Hand Rolled Cigarette breathes new elements and life into the Hong Kong crime drama (Film review)

 

One of a number of posters out there for

Hand Rolled Cigarette

Hand Rolled Cigarette (Hong Kong, 2020)

- Kelvin Chan Kin-long, director and co-scriptwriter (along with Ling Wai-chun)

- Starring: Gordon Lam Ka-tung, Bipin Karma, Michael Ning, Ben Yuen, Singh Hartihan Bitto, Tai Bo

 

There are many elements in this 2020 crime drama that will be familiar to long time Hong Kong film fans.  Among these are the building that its protagonist calls home -- Chungking Mansions (most associated with Chungking Express but also seen in other Hong Kong cinematic offerings such as Fallen Angels, How Deep is Your Love, The Truth About Jane and Sam, and Cheap Killers) -- and also many faces and names among the movie's cast.  In addition, the early part of Hand Rolled Cigarette may get one thinking that it will follow the path of Fruit Chan's The Longest Summer, thanks to it similarly giving prominence to local military men who found themselves effectively abandoned when the British military pulled out of Hong Kong post Handover. 

 

The further one goes along into Hand Rolled Cigarette, however, the more it is apparent that actor turned helmer and scriptwriter Kelvin Chan Kin-long's film actually possesses a number of novel and creative touches along with unexpected twists and turns.  I also appreciate how he has come up with a crime drama that doesn't go the usual route of pitting cops against gangsters or even different groups of Triads versus each other; this especially since, post 2019 (in particular what transpired on 6.12 and 7.21), many local vieweres aren't all that keen on Hong Kong movies with cop or Triad heroes.  

 

Unusually, Hand Rolled Cigarette's lead character is a former serviceman patrolling the border areas with a band of brothers turned lone wolf reduced to living on his wits and risky money-making enterprises involving items as disparate as smuggled turtles and claw machines.  Now estranged from his military comrades, Chiu (portrayed by veteran actor Gordon Lam Ka-tung) is a friendless individual who's clearly down on his luck.  But even more luckless and troubled than him is Mani (Bipin Karma, making a very impressive Hong Kong film debut), an ethnic South Asian man who is left holding a bag of much sought after -- as well as highly illegal -- goods by his drug-dealing elder cousin and business partner, Kapil (Bitto Singh Hartihan).    

 

In what looked to be Mani's first stroke of good fortune in a while, he manages to elude his thoroughly villainous pursuers (headed by a scary individual played by Michael Ning) by seeking refuge in Chiu's cluttered Chungking Mansions apartment.  And while Chiu initially doesn't welcome Mani's presence in his pad (this not least he hadn't invited his unexpected houseguest in to it!), the two men soon get to striking a deal and then an unlikely friendship -- the latter of which is strengthened by the discovery that they have common enemies (in Triad Boss Tai (flamboyantly essayed by Ben Yuen) and his goons).

 

As might be expected of a movie with the kind of unambigously evil villains that it has, Hand Rolled Cigarette is a violent and dark crime story that contains action, thrills and spills in spades.  Its pretty remarkable extended climactic action scene delivers plenty of shocks and bloodshed, and isn't only the most painful looking that I've seen in quite a while but also features a great comment about Hong Kong beautifully delivered by the Hong Kong Film Awards' current Best Actor title holder, Tai Bo. 

 

As improbable as it may seem though, it's actually Hand Rolled Cigarettes quieter, social dramatic moments that I appreciate more.  They may seem to slow down proceedings but the interactions shown taking place between Mani and his young brother Mansu (played by Anees), Chiu and Mansu, and Chiu and a female friend from Mainland China (portrayed by Shui Jie) as well as between Chiu and Mani add valuable dimensions to the main characters and also this atmospheric offering as a whole.              

 

My rating for the film: 8.0