TRIVISA (2016)

Genre: Thriller
Running Length: 1:37
Cast: Gordon Lam Ka-tung, Richie Jen, Jordan Chan
Director: Frank Hui, Jevons Au, Vicky Wong
Screenplay: Loong Man-hong, Thomas Ng, Mak Tin-shu

Trivisa; Sansrkit for "three poisons" in Buddhist teachings - delusion, desire and fury - which leads to suffering.

TRIVISA is a reflective and engaging 3 films in 1 movie by three first-time directors. It features three notorious Hong Kong criminals which are loosely based on real life figures; each one of the felon embodying a "poison".

What's intoxicating about this movie is how the narrative of the three leading characters (ably performed by veterans Gordon, Richie and Jordan) are convincingly fused together eventhough the 3 films were shot separately. Adding to that mix is the interesting setting - 1997, the year where British-ruled Hong Kong is returned to Chinese sovereignty.

Although the movie kicks off literally with a bang, don't expect it to be your typical cops-and-robbers gun-toting galore. In fact I'm glad it didn't go down that route but instead it explored how the city began to squirm in the shadow of the rise of mainland China, forcing the trio to kowtow to the effects of bullying Big Brother. It is indeed an interesting perspective.

Of course, it's not all indie as it feels cinematic. It's beautifully shot with shocking burst of violence. Each story has its own strength. The one with Gordon is intense and has the most edge of your seat suspense. Richie is unrecognizable as he plays a ringleader who turned over a new leaf from robbing banks to smuggling electronic goods across the borders, only to be severely frustrated by corrupt Chinese officials. While the flamboyant Jordan plays a big time kidnapper who is bored with intimidating tycoons and instead chooses to pursue an underground rumour.

Trivisa joins the recent wave of Hong Kong made films which are taking jabs at Big Brother as it seems to suggest that the city's struggle is in vain as it head towards its sociopolitical doom.

Rating: 8.5/10