The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon
| The Pig, The Snake and The Pigeon | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Traditional Chinese | 周處除三害 |
| Directed by | Wong Ching-po |
| Screenplay by | Wong Ching-po |
| Produced by | Lee Lieh Roger Huang |
| Starring | Ethan Juan Ben Yuen Chen Yi-wen Gingle Wang Lee Lee-zen Cherry Hsieh |
| Cinematography | Jimmy Wong[1] |
| Edited by | Wong Ching-po[1] |
| Music by | Luming Lu Lin Hsiao-Chin Lin Sih-yu Baobu Badulu |
Production company | An Attitude Production |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 134 minutes |
| Country | Taiwan |
| Languages | Mandarin Hokkien Cantonese |
| Budget | NTD$60,000,000[2] |
The Pig, The Snake and The Pigeon (Chinese: 周處除三害) is a 2023 Taiwanese black comedy action thriller film directed and written by Hong Kong director Wong Ching-po. Starring Ethan Juan, Ben Yuen, Chen Yi-wen, Gingle Wang, Lee Lee-zen, and Cherry Hsieh, the film revolves around a dying and fame-seeking hitman (Juan) who endeavoured to eliminate the country's two most wanted criminals (Yuen and Chen) before his own demise.
The film was theatrically released on 6 October 2023, in Taiwan. It received 7 nominations in the 60th Golden Horse Awards and 13 nominations in the 26th Taipei Film Awards, with Ethan Juan and Lee Lee-zen winning Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively in the latter.
Synopsis
[edit]Chen Kui-lin, a notorious hitman in Taiwan, infiltrates a funeral and shoots down a high-ranking gang boss. Police detective Chen Hui is surveiling the funeral, and spots Kui-lin fleeing the scene. Chen Hui pursues him and the two engage in a fight, but Kui-lin overpowers Chen, causing him to lose an eye. Kui-lin manages to escape unharmed.
Four years later, Dr. Chang, an underworld doctor, approaches the long-hiding Kui-lin and informs him that he has stage IV lung cancer. Motivated by his impending death, Kui-lin decides to turn himself in at a nearby police station. However, the police officers did not recognize him and rudely order him to wait in line. He discovers that he is ranked only third on the country's most-wanted list, behind the renowned criminals "Hongkie" and "Bullhead." Determined to accomplish something significant, Kui-lin resolves to eliminate these two major criminals during the final stage of his life.
Kui-lin's first target is Hongkie, and learns from Dr. Chang that Hongkie was hiding in a hair salon in Taichung. Kui-lin spends the entire night spying on Hongkie from a hotel across the street. He witnesses Hongkie manipulating Hsiao-mei, the salon owner, and forcing her into a sexual relationship. The next morning, Kui-lin attempts to speak with Hsiao-mei but is discovered by Hongkie. Hongkie revealed that he had noticed Kui-lin spying on him all night but had mistaken his intentions, thinking he was interested in Hsiao-mei. Realizing he had been exposed, Kui-lin launches an assault on Hongkie when he attempts to rape Hsiao-mei and kept his subordinates away. However, Hongkie manages to escape Kui-lin's ambush, and the two continue their fight all the way to a deserted warehouse, where Kui-lin deals a fatal blow to Hongkie. Afterwards, he returns to the salon to rescue Hsiao-mei and kill the rest of Hongkie's men. He leaves Hsiao-mei by the sea and instructs her to tell the police that he killed Hongkie.
Kui-lin traces Bullhead to the "New Soul Society," a new religious movement, and travels to the society's commune in Penghu. While attending a lecture by His Holiness, the leader of the society, Kui-lin vomits black liquid and collapses. During his recovery, His Holiness tells him that Bullhead had died many years ago, and shows Kui-lin his grave. Now devoid of purpose, Kui-lin decides to start a new life at the society, in the hopes of spiritually restoring his health. As part of the society's regulations, he gives away all of his money and possessions to be incinerated. He enjoys his new lifestyle, and is soon informed that his cancer has miraculously gone into remission.
