Tian tang kou (2007)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Alexi Tan

Writers:

Alexi Tan (written by) &
Dan Jiang (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 August 2007 (China)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The days of innocence have passed. They must make their choices like men. But at what costs? Is blood really thicker than water?

Plot:

Set in Shanghai during the 1930s, the story is inspired by John Woo's classic work Bullet in the Head, released in 1990. |

Cast

Daniel Wu	...	Ah Feng
Ye Liu	...	Da Gang
Qi Shu	...	Lulu (as Shu Qi)
Tony Yang	...	Xiao Hu
Xiaolu Li	...	Su Zhen (as Lulu Li)
Honglei Sun	...	Boss Hong
Chen Chang	...	Mark
Jun Zhao	...	Mei
Dian Lun Zhang	...	Xi Yan (as Zhang Dian Lun)
Jie Gao	...	Boss Chen (as Gao Jie)
Yong Xin Gui	...	Newspaper Boy (as Gui Yong Xin)
Li Qiu Zhang	...	Lulu's Maid (as Zhang Li Qiu)
Ren Yuen Wu	...	Hu's Father (as Wu Ren Yuen)
Xiao Hu Ding	...	Rickshaw Man (as Ding Xiao Hu)
Xiang Hu	...	Young Vietnamese Man (as Hu Xiang)
Zheng Zheng	...	Huang Mao
Yi Heng Shao	...	Crippled Man (as Shao Yi Heng)
Zhen Ying Yao	...	Teacher Chang (as Yao Zhen Ying)
Young Fu Fan	...	Chinese Official (as Fan Yong Fu)
Zhiyong Zhang	...	Waiter (as Zhang Zhi Yong)
Jing Sun	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Sun Jing)
Jing Ni Luo	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Luo Jing Ni)
Yin Wen Pu	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Pu Yin Wen)
Zhao Li	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Li Zhao)
Wen Jia Ji	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Ji Wen Jia)
Min Gui	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Gui Min)
Duo Duo Qian	...	Zhu Jia Jiao Girl (as Qian Duo Duo)
Lin Ma	...	Tsiao Hong Ying (as Ma Lin)
Yi-Ching Lu	...	Ying (as Lu Xiao Lin)
Jiaolong Sun	...	Scarface (as Sun Jiao Long)
Hai Ruo Wu	...	Club Host (as Wu Hai Ruo)
Chen Yang	...	Butterfly Wu (as Yang Chen)
Yu Hua Wang	...	Anna May Wong (as Wang Yu Hua)
Jian Hua Song	...	Boss Hong's Man (as Song Jian Hua)

Directed by
Alexi Tan		(as Yili Chen)

Writing credits
Alexi Tan		(written by) &
Dan Jiang		(written by) (as Jiang Dan) &
Tony Chan		(written by)

Produced by
Terence Chang	....	producer
Hong Tat Cheung	....	associate producer (as Cheung Hong Dat)
Chin-Wen Huang	....	executive producer (as Huang Chin Wen)
Yeh Jufeng	....	co-producer (as Yeh Jufeng)
Stephen Lam	....	associate producer
Roger Lee	....	executive producer
Jamie Luk	....	co-producer
Dai Song	....	executive producer (as Song Dai)
David Tang	....	co-producer
John Woo	....	producer
Cheri Yeung	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Daniel Belardinelli

Cinematography by
Michel Taburiaux		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Long Cheng		(as Cheng Long)

Casting by
Li Guo Duan		(as Duan Li Guo)
Ji Wen Yao		(as Yao Ji Wen)

Production Design by
Alfred Yau		(as Alfred Yau Wai Ming)

Costume Design by
Timmy Yip

Makeup Department
Shou Mao Chen	....	hair assistant (as Chen Shou Mao)
Xiao Li Ding	....	hair stylist assistant (as Ding Xiao Li)
Hong Gao	....	makeup team (as Gao Hong)
Xun Guo	....	makeup artist (as Guo Xun)
Gloria Lam	....	hair stylist (as Lam Wai Lok)
Chun Fei Pu	....	makeup team (as Pu Chun Fei)
Sui Keung Tse	....	hair stylist (as Tse Shui Keung)
Chang Chun Wang	....	makeup team (as Wang Chang Chun)
Wen Yu Wang	....	hair assistant (as Wang Wen Yu)
Lin Xiao	....	makeup team (as Xiao Lin)
Quian Jin Xi	....	hair assistant (as Xie Qian Jin)
Timmy Yip	....	image designer (as Tim Yip)
Bin Yuan	....	first makeup artist (as Yuan Bin)
Rong Zhang	....	makeup team (as Zhang Rong)
Gui Lan Zhong	....	hair assistant (as Zhong Gui Lan)
Zing	....	makeup supervisor: Shu Qi

