Sparrow – Chameleon Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 2008
Director: Johnnie To
Writers: Chan Kin-Chung, Fung Chih-chiang
Cast: Simon Yam, Kelly Lin, Gordon Lam, Law Wing-cheung, Kenneth Cheung, Lo Hoi-pang, Lam Suet

Release Date: February 19th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 87 Minutes 2 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Mandarin
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95 AUD (Australia)

"The most sheer delight you will ever experience from a Johnnie To film? Filmed over three years between other projects, this story of men who pick pockets and a woman who steals hearts is nothing less than a love letter to Hong Kong. Shot on the streets and backed by a playful lounge jazz score that is equal parts Paris and China, it tells the story of Kei (Simon Yam) and his group of pickpocket brothers who fall under the dangerous spell of a damsel in distress (Kelly Lin). This sets up a series of set pieces that show To working at the peak of his mastery. A man, a woman, a balloon; the erotic possibilities of a shared cigarette; a face-off in a cramped elevator—this is the intoxicating stuff that explains why we love Hong Kong cinema. The balletic finesse of the climactic scene, shot in slow motion in the rain, invokes a Hong Kong of grace and gallantry and professional skill, a Hong Kong that exists now only in the imagination." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Sparrow comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40.3 GB

Feature: 25.2 GB

No information is provided about the source; that said, this transfer looks excellent. Flesh tones and colors look correct; image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid; and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese, DTS-HD 5.1 Mandarin)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Mandarin. Quality- and range-wise, these two audio tracks are comparable. That said, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well represented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track.

Extras:

Extras or this release include an image gallery (poster/stills), UK trailer (2 minutes 4 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (2 minutes 24 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival featurette titled The Making of Sparrow (2 minutes 2 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival extra titled Press Conference (9 minutes 12 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival extra titled Gala Premiere (4 minutes 15 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival with director Johnnie To (7 minutes 26 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival with actor Simon Yam (13 minutes 7 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival with actress Kelly Lin (4 minutes 29 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival with actor Gordon Lam Ka-tung (8 minutes 38 seconds, LPCM stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), an archival interview with co-composer Xavier Jamaux, editor David Richardson and production supervisor Ding Yuin-shan (12 minutes 46 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay on Sparrow by filmmaker Zach Closs titled A Playful Departure (8 minutes 34 seconds, LPCM stereo English with non-removable English subtitles for film clips), an audio commentary with Hong Kong cinema expert Frank Djeng, reversible cover art, a slipcase, and a 20-page booklet with cast & crew information, and an essay titled (Pick)pocket Full of Miracles written by Sean Gilman.

Summary:

Four pickpockets become entangled with a trapped woman that they try to help.

Made over the course of three years, Sparrow is a more lighthearted film than the crime films that Johnnie To is most known for. Besides tone, another way in which Sparrow differs from Jonnie To’s crime films is its visuals, which are more colorful instead of monochrome. That said, Sparrow is Johhnie To’s love letter to Hong Kong that takes inspiration from French New Wave cinema and Hollywood musicals.

Though there is a simplicity to the narrative, the way Johnnie To puts everything together ensures there is never a shortage of engaging moments. What unfolds is a cat-and-mouse game between the four pickpockets and the woman, in which characters try to get one over on each other. Also, the narrative moves quickly, momentum is never an issue and everything builds towards a very satisfying conclusion.

Sparrow has a superb cast who are all excellent in their roles, especially Simon Yam (Full Contract), who portrays Kei, the leader of a gang of pickpockets. Some actors are typecast, and Simon Yam falls into this category; that said, it is always refreshing seeing an actor outside of their norm. He delivers a delightful performance in the role of Kei. Another performance of note is Kelly Lin (Fulltime Killer), who portrays a mysterious woman who tricks the four pickpockets into helping her.

Despite Sparrow’s production schedule having several stops and goes, the result is a surprisingly cohesive film that's polished. Humor plays a role in Sparrow, like in a scene where the four pickpockets and the woman try to fit with two men in an elevator, and another scene where one of the pickpockets dresses like a woman to pull off a con. Though there are long stretches with no dialog, the visuals do a lot of the heavy lifting throughout Sparrow. The main visual set piece is a scene where Kei, carrying the woman’s passport, walks around with an umbrella in the rain while being pursued by others trying to pick it from his pocket. Another strength is an exemplary score that perfectly captures Sparrow’s playfulness. Ultimately, Sparrow is an extraordinary cinematic experience from one of Hong Kong cinema’s best filmmakers.

Being that this release is region-free and has no rating logos anywhere on the packaging, there is no reason not to buy this release if you're a fan of Johnnie To. Sparrow gets an excellent release from Chameleon Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and comes with an abundance of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer