In a movie focusing on the funeral industry in Hong Kong, titled “Breaking Hell,” which has been selected by the Hong Kong Film Producers Association, the film is officially confirmed to represent Hong Kong in the competition for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
Directed by Chen Maohsian, starring actors such as Wong Cho Lam, Eric Tsang, Wien Muling, Chu Pak Hong, and Chow Ka Yi, “Breaking Hell” tells the story of wedding planner Wei Daosheng (played by Wong Cho Lam) who is forced to switch careers and become a funeral director amid the COVID-19 pandemic and a severely depressed economy.
The plot unfolds with Wei Daosheng facing numerous challenges, especially the task of gaining approval from the respected funeral master Wen Ge (played by Eric Tsang). Initially at odds due to conflicting ideologies, Wei Daosheng and Wen Ge clash continuously, putting their relationship in jeopardy. However, as Wen Ge helps in times of crisis and Wei Daosheng witnesses the interactions between Wen Ge and his daughter Wen Yue (played by Wien Muling), they reconcile their differences and gradually comprehend the true meaning of “Breaking Hell.”
Since its release in Hong Kong on November 9, 2024, the film has been a tremendous success, breaking multiple records in Hong Kong cinema history. Within 25 days of its release, the box office exceeded one billion Hong Kong dollars, surpassing “Siege of Kowloon Walled City” with 115 million Hong Kong dollars in box office revenue to become the highest-grossing Hong Kong produced film of 2024. By December 11 of the same year, the film’s box office in Hong Kong had surpassed 130 million Hong Kong dollars, overtaking “Poisonous Tongue Legal” with 115 million in box office revenue, becoming the reigning champion of Chinese-language film box office in Hong Kong cinema history.
Additionally, at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards, the film won five major awards, including Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Film Music, and Best Original Film Song.
Despite “Breaking Hell” shattering records in Hong Kong and grossing 210 million Chinese yuan in mainland China, it couldn’t salvage the declining Hong Kong market. Data shows that the local box office in Hong Kong in 2024 was 1.34 billion Hong Kong dollars, a 6.2% decrease from the previous year (2023) of 1.43 billion Hong Kong dollars. Similar to the mainland, the 2024 box office for Hong Kong cinema was at a 13-year low, regressing back to 2011 levels.
Golden Horse winner Wien Muling expressed her excitement over the success of the film she starred in, “It’s truly beyond imagination! ‘Breaking Hell’ is the result of the hard work of the entire team, and I am honored to have been a part of it. I hope the film can reach even further, touch the hearts of more audiences, and break through their respective hells.”
Male leads Eric Tsang and Wong Cho Lam also hope that “Breaking Hell” can resonate with audiences outside of Hong Kong, sparking an interest in Hong Kong’s traditional culture.