Production Management
Janet Chan	....	production manager
Louis Wong	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Cheng	....	first assistant director
Lin Li	....	third assistant director (as Li Lin)
Xiang Li	....	second assistant director (as Li Xiang)
Yue Shi	....	assistant director (as Shi Yue)
Zhen Rui Wang	....	location assistant director (as Wang Zhen Rui)

Art Department
Jian Yue Cha	....	props man (as Cha Jian Yue)
Zong Lin Chen	....	props man (as Chen Zong Lin)
Benny Cheung	....	art assistant
De Li Fang	....	props man (as Fang De Li)
Jian Hua Fu	....	props man (as Fu Jiang Hua)
Xiu Guo	....	art assistant (as Guo Xiu)
Zhi Yao Lin	....	art assistant (as Lin Zhi Yao)
Rui Yong Li	....	props man (as Li Rui Yong)
Yong Fa Li	....	props master (as Li Yong Fa)
Shu Kuan Mei	....	props man (as Mei Shu Kuan)
Bang Xi Shen	....	props man (as Sheng Bang Xi)
Kang Wan Tang	....	props man (as Tang Kang Wan)
Shi Hua Tang	....	props man (as Tang Shi Hua)
Chau Yee Tsang	....	props man (as Tsang Chau Yee)
Quan Wang	....	props man (as Wang Quan)
Tza-On Wong	....	props master (as Wong Tza On)
Zheng Ming Yao	....	head property master (as Yao Zheng Ming)
Yue Rong Yu	....	props man (as Yu Yue Rong)
Kai Ying Zhang	....	art assistant (as Zhang Kai Ying)
Cheng Ming Zhou	....	props man (as Zhou Cheng Ming)
Yue You Zhu	....	props man (as Zhu Yue You)

Sound Department
Martin Richard Chappell	....	supervising sound editor (as Martin Chappell)
Jiajin Lu	....	sound recordist (as Lu Jia Jin)

Visual Effects by
Wen Ping Chang	....	revival (as Chang Wen Ping)
Linus Cheng	....	2D Inferno animator
Dorian Huang	....	revival

Stunts
Philip Kwok	....	action choreography
Wing-Cheong Poon	....	explosive stunts (as Poon Wing Cheong)
Jacky Yeung	....	assistant to action director
Jacky Yeung	....	stunt coordinator
Wei Yuan Zhu	....	explosive stunts (as Zhu Wei Yuan)

Camera and Electrical Department
Hon Zon Chan	....	first assistant gaffer (as Chan Hon Zon)
Lai Hung Choi	....	gaffer: second unit (as Tsoi Lai Hung)
Bin Diao	....	lighting technician (as Diao Bin)
Guo Hua Diao	....	lighting technician (as Diao Guo Hua)
Jia Ni Du	....	interpreter: gaffer
Ying Han Ge	....	dolly grip (as Ge Ying Han)
Junming Gong	....	film loader (as Gong Jun Ming)
Wai Kiu Lau	....	still photographer (as Lau Wai Kiu)
Jinyang Liu	....	video assist recordist
Kok Keung Mok	....	lighting technician (as Mok Kok Keung)
Feng Ling Qian	....	lighting technician (as Qian Feng Ling)
Wing Shya	....	still photographer
Rodolphe Soucaret	....	focus puller: first unit
Jian Guo Tang	....	lighting technician (as Tang Jian Guo)
Jian Dong Wang	....	assistant camera
Jianjun Wang	....	focus puller: second unit (as Wang Jian Jun)
Ying Wang	....	assistant camera (as Wang Ying)
Chi Ming Wong	....	gaffer (as Wong Chi Ming)
Man Bun Wong	....	lighting technician (as Wong Man Bun)
Cai Xu	....	lighting technician (as Xu Cai)

Casting Department
Yao Jun	....	assistant to casting director
Tyler Stokes	....	assistant to casting director

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sally Cheng	....	assistant costume designer
Jelly Chung	....	assistant costume designer
Huan Fang	....	wardrobe (as Fang Huan)
Mabel Kwan	....	wardrobe master (as Mable Kwan)
Ceilen Lau	....	wardrobe
Xue Qun Liu	....	wardrobe (as Liu Xue Qun)
Lin Wang	....	costume assistant (as Wang Lin)

Editorial Department
Cine Chang	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Rex Chang	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Chien Ping Chen	....	on-line editor: avid (as Chen Chien Ping)
Mei Yuan Chen	....	film timer (as Chen Mei Yuan)
Monique Chen	....	negative conforming
Miao Rung Chiang	....	negative conforming (as Chiang Miao Rung)
Sze Yi Chu	....	digital intermediate video colorist (as Chu Szu Yi)
Dorian Huang	....	digital film restoration: 2D
Tony Hu	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Chang Hsien Lee	....	on-line editor: avid (as Lee Chang Hsien)
Chu Szu Yi	....	film recording operator

