A Better Tomorrow

Master at Work: Ti Lung Malaysian Premiere

Hong Kong SAR/China | 1986 | Cantonese | 95 min | Action/Drama | DCP

Synopsis

Sung Tse-ho and Mark are blood brothers in the Triad. Ho’s own brother, Tse-kit, is a policeman, and Ho leads a double life. Ho is in Taiwan for a counterfeit money deal when local gangsters ambush him. His right-hand man, Tam Shing, betrayed him. Mark goes to Taiwan to take revenge for Ho, but is wounded and becomes a cripple. After serving three years in a Taiwan prison, Ho returns to Hong Kong hoping to start a new life, but his brother Kit still distrusts him. Ho sees Mark, who has become a bum, opening the car door for Shing, who is now the headman of a gang. Shing wants Ho to become a gangster again, but Ho refuses. Shing then sets a trap for Kit and beats Mark to within an inch of his life. Mark also hopes to pair up with Ho again and make a comeback, but is turned down by Ho. Mark then goes alone to Shing’s lair to take the plate for making counterfeit money. Ho can’t stop himself from helping Mark. He asks Shing out for a meeting and at the same time mails the plate to Kit. At the meeting, shooting breaks out among Ho, Mark and Shing. Ah Kit arrives in time to see Mark shot and Shing shot by Ho. Kit finally forgives his brother….

Credits

Director

John Woo is a legendary filmmaker from Hong Kong, best known for redefining action cinema with his signature style; balletic shootouts, slow-motion sequences, and intense standoffs. He started his career directing comedies, but it was his gritty, emotional gangster films like A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, and Hard Boiled that made him a major force in international cinema. Woo made a successful move to Hollywood with hits like Broken Arrow, Face/Off, and Mission: Impossible 2, gaining global recognition for his unique approach to action storytelling. Together with longtime collaborator Terence Chang, he launched Lion Rock Productions and Tiger Hill Entertainment to create films, TV shows, and video games. He also explored the world of comics with Seven Brothers, published by Virgin Comics. Named “arguably the most influential director making movies today” by The Observer, John Woo continues to inspire with a style shaped by his favorite films: Lawrence of Arabia, Seven Samurai, and Le Samouraï.