However, during another lecture, a young boy visiting the society with his mother also vomits black liquid and is hospitalized. Kui-lin overhears other acolytes discussing poisoning the boy, and witnesses His Holiness manipulate the boy's mother into joining the society. Suspicious, Kui-lin goes to His Holiness's private quarters and discovers a secret trapdoor leading to a lavish apartment, along with a room filled with the confiscated possessions of the society's members. He confronts His Holiness during the initiation ceremony for the boy's mother, but she commits suicide. Kui-lin is subdued, stabbed, and buried alive by the cultists.
Kui-lin manages to escape from his coffin. He finds and excavates Bullhead's grave, only to find that it is empty except for a single photograph of Bullhead and his mother, revealing that "His Holiness" is Bullhead. He digs up the gun he had buried earlier and returns to the commune. After exposing His Holiness's identity and past to the cult members, Kui-lin kills him. However, the rest of the cult rallies behind His Holiness's second-in-command. Enraged, Kui-lin returns and tells the cultists to leave. Several people escape, and Kui-lin shoots all cultists choosing to stay one by one. Having completed his mission, Kui-lin turns himself in to Chen Hui, and is subsequently arrested.
Dr. Chang visits him in prison and reveals that she is dying of lung cancer, as the cancerous X-ray she showed Kui-lin was actually hers. She had lied to convince Kui-lin to end his violent career, unaware of how things would turn out. She remarks that Kui-lin is famous with his newfound reputation. Kui-lin thanks her and states he is now at peace. Chen Hui invites Hsiao-mei to the prison to shave Kui-lin's beard one last time. Kui-lin receives the death penalty and is executed by firearm.
Cast
[edit]- Ethan Juan as Chen "The Kuilin Kid" Kui-lin, a notorious hitman who intends to hunt down the two most wanted criminals of the country before he dies from lung cancer[3]
- Ben Yuen as Hsu "Hongkie" Wei-chiang, the No.2 most wanted criminal and a Cantonese-speaking brute originating from Hong Kong[4]
- Chen Yi-wen as Lin "Bullhead" Lu-ho / Your Holiness, the No.1 most wanted criminal and a mass murderer who reinvents himself as a cult leader[4]
- Gingle Wang as Cheng Hsiao-mei, a young hair salon owner who is coerced into a relationship with Hongkie[3]
- Lee Lee-zen as Chen Hui, a detective who determines to hunt down Chen Kui-lin[3]
- Cherry Hsieh as Dr. Chang Kuei-ching, an underworld doctor and an acquaintance of Chen Kui-lin[5]
Also appearing in the film are Troy Liu as Goldie, a young gangster who idolizes Chen Kui-lin;[6] Peggy Tseng as Hsiao Hsiang-hsiang, Bullhead's mistress and second-in-command;[7] Huang Di-yang as Brother B, a loyal acolyte of Your Holiness;[8] and Yu An-shun as a deceased man whose identity was stolen by Bullhead.[7] Hong Kong actors Benjamin Tsang and Ben Cheung appear as the sidekicks of Hongkie.[9][10] Cheng Yu-Chieh cameos as Dr. Chao, a medical doctor who cooperates with Bullhead to lure new acolytes.[11]
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]In 2011, Hong Kong director Wong Ching-po came up with the story concept for The Pig, the Snake, and the Pigeon, originally envisioning it as a road movie set in Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea, with different characters and locations compared to the final version set in Taipei, Taichung, and Penghu.[12][13] Despite pitching the screenplay idea to various producers, production did not finalize.[12] After producing Once Upon a Time in Shanghai in 2014, Wong found himself lacking fresh filming ideas centered around Hong Kong, leading him to relocate and join productions in Taiwan.[14] In 2019, through a mutual friend, Wong met Taiwanese producer Lee Lieh and presented three story concepts to her. Among them, Lee became intrigued by the idea that eventually evolved into The Pig, the Snake, and the Pigeon.