Protégé (film)

Protégé is a 2007 Hong Kong-Singaporean co-produced crime drama film written and directed by Derek Yee, starring Andy Lau, Daniel Wu, Louis Koo, Zhang Jingchu and Anita Yuen.

Protégé
Protégé theatrical Poster
Traditional門徒
Simplified门徒
MandarinMén Tú
CantoneseMun4 Tou4
Directed byDerek Yee
Produced byPeter Chan
Written byDerek Yee
StarringAndy Lau
Daniel Wu
Louis Koo
Zhang Jingchu
Anita Yuen
Music byPeter Kam
CinematographyVenus Keung
Chan Wai-lin
Edited byKong Chi-leung
Distributed byHong Kong:
Gala Film Distribution
Singapore:
Golden Village Pictures
Mediacorp Raintree Pictures
Release date
  • 13 February 2007 (2007-02-13) (Hong Kong)
  • 15 February 2007 (2007-02-15) (Singapore)
Running time
111 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Singapore
LanguageCantonese
Box officeHK26,280,000

Plot

Undercover officer Nick had spent the last seven years penetrating into the core of a drug ring, working his way up from a street dealer post to the managerial position handling cargo deliveries for Kwan – the biggest player in the local heroin market. When the ailing Kwan makes Nick his protégé, Nick cannot help but sway before money and power and starts to perform his role like a real drug trafficker. This, together with his affair with heroin-addict Fan, causes Nick to become more and more confused about his true identity, and eventually leads to a disastrous end.

The film begins with a scene in a dark isolated rundown apartment building, showing a heroin addict living poorly with her young daughter. The scene then forwards to the perspective of Officer Nick who is suffering from loneliness just after completing an undercover assignment. He recalls the entire story of what happened and the events to lead to his emptiness.

Towards the end of the film, Nick finally builds a case strong enough to catch Kwan. However, Kwan realizes he has no way out and commits suicide traumatizing Nick because Kwan has put so much trust and faith in Nick, treating him like family. In addition, he finds that Fan who he had been looking after throughout the film, died of an overdose, discovering her body with rats on it. Due to this trauma, Nick completely goes into a breakdown. Swearing vengeance, and knowing that Fan's drug addicted husband was responsible for her death and encouraged her multiple times, Nick tricks Fan's husband into doing a drug run, however it turns out to be a trip to Singapore, and arriving at Changi Airport, Nick sets a trap with Singaporean customs officials to arrest Fan's husband on the spot. Nick then coldly informs Fan's husband that its over and that he will receive the death penalty under Singapore Law. Nick then returns home to Hong Kong, but is deeply affected by the death's of Kwan and Fan. He considers using drugs himself and just before he does, Fan's surviving daughter comes in and throws the drugs away saving Nick and silently reminding him he has something to live for.

Premise

Based on materials provided by retired undercover agents of the police force, Protégé attempts to realistically tell the story of undercover agents in the clandestine drug world, who struggle to constantly walk on the fine line between justice and crime, but who will never see the day of serving in the regular police force.

Cast

Critical reception

The film received generally positive reviews. Perry Lam, for example, wrote in Muse magazine, 'The movie is powerful precisely because it doesn't preach, and therefore spares us all the usual opinions, standard platitudes and naive assumptions about drug dealing and addiction.'[1]

DVD release

Region 1 DVD (US & Canada)

On 24 February 2009 Dragon Dynasty, released "Protégé" on Region 1 DVD:

Special Features:

  • Feature Length Audio Commentary with Hong Kong Cinema Expert Bey Logan
  • The Making of Protégé Undercover & Over the Edge: An Exclusive Interview with Leading Man Daniel Wu
  • Chasing the Dragon: An Exclusive Interview with Leading Lady Zhang Jingchu
  • The Dealer: An Exclusive Interview with Producer Peter Chan
  • Original Theatrical Trailer

Awards and nominations
Awards and nominations
Ceremony Category Recipient Outcome
27th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Film Protégé Nominated
Best Director Derek Yee Nominated
Best Screenplay Derek Yee, Chun Tin-nam, Lung Man-hong, Ko San Nominated
Best Actress Zhang Jingchu Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Andy Lau Won
Louis Koo Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Anita Yuen Nominated
Best New Performer Tse Chi-tung Nominated
Best Cinematography Venus Keung Nominated
Best Film Editing Eric Kong Won
Best Art Direction Yee Chung-Man, Kenneth Mak Nominated
Best Action Choreography Chin Ka-lok Nominated
Best Original Film Score Peter Kam Nominated
Best Sound Design Kinson Tsang Nominated
Best Visual Effects Ho Siu-lun, Chow Kim-hung, Ching Han-wong Nominated
44th Golden Horse Awards Best Director Derek Yee Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Derek Yee, Chun Tin-nam, Lung Man-hong, Ko San Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Louis Koo Nominated
17th Hong Kong Screenwriters' Guild Best Screenplay Derek Yee, Chun Tin-nam, Lung Man-hong, Ko San Won
20th Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Most Outstanding Director Derek Yee Won
Most Recommended Film Protégé Won
12th Golden Bauhinia Awards Top Ten Chinese-language Film Protégé Won
14th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award Film of Merit Protégé Won
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References
  1. Lam, Perry (February 2007). "The Good, the Bad and the Freakish". Muse (1): 77.
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