Gam yuk fung wan (1987)

Inside a Chinese prison two inmates form a friendship and face the difficulty of life on the inside.

Director:

Ringo Lam

Writer:

Yin Nam

Stars:

Yun-Fat Chow, Tony Ka Fai Leung, Ka-Kui Ho

8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Yun-Fat Chow	...	41671 / Chung Tin Ching (as Chow Yun Fat)
Tony Ka Fai Leung	...	Lo Ka Yiu / 51910
Ka-Kui Ho	...	Micky
Roy Cheung	...	Officer 'Scarface' Hung
Victor Hon	...	Chiu Chow Man
Frankie Chi-Hung Ng	...	Blind Snake
Kwong Leung Wong	...	Bill
Man-Gwan Wong	...	Mimi
Joe Chu	...	Billy
Fui-On Shing	...	Madly
Ming Leung	...	Yiu's Father
Shui-Jan Fung	...	Ching's Mother
Yuen-Tat Chan	...	Kau Suk
Shu-Kei Law	...	Prison Warden
Yin Nam	...	Prisoner's Head

Storyline

An explosive crime-drama that caused a sensation upon its release. Audiences gasped for breath from the bloodshed and violence, yet were deeply moved by the fraternal bond between the two leading characters. Chow Yun-Fat and Tony Leung are riveting as the inmates who get involved with the intracacies of the prision system.

---

Plot Keywords:

prison | wet | veteran | stabbed in the chest | riot | 

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese English

Release Date:

13 November 1987 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

Prison Turbulence

Filming Locations:

Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema City

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo Dolby Digital (5.1 surround)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

41671: I always talk so loud. I talk loud. Doesn't mean I'm rude. Sir!

---

Connections

References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

---

Soundtracks

Light of Friendship
Performed by Maria Codero

User Reviews

Sombre Piece

Gaam Yuk Fung Wan/Prison on Fire(1987) is the second film in the On Fire Trilogy(excluding Prison on Fire 2). The first film, City on Fire(1987) dealt with a man who's trapped between duty with the police and loyality with the triad gang he's working undercover with. Prison on Fire(1987) is about a man sent to prison for manslaughter who slowly learns how to survive in prison with the help of a fellow inmate. A harrowing look into the prison system of Hong Kong. Makes Midnight Express(1977) look like a pleasent experience. Like City on Fire, this film shows a world of brutality where only the strongest and toughest survive. Chow Yun Fat is brilliant as the prisoner, Ching who takes the new guy under his wing.

The role of the new guy was originally offered to Danny Lee who turned the role down. Tony Leung Ka Fai was given the role of Lo Ka Yiu and did a wonderful job. The actor gives a sense of naive honesty in his performance. Lo Ka Yiu gets in trouble when he accuses one of the prisoners of stealing sissors. This put him under the wrath of the prisoner in glasses who sets him up as a rat. Roy Cheung is sadistic and dislikable as Officer "Scarface" Hung. His best roles are when he plays dislikable and dispictable characters like the arrogant Police officer in City on Fire(1987) or the Triad punk in School on Fire(1988).

Ringo Lam deals with many issues involving the prison system in Hong Kong. excellently scripted from the writer of Xia Dao Gao Fei/Full Contact(1987). Emotional involving film with an realistic fight scene during the climax. One thing I would like to know is the name of the song that's playing on the radio during the New Year Celebration. Officer "Scarface" Hung gets what was coming to him when Ching becomes deranged. One of the best acting by Chow Yun Fat comes in the climax when he goes insane. He plays this scene with an emotional wildness that hasn't been seen from him since.