[15] Wong finalized the screenplay draft in August 2020, initially titled Crime and Punishment.[15] The story was later retitled as The Pig, the Snake, and the Pigeon, with reference to the Chinese historical figure Zhou Chu.[7] The film received funding from the Taichung Film Development Foundation in 2022, as filming primarily took place in Taichung,[16] while post-production was completed in Taipei.[17] The film rights were sold at the European Film Market in Berlin in February 2023,[18] and an official trailer was released in August 2023.[19]
Casting
[edit]In November 2022, Ethan Juan and Gingle Wang were cast in lead roles, while the remaining cast members and film details were kept under wraps.[20][21] In February 2023, Ben Yuen and Chen Yi-wen were added to the cast.[18] Lee Lee-zen, Cherry Hsieh, Peggy Tseng and Yu An-shun were later revealed to be part of the cast through the official trailer released in August 2023.[19]
Wong Ching-po created the character Chen Kui-lin, drawing inspiration from real-life gangster Liu Huanrong.[13] He specifically selected Ethan Juan to portray the role, considering his similar vibe and charisma as demonstrated in the 2010 film Monga.[13] Lee Lieh, the film's producer who had a strained relationship with Juan due to his early departure at the 50th Golden Horse Awards ceremony, was responsible for reaching out to Juan, and the two were able to reconcile during the production of the film.[22]
Filming
[edit]Principal photography occurred during the summer of 2022,[23] primarily in Taichung,[16] with Lyu-Chuan Canal and Jingming Commercial District being among the locations used.[24] The film crew rented an empty shop on Jingming 1st Street for NTD$150,000 and renovated it into the set of Hsiao-mei's hair salon.[25] Filming also took place aboard the retired cruise ship Tai Hwa,[26] and concluded prior to November 2022.[16]
Release
[edit]The Pig, The Snake and The Pigeon was theatrically released on 6 October 2023, in Taiwan.[27] The film was also made available on the streaming service Netflix later on 1 March 2024.[28]
Reception
[edit]Box office
[edit]The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon raked in over NTD$16,000,000 during its first weekend of release and went on to become the top-grossing local production in Taiwan,[29] with a total gross of NTD$47,000,000.[30] Upon its release in March 2024, it quickly rose to the top of the box office in Mainland China, grossing approximately RMB$417,000,000 (NTD$1,820,000,000) by the first weekend.[31]
Critical response
[edit]James Marsh of South China Morning Post gave the film 3/5 stars and acknowledged the film's enegertic vibes and sympathetic portrayal of its protagonist, but suggested that it may not be universally entertaining as the plot is perplexing and characters like Hsiao-mei and Chen Hui are underdeveloped.[3] Han Cheung of Taipei Times appreciated the film for its compelling character study, highlighted by Ethan Juan's great performance, and the intriguing approach to the gangster genre which avoided excessive reliance on action scenes. However, Cheung also pointed out flaws such as underdeveloped supporting characters and scenes that lack believability.[32] Tay Yek Keak, writing for TODAY, gave the film 3.5/5 stars and lauded its endeavor to blend realism with absurdity and violence with tranquillity, as well as the portrayal of Ethan Juan as the intriguing anti-hero, but noted that the two halves of the film were in stark contrast and did not integrate well.[33] John Lui of The Straits Times, offering a rather negative review, criticized the messy narrative, abrupt tonal shifts, and the absence of stylish visuals that could have complemented the film's dark themes. However, he did recognize the film's exploration of morality and nihilism as a positive aspect.[34]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 60th Golden Horse Awards | Best Director | Wong Ching-po | Nominated | [35] |
