Director Chan Tai-Lai follows up popular Richie Ren hit ‘Fierce Cop’ with this well acted drama that once again proves that the emerging film-making talent in Hong Kong gives hope for the future.
Former mob enforcer Shi (Tam) makes a living parking cars for clients in the city and, though it doesn’t pay him well, it keeps him away from his past life. After defending his friend one evening, Shi is taken to the local police station where he meets his estranged son, Stone, who has been arrested for assault. While Shi helps his unappreciative son get released, the real problem is revealed when Stone explains that the victim was the son of a local tycoon. Shi, wracked with guilt since losing contact with his son, goes to the victim’s father to make restitution only to find that said man is a former criminal colleague. The matter is settled and Shi agrees to go into business with his old partner, all the while renewing a bond with his son. Yet Shi’s desire to escape his past mistakes proves ever more difficult.
‘Fight for Tomorrow’ is the classic tale of an estranged parent reconnecting with their child, something that has been tackled numerous times in cinema. Just because something is familiar, though, it doesn’t necessarily negate its quality and Chan Tai-Lai’s film is more than strong enough to stand on its own merits. The first and most obvious strength is the superb central performance by Patrick Tam, a display that holds all of the other elements together. That’s not to say that other components do not work without him, but Tam’s efforts are vital to the success of the film. Locker Lam, playing his son, acquits himself well and the developing pathos feels genuine throughout.
If there was an obvious weakness in ‘Fight for Tomorrow’ it would be the desire to cram too much incident into the story. There is enough power in the central storyline to not require the insertion of quite so many sub-plots and the way they are concluded shows that the duration cannot realistically contain themes. That said, it’s commendable for a film to try and add extra layers to the main storyline and while it doesn’t all work, none of the added strands become a needless distraction. ‘Fight for Tomorrow’ is a fine Hong Kong drama with occasional smatterings of action and I would recommend seeking it out. And if Patrick Tam isn’t in the running for a nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards next year, something is seriously wrong.
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