Distribution Workshop Re-Launching ‘Sons of the Neon Night’ as Hong Kong’s Most Expensive Film

As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the vibrant world of Asian cinema, I can confidently say that the upcoming release of “Sons of the Neon Night” is a cause for great excitement. With a production budget of over $50 million, this high-octane, action-packed thriller promises to be a visual and auditory feast, especially with the late Sakamoto Ryuichi’s score.


The Asian sales and production company Distribution Workshop is utilizing the Busan International Film Festival’s market for the relaunch of “Sons of the Neon Night,” an ambitious project they were involved with back in 2015. However, unlike before, this Juno Mak-directed film has progressed to the post-production stage, boasts a stellar cast, and holds the title of the highest-budget movie ever produced in Hong Kong.

Title “Sons of the Neon Night” presents a dynamic, stylish fusion of police, crime, action, and suspense, unfolding in a reimagined version of Hong Kong. This gripping drama features a star-studded cast led by Takeshi Kaneshiro (from “House of Flying Daggers”), Tony Leung Ka-fai (“Cold War”), Sean Lau Ching-wan (“Life Without Principle”), Louis Koo (“Warriors of Future”) and Ritchie Jen (“Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”).

It also features a score composed by the late Sakamoto Ryuichi (“The Last Emperor”).

The upcoming film, costing more than fifty million dollars to produce, is now in the post-production phase and is set to hit theaters by mid-2025 at the latest.

Mak, a prominent artist and singer residing in Hong Kong, is well-known for his contemporary works. He gained recognition not only as an artist and singer, but also as a filmmaker, with his 2013 debut “Rigor Mortis” that premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Another project, titled “Sons of the Neon Night,” was announced shortly after, but unfortunately it didn’t come to fruition.

In my humble opinion as a movie aficionado, the film kicks off with a colossal blast and an Michael Mann-esque barrage of gunfire set against a backdrop of a snow-covered Causeway Bay, a bustling district on Hong Kong Island. This initial chaos turns out to be a clever diversion orchestrated by the cinematic portrayal of a global pharmaceutical conglomerate’s heir (Kaneshiro), leading to a chain of unpredictable events, culminating in his own father – the conglomerate’s founder and potentially a drug lord – meeting an untimely end in a hospital. The subsequent declaration of a crusade against drugs sets off a ripple effect, plunging the world and its criminal underbelly into complete turmoil.

The Distribution Workshop is additionally showcasing two heartfelt Taiwanese romance dramas: “Penguin Girl,” helmed by budding director Yang Yuyu, and “Unexpected Courage,” a film inspired by the real-life events of director Shawn Yu. Notably, “Unexpected Courage” features René Liu, a renowned singer-actress, and Hsueh Shih-Ling, a winner of the best supporting actor award at Busan’s Asia Contents Awards. In regards to “Unexpected Courage,” Distribution Workshop will handle sales exclusively in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

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2024-10-02 05:16