On August 2nd, Hong Kong renowned director Johnnie To attended a screening event at the National Film and Television Hall in Taiwan. He expressed his hope to complete filming the movie “Triad Society 3” before he turns 80. To apologize for resigning as the chairman of the 56th Golden Horse Awards jury due to restrictions in the production contract with the film’s investors, he emphasized his desire to fulfill his responsibility to the Golden Horse Awards and assured the audience that he will find a way to participate in next year’s event, which received thunderous applause from fans.
Discussing the films “Triad Society” and its sequel “Triad Society II: Rich and Honourable” which were filmed simultaneously, To mentioned that the principle during production was to either film both movies together or not at all, as having incomplete stories would compromise the overall integrity. He reflected on Hong Kong’s history as a former colony without an electoral system, juxtaposing it with the presence of triad societies in the city, which led him to ponder whether such a system is necessary, sparking a contemplation on institutional ideas.
To noted that it is uncommon for a place like Hong Kong to have so many triad organizations in its film industry. He emphasized that in his view, triads are not heroes; they engage in theft, violence, and bullying, encompassing all kinds of misconduct without any glory attached to their actions. Despite feedback from individuals he consulted with labeling the films as not truly about triads, there is a fascination and popularity among audiences for such movies as they depict human nature and serve as a microcosm of Hong Kong society.
Regarding when “Triad Society 3” will be filmed, To humorously responded, “This question is too sensitive, please understand, or else I’ll be arrested when I land.” He mentioned that he planned to film the third installment five years after completing “Triad Society II: Rich and Honourable”, acknowledging significant changes in the triad environment. However, external factors such as the SARS outbreak in 2003 and political sensitivities in 2015 and 2019 delayed production plans.
Expressing a sense of restraint compared to his past outspokenness, To advised younger generations to be more cautious in their work. He expressed his aspiration to finish “Triad Society 3” before he turns 80, acknowledging that if he is unable to do so, it may be fate.
When asked if there was a possibility for him to serve as a Golden Horse Awards jury member, To expressed regret for not fulfilling his commitment in the past and expressed his respect for the Awards’ international influence in promoting films. The 56th Golden Horse Awards was held on November 23, 2019, with To initially slated to chair the jury but later resigning due to contractual limitations with film investors. Taiwanese director Wang Tong replaced him as the chairman.
While the specific film was not disclosed, nearly a week after the incident, To’s co-directed film “My Boxing King Boyfriend”, produced under his company Milkyway Image (Hong Kong), was scheduled for release in mainland China on November 8. This release led to associations with the ban imposed by the Chinese authorities on Golden Horse Awards-related activities.
Reports indicated that “My Boxing King Boyfriend” is a co-production between the Hong Kong actor Tony Leung and the Mainland China-based production companies, China Star Film Group and Huixing Film Culture Industry. Despite deliberate timing conflicts between the Golden Rooster Awards and the Golden Horse Awards by Chinese authorities, numerous mainland Chinese films submitted entries by the July 31 deadline set by the Golden Horse Awards. In response to the Chinese government’s ban, several Hong Kong films withdrew their submissions, and local distributors were notified that films attending the Golden Horse Awards but not yet released would not gain approval for mainland release. Furthermore, Chinese authorities warned that Hong Kong artists attending the Golden Horse Awards would be placed on a watchlist.
Following the release of the promotional trailer for “My Boxing King Boyfriend”, some early viewer reactions were not positive. Criticisms centered on the film not aligning with To’s typical style and being perceived as outdated for still using a title format like “My Boyfriend”. Subsequently, the film received poor reviews and faced box office failures, leading to disappointment among viewers.
Having won multiple awards for his directing, including Best Director at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards, To has been invited to serve as a main competition judge at prominent international film festivals such as the Venice Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival. Despite a reduced creative output in recent years, his latest directorial work was in 2019 with “My Boxing King Boyfriend”.
In August 2023, To participated as a judge at the Berlin Film Festival, where he criticized dictators for stifling film freedom. He faced backlash for a slip of words when he began a statement with “I think in Hong Kong…” before correcting himself to “globally…”, without directly mentioning China. This incident led to backlash from mainland Chinese internet users who accused him of insulting China and supporting Hong Kong independence, resulting in the suspension of related social media accounts.
Reportedly, the event “Boundless Peaks, Infinite Galaxies: Johnnie To and Milkyway” organized by To in Taiwan will showcase 20 films from his collection from now until September 20 at the National Film and Audiovisual Culture Centre in Taiwan. Fans can inquire about the screening schedule at the center.