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The White Storm

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The White Storm
China poster
Traditional Chinese掃毒
Simplified Chinese扫毒
Literal meaningSweep Away the Poison
Hanyu Pinyinsǎo dú
Jyutpingsou3 duk6
Directed byBenny Chan
Screenplay by
Produced by
  • Benny Chan
  • Alvin Lam
  • Wendy Wong
  • Stephen Lam
Starring
CinematographyAnthony Pun (HKSC)
Edited byYau Chi-wai (HKSE)
Music byNicolas Errèra
Production
companies
Distributed byUniverse Films Distribution Company Limited
Release dates
  • 25 October 2013 (2013-10-25) (Hong Kong Asian Film Festival)
  • 29 November 2013 (2013-11-29) (China)
  • 5 December 2013 (2013-12-05) (Hong Kong)
Running time
134 minutes
CountriesHong Kong
China
LanguagesCantonese
Thai
English
BudgetUS$16,000,000[1]
Box officeUS$44,670,277[2]

The White Storm, formerly known as The Cartels War[1] (Chinese: 掃毒) is a 2013 Hong Kong-Chinese crime thriller film directed by Benny Chan. The film stars Sean Lau, Louis Koo, and Nick Cheung.[3] The film had its world premiere at the 2013 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival on 25 October 2013.[4]

A sequel titled The White Storm 2: Drug Lords was released on 16 July 2019, with Koo returning, Andy Lau joining the cast as well as producing and Herman Yau directing.[5][6]

Plot

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Ma Ho-tin, So Kin-chow and Cheung Tsz-wai are good brothers who grew up together. When they grew up, they were stationed in the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force. Among them, Chow has been undercover for a long time in the drug trafficking group. He can't live a normal life and make him extremely annoyed. Big brother A Tian and his detective brother A Wei often persuade him that he can return to the team after catching the last big drug lord. The high-level police force asked Aqiu to follow up to catch a long line to catch big fish. Chow was deeply dissatisfied. The last three brothers decided to go to Thailand to catch the big poisonous eight-faced Buddha and help Chow to escape. However, due to the safety concerns of Aqiu, he was reluctant to conduct a fake drug transaction with the Eight-faced Buddha. He secretly used the telephone to contact the other party and said that the transaction was cancelled, which led to the suspicion that the Eight-faced Buddha had bought the drug party Aqiu and others. After the war, the two sides forced Ho-tin to choose a rescue between Chow and Cheung. Finally, Ho-tin chose to save Chow, and Cheung was shot in the crocodile pool. Cheung's death made both Ho-tin and Chow deeply saddened. The two also took care of Cheung’s mother who was hospitalized for her illness and amnesia. Aqi’s wife broke up with Aqiu after giving birth to her daughter.

Cast

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Critical response

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Andrew Chan of the Film Critics Circle of Australia writes, "The White Storm is easily the most entertaining (Hong Kong) film of the year, an edge of the seat thriller, smash buckling action affair and a powerhouse of acting experience".[7]

Awards and nominations

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List of Accolades
Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result
12th Changchun Film Festival Best Cinematography Anthony Pun Nominated
Best Visual Effects Ng Yuen-fai, Chow Chi-sing, Tam Kai-kwan Nominated
Best Film Score Nicolas Errèra Won
33rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Film The White Storm Nominated
Best Director Benny Chan Nominated
Best Actor Louis Koo Nominated
Sean Lau Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Law Lan Nominated
Best Cinematography Anthony Pun Nominated
Best Editing Yau Chi-wai Nominated
Best Original Film Song Song: "Tacit for Life" (心照一生)

Composer: RubberBand
Lyrics: RubberBand, Tim Lui
Sung by: RubberBand

Nominated
32nd Hundred Flowers Awards Best Actor Nick Cheung Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Yuan Quan Nominated
Best New Performer Marc Ma Won
51st Golden Horse Awards Best Actor Sean Lau Nominated
Best Visual Effects Ng Yuen-fai, Chow Chi-sing, Tam Kai-kwan Nominated
Best Action Choreography Nicky Li Nominated
Best Cinematography Anthony Pun Nominated
Best Sound Design Kinson Tsang, Yiu Chun-hin, Chow Yuk-lun Nominated
Best Original Film Song Song: "Tacit for Life" (心照一生)

Composer: RubberBand
Lyrics: RubberBand, Tim Lui
Sung by: RubberBand

Nominated

Sequel

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Main article: The White Storm 2: Drug Lords

On 16 March 2018, Universe Entertainment announced that a sequel of the film, titled The White Storm 2: Drug Lords, would start shooting during the summer and unveiled its teaser film poster. Being a sequel in name only with a similar thematic but a new storyline, Louis Koo returned playing a different role, making him the only returning cast member. Andy Lau joined the cast and also served as the film's producer, while Herman Yau replaced Benny Chan as the director for the sequel. Filming for The White Storm 2: Drug Lords took place in Hong Kong and the Philippines and the budget of the film was over HK$200 million.[5] Production for The White Storm 2 - Drug Lords began on 23 June 2018[6] and was released on 16 July 2019.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Sean Lau, Louis Koo, and Nick Cheung's "The White Storm" Trailer". 15 June 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  2. ^ "The White Storm". Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  3. ^ "扫毒The White Storm (2013)" (in Chinese). Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  4. ^ Cremin, Stephen. "10th HKAFF cooks up a White Storm". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  5. ^ a b "【連串計劃】寰宇宣佈開拍《掃毒2》《拆彈2》劉德華新姿態登場". Apple Daily. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b "【《掃毒2》開鏡】華仔演金融大亨火拼毒販古仔". Apple Daily. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  7. ^ Andrew Chan (28 October 2013). "The White Storm". HK Neo Reviews. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  8. ^ Shackleton, Liz (18 March 2018). "Filmart: Universe whips up sequels to 'The White Storm', 'Shock Wave' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
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