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Sparrow 文雀 by Johnnie To Kei Fung (2008)

A super stylish drama about the life of four pickpockets and there world getting turned upside down by the appearance of a mysterious girl. This movie is like a lyrical painting, with style, cinematography, and music coming together to make one of the most stylish films I have ever seen. Sure there is not too much substance, but it doesn’t matter, because this is so much fun to watch, and I love that To is back to his crime films, because that is what he does best. And I think the 3 years wait was worth it, though of course this is not the deepest, nor best film that To could have made, not another Exiled, but I still greatly enjoyed it. This is a romantic world, where even the villains are lovable, each in their own way, and picking pockets is a beautiful thing to behold.

Simon Yam Tat Wah plays Kei, a leader of a gang of four pickpockets, Bo (Gordon Lam Ka Tung), Sak (Law Wing Cheong) and Mac (Kenneth Cheung). Kei’s day opens with a sparrow flying into his apartment, and when he tries to get it to leave, it just flies back. His friends at breakfast take it as a bad omen, but he does not listen. The four then go out, and show their skills, seamlessly stealing as many wallets as they can. All four guys separately run into the beautiful Chung Chun Lei (Kelly Lin), all quickly falling for her, and her charms, but alas it is not to be. She wants them to do something for her, but they are not going to do it.

REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…

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Chung Chun Lei is involved with an old criminal boss, who keeps his key to his safe around his neck, and who has promised to leave everything to Chung when he dies, but his men, including Lung (Lam Suet), are constantly following her.

Next all the guys run into a running Chung, and think it is her, but is the gangsters men, and they are all beaten to hell, with hurt hands, legs, and heads, one of each.

So the men then decide to take on the old boss, and they manage to steal his key, but he gets his back, and confronts Chung again.

All the men are taken to see the boss, and given a warning, by the former pick pocket, but Kei takes umbrage to it, and goes back to challenge him for Chung’s freedom, and if he gets her passport she is free, but if he doesn’t he loses his hands.

Both sides go up against each other in the rain in umbrellas, and go for each other, and Kei shows his skills, though the old boss does get the passport, but he accidentally cuts Kei, because he his skills are rusty, so he lets Chung go, though he isn’t happy about it.

And the guys say goodbye to her, and go back to their life.

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Really a lyrical and beautiful film, though not deep, and a simple story. Not the best To film, but still enjoyable to watch, and a must see for To fans.

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