu Kuen Chiu	....	caterer (as Chiu Siu Kuen)
Chi Hung Fan	....	continuity (as Fan Chi Hung)
Jack Lai	....	continuity
Ching Ting Law	....	set runner (as Lu Ching Ting)
Grace Lu	....	subtitler
Janet Ma	....	assistant: Tsui Hark
Cheung Wing Mak	....	set runner (as Mak Cheung Wing)
Tiffany Ng	....	subtitler
Angel Tang	....	production assistant
Alvin Tse	....	assistant: Tsui Hark
Candy Tsui	....	assistant: Tsui Hark
Ho Wong	....	dubbing coach: Mandarin (as Wong Ho)

Thanks
Florence Kwok	....	special thanks
Chi Wai Yau	....	special thanks (as Yau Chi Wai)
Kate Yeung	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Milky Way Image Company
• Media Asia Films
• Beijing Ciwen Digital Oriental Film & TV Production Co.
• Beijing Poly-bona Film Publishing Company
• Enlight Pictures (as Beijing Enlight Pictures)
• Film Workshop (co-production)
• China Film Co-Production Corporation (associate production)

Distributors

• Beijing Poly-bona Film Publishing Company (2007) (China) (theatrical)
• Enlight Pictures (2007) (China) (theatrical)
• Kino Bez Granits (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Media Asia Distribution (2007) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Media Asia Films (2007) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Milky Way Image Company (2007) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Phantom Film (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Wild Side Films (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Magnet Releasing (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Manga Entertainment (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2008) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Brilliant Genesis Limited (cgi animation)

Other Companies

• Half Leisure  written by
• China Star Production Services Limited  post-production facility
• Milky Way Image Company  post-production sound studio
• Media Business Service Limited  post-production sound studio
• i Zone Sound Design  foley design
• Milky Way Image Company  camera and lighting equipment
• Cinerent  camera and lighting equipment
• Toplight Engineering  camera and lighting equipment
• Tai Fung (Tsu's) Co. Ltd.  film stock
• Shaw Brothers  laboratory
• Mandarin Laboratory (International) Ltd.  subtitles

Also Known As:

"Tie saam gok" - China (original title)
"The Iron Triangle" - Hong Kong (English title) (literal title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence

Runtime:

France:101 min (Cannes Film Festival) | Hong Kong:93 min

Country:

China | Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R | France:U (with warning) | UK:15 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Japan:G

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Milky Way Image Company

Soundtrack:

LOVE IS LIKE A BALLOON

Totally underrated

With all the negative reviews and opinions I had read about Triangle before watching the film, I expected to be disappointed. Actually, I was pleasantly surprised.

Triangle is by no means a masterpiece that lives up to any of the three directors' names, but it is certainly not the incoherent mess some people make it out to be. Tsui's first third establishes too many subplots, but I thought that even in Lam's third, I was able to follow everything. Sun Honglei really shines in the film, and it would be great seeing him in other Milkyway films. But what's most important is that despite the slightly confusing plot, Triangle always remains an entertaining movie - from the great car chases in Lam's segment to the typical Johnnie To shootouts in the final third, it always kept me on the edge of my seat. Great music has become a staple in Milkyway productions since the last few years, but Zerafa's score here shows strokes of brilliance, adding to the mythical tone established by Tsui in the first third. And that piece playing in the credits is beautiful!

I also really liked the ending, which in a way comments on the theme of "fate" which I thought was illustrated pretty well throughout the movie.

Sure, you perhaps need to be a huge, huge fan of at least one of the directors present here (To's style seems to be prevalent, even in the segments not directed by him) to appreciate this film, but I thought it was pretty great. Maybe people just need to be a bit more open-minded and not expect a masterpiece from three legendary directors who are just having a bit of fun - and contrary to what others said, I felt I was able to participate in that fun.