Genre
- Drama
Countries of Production
- Germany / China / Taiwan
Language
- Mandarin
World premiere
- 9th August 2007 – Locarno IFF
German cinema release
- 1st January 2009
a production by
- Twenty Twenty Vision, Kenbirol Films, Emperor Classic Films, Arc Light Films
in co-production with
with the support of
- MBB - Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg
World Sales
- The Match Factory
Distribution
- Neue Visionen Filmverleih
In the East, the drum is the king of all musical instruments. The intense sound of the drum can penetrate a man’s body. The solemn beat of the drum can open a man’s heart. The powerful vibration of the drum can awaken a man’s soul.
Sid, the rebellious son of Kwan, a controlling and savage triad boss in Hong Kong, has to flee to Taiwan upon enraging his father’s adversary, a powerful tycoon and underground business leader. Hiding out in the mountains, Sid encounters a group of Zen drummers whose mesmerizing art, rigorous physical training, and austere way of life pique this hostile urban young man’s interest and he requests to join the group. Although Sid despises his father, he is turning out to be a younger version of him: wild and defiant. Immersing in the world of the Zen drummers eventually converts him into a firm and focused young man. Sid’s independence from the triad life and his father is profoundly challenged, however, when a twist of fate awaits him back home in Hong Kong and forces him to choose between loyalty to his family and his new found faith in himself …
Sid
- Jaycee Chan
Hong Dou
- Lee Sinje
Ah Chiu
- Roy Cheung
Sina
- Josie Ho
Lan Jie
- Liu Ruo-Yu
Sifu
- Huang Chih -Chun
Stephen Ma
- Kenneth Tsang
Carmen
- Yumiko Cheng
Written by
- Kenneth Bi
Directed by
- Kenneth Bi
Producers
- Rosa Li, Peggy Chiao, Thanassis Karathanos
Co-producers
- Albert Lee
Director of photography
- Sam Koa
Editor
- Isabel Meier, Kenneth Bi
Set design
- Alex Mok Siu Chung
Music
- Andre Matthias
Costumes
- Cindy Cheung
Sound Design
- Tu Duu-Chih
- Locarno IFF / world premiere
- Taipei Golden Horse FF
- Festival Internacional de Cine de Gijón
- Hawaii IFF
- International Eurasia FF
- Los Angeles Asian Pacific FF
- FF Munich
- Hong Kong IFF
- Festival de Cinéma des 3 Amériques
- Miami IFF
- Sundance FF
- Sofia IFF
- Melbourne IFF
- Zagreb IFF
- Seattle IFF
- Palm Springs IFF
- Best Supporting Actor, Tony Leung Ka Fai / Golden Horse Film Festival
- Nominated for Best Director, Kenneth Bi / Hong Kong Film Awards
- Nominated for Best Original Filmmusic, Andre Matthias / Hong Kong Film Awards