Hong Kong thriller “Life without Principle” (夺命金), directed by Johnnie To hits mainland cinemas on Friday, February 3.
As one of the films to have competed at last year’s 68th Venice International Film Festival, “Life without Principle” has been described by one observer within the Hong Kong media as the “most sincere Hong Kong film of 2011”. The movie is expected to win big at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards.
The movie features an all-star lineup, including Lau Ching-wan, Richie Jen and Denise Ho. Jonnie To, who also directed romance flicks “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and “Linger”, switched his approach in this new movie, producing a crime thriller which has astounded critics and movie-goers alike.
The film tells the story of three seemingly ordinary people, a bank teller, a small-time thug and an honest police inspector, who are all in dire need of money due to separate predicaments in their respective lives. A bag of stolen money worth 5 million dollars suddenly appears, putting all three in a difficult situation, forcing them to make soul searching decisions about the concepts of right and wrong.