| Best Film Editing | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor | Ethan Juan | Nominated | |||
| Best Visual Effects | Tomi Kuo, Hulk Chen and Gareth Wang | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Effects | Book Chien, Chen Jia-li, Yang Jia-shen and Tang Hsiang-chu | Nominated | |||
| Best Action Choreography | Scott Hung | Won | |||
| Best Original Film Score | Luming Lu, Lin Hsiao-chin, Lin Sih-yu and Baobu Badulu | Nominated | |||
| 2024 | 5th Taiwan Film Critics Society Awards | Best Film | — | Nominated | [36] |
| Best Screenplay | Wong Ching-po | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Ethan Juan | Won | [37] | ||
| 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Asian Chinese Language Film | — | Won | [38] | |
| 26th Taipei Film Awards | Best Narrative Feature | — | Nominated | [39][40] | |
| Best Director | Wong Ching-po | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Actor | Ethan Juan | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Lee Lee-zen | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Peggy Tseng | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Jimmy Wong | Nominated | |||
| Best Music | Luming Lu, Lin Hsiao-chin, Lin Sih-yu and Baobu Badulu | Nominated | |||
| Best Art Direction | Liang Shuo-lin | Nominated | |||
| Best Costume | Hsu Li-wen | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound Design | Book Chien, Chen Jia-li, Yang Jia-shen and Tang Hsiang-chu | Nominated | |||
| Best Visual Effects | Tomi Kuo, Hulk Chen and Gareth Wang | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Artistic Contribution | Scott Hung | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "《周處除三害》：山雨欲來的氛圍成功吸引觀眾，但細想會發現故事簡化的缺憾". The News Lens (in Chinese). 12 October 2023. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ 呂嘉鴻 (12 March 2024). "台灣電影《周處除三害》為何在中國大陸拿下票房冠軍". BBC News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Marsh, James (10 October 2023). "The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon movie review: Taiwanese crime thriller directed by Hong Kong's Wong Ching-po is energetic if somewhat baffling". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b Tay, Yek Keak (2 November 2023). "The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon Review: Ethan Ruan Rocks As Born-Again Assassin In Uneven, Unconventional Gangster Thriller". Today. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Cheung, Han (13 October 2023). "Movie review: The Pig, The Snake and The Pigeon". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ 粘湘婉 (27 September 2023). "阮經天《周處除三害》被剪成禿頭 挑戰瘋癲惡徒拍到崩潰喊：不想做了". Want China Times (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Hsieh, Allie (8 October 2023). "《周處除三害》亮點＋角色一次看！王淨、阮經天、李李仁、陳以文…「神級卡司」瘋魔對決！". Cosmopolitan (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ 林欣儀 (21 February 2024). "黃迪揚時尚超有戲" (in Chinese). China Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ @benjamin_tsang (7 February 2024). "周處除三害 #周處除三害 #鴨咀帽" – via Instagram.
- ^ "44歲前亞視藝人定居台灣 殺入影壇拍《周處除三害》：衝刺事業！". HK01 (in Chinese). 13 November 2023. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Yui (13 October 2023). "國片《周處除三害》不為人知8件事！阮經天主角原型竟是「他」，吳興街槍戰、黑道急救站都真有其事！". Bella Taiwan (in Chinese). Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ a b 莫匡堯 (16 October 2023). "錢人豪指控《周處除三害》抄襲 黃精甫導演發創作歷程千字文反擊". HK01 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "什麼人訪問什麼人：殺黑道．殺邪教．殺殺人狂 《周處除三害》黃精甫的帽子戲法". Ming Pao (in Chinese). 29 October 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ 何兆彬 (10 November 2023). "《周處除三害》 黃精甫最佳作品 劇本仍然疲弱". am730 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b 黃于珊 (16 October 2023). "【更新】《周處除三害》導演黃精甫千字文駁抄襲 錢人豪：肆無忌憚掠奪創意". Yahoo! News (in Chinese). Tai Sounds. