When three close friends escape from Hong Kong to war-time Saigon to start a criminal's life, they all go through a harrowing experience which totally shatters their lives and their friendship forever.
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Title: Bullet in the Head (1990)
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1 win & 5 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Tony Chiu-Wai Leung | ... | Ben / Siu Bun (as Tony Chiu Wai Leung) | |
| Jacky Cheung | ... | Frank / Fai Jai | |
| Waise Lee | ... | Paul / Sau Ming | |
| Simon Yam | ... | Luke / Lok | |
| Yolinda Yam | ... | Sally Yan Sau Ching | |
| Chung Lam | ... | Mr. Y.S. Leong (as Chung Lin) | |
| Fennie Yuen | ... | Jane / Siu Jan | |
 |
Kan-Wing Tsang | ... | Jane's father |
| Hang Shuen So | ... | Jane's mother | |
| John Woo | ... | Policeman | |
| Hee Ching Paw | ... | Ben's mother | |
| Tseng Chang | ... | Paul's father | |
|
|
San-Yan Siao | ... | Mr. Shing |
|
|
Paco Yick | ... | Ringo (as Tin Hung Yee) |
|
|
Yun Pei | ... | Frank's mother |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Storyline
In 1967, on the way to the wedding of a friend a young man is accosted by a local gang member. Later, the three friends administer justice, in the process of which the gang member is killed, so they leave Hong Kong to avoid the police and the gang. They run black market supplies to Saigon and get embroiled in the war, being arrested as Viet Cong, then later captured by the Viet Cong, and find that their friendship is tested to the limits as they try to escape. Written by Ed Sutton <esutton@mindspring.com>
Plot Keywords:
poliziottesco | hong kong poliziottesco | friend | saigon | friendship |Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
Hong KongRelease Date:
17 August 1990 (Hong Kong) See more »Also Known As:
Bullet in the Head See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$3,500,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (heavily cut) (video)Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Written by Neil Diamond
Performed by The Monkees
S.E. Asia Music
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Was originally planned to be a prequel to A Better Tomorrow (1986) but a falling out between John Woo and producer Hark Tsui prevented this from happening. Woo reworked the script into what it is today, and Tsui made his own prequel, A Better Tomorrow III: Love and Death in Saigon (1989). See more »Quotes
Paul: Today I saw a soldier kill a man and I learnt something. In this world, we can do anything if we have guns!See more »
Alternate Versions
In 2001, 'Bullet In The Head' has been released uncut on DVD in Germany (rated FSK 18). Although the box says it runs 97 mins, it nearly has the full running time of 126 mins (like the UK version) and is only missing the end credits. See more »Soundtracks
I'm a BelieverWritten by Neil Diamond
Performed by The Monkees
S.E. Asia Music
See more »
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BULLET IN THE HEAD (Die Xie Jie Tou)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Sound format: Mono
Fleeing from a murder rap during the political turmoil of 1960's Hong Kong, three devoted friends (Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Jacky Cheung and Waise Lee) seek their fortunes in war-torn Vietnam and are ripped apart by greed and betrayal.
John Woo's ambitious movie - an operatic valentine to his youth in HK and his love of David Lean epics, and a response to the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 - went over-schedule and flopped at the local box-office when released in 1990, but has since been recognized as one of the finest productions in HK film history. Newcomers Leung, Cheung and Lee are terrific as the three friends whose lives are devastated by the violence they encounter in a foreign land, and they're matched throughout by Simon Yam as the Eurasian hit-man who rescues them from the worst of their experiences. For all its explosions and gun play, however, BULLET IN THE HEAD is a very human drama, played out against the vast backdrop of the Vietnam conflict, and invested with a palpable sense of love and compassion for its leading characters. Cinematography and editing are world-class, and Woo's dark-hearted script (co-written by Patrick Leung and Janet Chin) incorporates the themes of loyalty and brotherhood which have shaped and defined all of his films since A BETTER TOMORROW (1986). Cheung's final scene is absolutely heartbreaking; classic score by James Wong and Romeo Diaz.
(Cantonese dialogue)