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IMDbPro

Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive

  • 1989
  • X
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
210
YOUR RATING
Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
Hired to escort a briefcase, a man decides to party while it is handcuffed to his arm.
Play trailer1:40
2 Videos
8 Photos
ComedyCrime

A man is hired by a group of people he believes to be gangsters to escort a briefcase from America to Hong Kong. When he arrives, however, his contact is nowhere to be found. With no further... Read allA man is hired by a group of people he believes to be gangsters to escort a briefcase from America to Hong Kong. When he arrives, however, his contact is nowhere to be found. With no further instructions, he decides to take in the sights of Hong Kong, which consist of him taking ... Read allA man is hired by a group of people he believes to be gangsters to escort a briefcase from America to Hong Kong. When he arrives, however, his contact is nowhere to be found. With no further instructions, he decides to take in the sights of Hong Kong, which consist of him taking part in a great deal of blood, sex and general weirdness, all while wearing a briefcase ha... Read all

  • Directors
    • Wayne Wang
    • Spencer Nakasako
  • Writers
    • Spencer Nakasako
    • Amir Mokri
    • Wayne Wang
  • Stars
    • Wan Kin Cheng
    • John Chan
    • Kwan-Min Cheng
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    5.7/10
    210
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Wayne Wang
      • Spencer Nakasako
    • Writers
      • Spencer Nakasako
      • Amir Mokri
      • Wayne Wang
    • Stars
      • Wan Kin Cheng
      • John Chan
      • Kwan-Min Cheng
    • 3User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:40
    Watch Official Trailer
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive
    Trailer 1:44
    Watch Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive

    Photos8

    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)
    Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Wan Kin Cheng
    • Duck Killer
    • (as Chan Kim Wan)
    John Chan
    • The Son-in-Law (Anthropologist)
    • (as John Koon-chung Chan)
    Kwan-Min Cheng
    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 Lam
    Chung Lam
    • Ex-Red Guard
    Lieh Lo
    Lieh Lo
    • Pianist
    Wei Lo
    Wei Lo
    • Big Boss
    • (as Lo Wai)
    Cora Miao
    Cora Miao
    • Money
    Spencer Nakasako
    • Yat Boon Jai (Man-with-no-name)
    Bonnie Ngai
    • The Daughter
    Victor Wong
    Victor Wong
    • Blind Man
    Wu Kin Man
    • Spiritualist
    Angela Yu Chien
    Angela Yu Chien
    • Blue Velvet
    • (as Yu Chien)
    Dennis Dun
    Dennis Dun
    • Narrator
    Kai-Bong Chau
    • Self
    • Directors
      • Wayne Wang
      • Spencer Nakasako
    • Writers
      • Spencer Nakasako
      • Amir Mokri
      • Wayne Wang
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Flatliners/Young Guns II/The Two Jakes/Metropolitan/Life Is Cheap... But Toilet Paper Is Expensive (1990)

    User reviews3

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    an in-your-face Hong Kong postcard
    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.
    helpful•5
    0
    • ma_teng
    • Apr 30, 2002

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 24, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
      • 命は安く、トイレットペーパーは高い
    • Filming locations
      • Hong Kong
    • Production companies
      • Far East Stars
      • Forever Profit Investment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross US & Canada
      • $108,392
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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