Music Department
Marina Dubovskova	....	orchestra contractor
Bob Parsons	....	orchestrator
Sergei Skripka	....	conductor: The Russian State Symphony
Oscar Zambrano	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
Guo Qiang Zhu	....	transportation (as Zhu Guo Qiang)

Other crew
Jacqueline Chan	....	corporate accountant
Stephen Chan	....	location accountant
Jian Chen	....	location assistant (as Chen Jian)
Pei Chi Chen	....	accountant (as Chen Pei Chi)
Pei Chi Chen	....	finance (as Chen Pei Chi)
Sharon Chen	....	accountant
Sharon Chen	....	finance
Jessica Chuang	....	business affairs
Jessica Chuang	....	legal affairs
Nie Chunsheng	....	assistant to director (as Nie Chun Sheng)
Wei Min Du	....	bookkeeping assistant (as Du Wei Min)
Alice Ho	....	business affairs
Alice Ho	....	legal affairs
Isabella Ho	....	marketing assistant
Fanny Lee	....	continuity
Franny Lee	....	legal affairs
Peggy Lee	....	financial manager
Roger Lee	....	financial controller
Joseph Liao	....	marketing supervisor
Hua Dong Pan	....	dance teacher (as Pan Hua Dong)
Tyler Stokes	....	assistant: Alexi Tan
Yi Tang	....	stand-in (as Tang Yi)
Hua Wang	....	office assistant (as Wang Hua)
Hua Wang	....	production assistant (as Wang Hua)
Liu Lian Wang	....	tea lady (as Wang Liu Lian)
Dong Lai Wei	....	location manager (as Wei Dong Lai)
Ryan Wong	....	making-of
Ming Ying Wu	....	financial manager
Chen Yang	....	stand-in (as Yang Chen)
Liu Yang	....	assistant to executive producer (as Yang Liu)
Nikki Yang	....	marketing assistant
Zhen Ying Yao	....	dance teacher (as Yao Zhen Ying)
Garson Yu	....	title designer: main titles (as Garson Yu at Yu + Co.)
Jia Jia Zhu	....	office assistant (as Zhu Jia Jia)

Production Companies

• CMC Entertainment
• Sil-Metropole Organisation
• Lion Rock Productions
• China Film Co-Production Corporation (co-production)

Distributors

• First Look International (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Innoform Media (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• SPO (2009) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Golden Scene (2007) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• Maximum Film Distribution (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• Pan Vision Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• United King Films (2007) (Israel) (all media)

Special Effects

• Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design Company (visual effects)

Other Companies

• yU+Co.  main title design
• CineDigit  avid post production
• Soundfirm Beijing Co. Ltd.  sound studio
• Showreel Film Facilities  sound mixing
• Mosfilm  orchestra recording
• Ramblin Man Music  music mixing
• Taipei Motion Picture  digital intermediate post-production
• Shanghai Film Laboratory  film laboratory
• Fortissimo Films  world sales
• Taipei Motion Picture  film laboratory

Also Known As:

Blood Brothers (International: English title)
Gate to Heaven (Hong Kong: English title) (literal title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence.

Runtime:

Canada:95 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Taiwan | China

Language:

Mandarin | English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:14A | USA:R | Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | Finland:K-15

Company:

CMC Entertainment

Soundtrack:

Tian Tang Kou

Elegance in the absence of depth

With the 30's Shanghai as background, the film is a gangs story, a romance story, a brotherhood story and a simple story, with a theme portraying the lust for power against brotherhood piety. The narrative is unrestricted with plots generally linear albeit that it is told in flashback. The story embeds complex relations among characters with such relations & revenges constituting parallel narratives for similarity and contrast. The narrative is framed from the perspective of Feng (Daniel Wu) and supplemented with ancillary perspective from the other lead, Mark (Chen Chang). Director Alexi Tan attempts to make it moderately stylistic by use of freeze action (not freeze frame), complete silence and some other cinematographic devices (obviously Tan restrains it from being overdone). Though the movie comes with strong leads and their fine staging, the diegesis is relatively weak and shallow in portraying the evolution of the key antagonists' personalities down the plots. Nevertheless, visual motif (flicking of cigarette on a cigarette box) is repeatedly used to reinforce the use of power and the desire for such. In terms of visuals, the film comes with replete elegant costumes and settings with Mckintoshes, western hats, suits and cuffed shirts' sleeves filling the mise-en-scenes. Fine mastering of lighting and shooting angles in the presence of both diegetic and non-diegetic music delivers a moody combination of visual and acoustic amusement to the audience. The gun-pointing scenes are fairly flamboyant in mounting up tension whilst sudden fires and zigzags of characters' motions bring occasional shocks to the audience and generate uncomfortable surprises to the audience. Yet the visual-acoustic artifice is less than sufficient to redress its shortcoming in the meek, if not weak, psychological coverage of the characters. The film is another product in which substance is subordinate to style.