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b c 陳世宗 (15 November 2022). "111年「台中拍」獎勵電影揭曉 劇情長片《周處除三害》、《車頂上的玄天上帝》獲選". China Times (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ 許育民 (4 March 2024). "周處除三害｜Netflix上架登Top 1 王淨大尺度演出謝劇組窩心安排". HK01 (in Chinese). Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ a b Shackleton, Liz (5 February 2023). "Distribution Workshop To Sell Lunar New Year Hit 'Hidden Blade', Wong Ching-Po's 'The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon' At The EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ a b Hsu, Daniel; Chang, Sally (16 August 2023). "《周處除三害》2023 年 10 月上映！阮經天、王淨夢幻共演，變身瘋魔形象上演激烈槍戰場面！". GQ Taiwan (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ 熊景玉 (9 November 2022). "【獨家】【CP續前緣】新作演出女人故事 林依晨二度合作柯震東". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ 唐千雅 (25 July 2023). "阮經天《艋舺》後13年再合作李烈 《周處除三害》處處壓玄機". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ 葉冠吟 (4 October 2023). "金馬50早退李烈氣到10年不聯絡 阮經天致歉：愧疚盼活到100屆". Central News Agency (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 28 November 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ 熊景玉 (15 October 2023). "【專訪】揣摩《周處》原型人物 阮經天多次祈禱撥一些「靈魂」". Mirror Media (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ 許世穎 (7 October 2023). "阮經天飾通緝犯全台趴趴走！台中知名地標成關鍵要點". Liberty Times (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ 李采穎 (12 March 2024). "電影「周處除三害」髮廊在這！精明一街店租15萬". TVBS News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ 張鈞凱 (8 March 2024). "《周處除三害》票房破2億火爆內地 貪嗔痴人設引台海遐想". HK01 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Lin, Ollie (20 November 2023). "《周處除三害》 阮經天入圍影帝必看！6大看點：《艋舺》後回歸李烈監製新作、陳以文根本邪教教主本人". Tatler Asia (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "《周處除三害》中國優先場獲好評 上映前突改「閹割版」觀眾傻眼". Mirror Media (in Chinese). 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ 徐筠庭 (12 October 2023). "《周處除三害》4天賣破1600萬！歌曲「新造的人」超洗腦 幕後推手曝". TVBS News (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ 王心妤 (13 March 2024). "周處除三害中國爆紅傳台灣團隊無法分潤 製作公司否認". Central News Agency (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 13 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (5 March 2024). "China Box Office: Taiwanese Crime Film 'The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon' Opens on Top, Ahead of 'Madame Web'". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Cheung, Han (13 October 2024). "Movie review: The Pig, The Snake and The Pigeon". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Keak, Tay Yek (2 November 2023). "The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon Review: Ethan Ruan Rocks As Born-Again Assassin In Uneven, Unconventional Gangster Thriller". TODAY. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ^ Lui, John (1 November 2023). "At The Movies: Crime drama The Pig, The Snake And The Pigeon offers violent thrills and dark humour". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Lee, Edmund (4 October 2023). "Golden Horse Awards 2023 nominations: Time Still Turns The Pages, In Broad Daylight lead Hong Kong contenders at Taiwan film event once again shunned by Beijing". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 11 February 2024. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ "第五屆台灣影評人協會獎入圍名單 《老狐狸》獲6項大滿貫入圍". Tavis (in Chinese). 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ 鍾志均 (23 April 2024). "「台灣影評人協會獎」《老狐狸》擒四大獎！ 阮經天陳意涵封帝后". Liberty Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 25 April 2024.
- ^ Ng, Kang-chung; Hung, Emily (14 April 2024). "Court drama A Guilty Conscience picks up top prize at Hong Kong Film Awards while crime thriller The Goldfinger is big winner". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ Chung, Keira (16 May 2024). "【2024台北電影節】第26屆北影入圍名單！". Harper's Bazaar (in Chinese). Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ 王心妤 (6 July 2024). "台北電影獎林品彤封后阮經天稱帝 老狐狸奪最佳劇情長片等5獎". Central News Agency (in Chinese). Retrieved 5 August 2024.