Hong Kong, Hong Kong – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1983
Director: Clifford Choi
Writers: Clifford Choi, Hui Mak
Cast: Cherie Chung, Alex Man, Lo Lieh, Kwan Hoi-San, Ngau Choi-Ling, Charlie Cho, Wong Chi-Wai

Release Date: March 24th, 2025 (UK), March 25th, 2025 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 96 Minutes 50 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Cantonese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK), $34.95 (USA)

"two lovers dreaming of a better life: Man Si Sun (Cherie Chung, An Autumn's Tale) is an illegal immigrant from the mainland while Kong Yuen Sang (Alex Man, Rich and Famous) is looking for glory in the kick-boxing ring." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "High Definition Blu-ray presentation".

Hong Kong, Hong Kong comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.9 GB

Feature: 24.5 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look correct, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. 

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Cantonese with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a trailer (1 minute 14 seconds, LPCM stereo text in English and Mandarin), an archival interview with actor Alex Man (18 minutes 20 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with journalist David West, reversible cover art, a double-sided foldout poster (limited to the first pressing), and a slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

A woman from mainland China goes to Hong Kong hoping for a better life only to find a harsh reality where she’s forced to live in the shadows.

The narrative revolves around two characters: Man Si Sun, a woman from China living illegally in Hong Kong, and a kickboxer named Kong Yuen Sang. A chance encounter brings these two characters together, and though they temporarily drift apart, they become romantically involved when she is living with another man. That said, these two characters bond over their dream of having a better life.

1983 was a pivotal year for the Shaw Brothers; not only would they drastically cut back on their number of films, they would shift away from martial arts films. A film like Hong Kong, Hong Kong fits firmly into the drama genre. Though Hong Kong, Hong Kong approaches the issue of immigration in a respectful way that shows how poorly many who live in the shadows are treated. There are elements that veer into exploitation cinema, notably when it comes to sex scenes.

As great as all of the cast are, they all pale in comparison to Cherie Chung’s (An Autumn’s Tale) portrayal of Man Si Sun. Though her character's prospects are not good, she’s willing to do whatever she needs to survive and remain in Hong Kong. For a film where all characters are unlikable or fall into a grey area, Man Si Sun is the only one that deserves empathy. Other performances of note are Alex Man (Rouge) and Kwan Hoi-San (Project A Part II); they portray the two men in Man Si Sun’s life. Lo Lieh (King Boxer) has a secondary role where he portrays a friend of Kong Yuen Sang.

From a production standpoint, Hong Kong is a film that maximizes its resources, notably its locations. The narrative is well-crafted; it does a superb job building up its two main characters. When it comes to pacing, the narrative does an excellent job building to a tragic finale where the protagonist is forced to choose between dying or going back to mainland China. Other strengths include visuals that let the characters take center stage and an exemplary score that perfectly reinforces the mood. Ultimately, Hong Kong, Hong Kong is a bleak melodrama that works as well as it does because of Cherie Chung’s amazing performance.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong gets a first-date release from 88 Films that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an informative interview, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer