The Drummer

  • a film by Kenneth Bi
  • feature film
  • 113 min
  • 2007

A rebellious young man, on the run from a triad boss in Hong Kong, flees to the mountains of Taiwan where he joins a group of Zen drummers. Through the rigorous discipline of drumming and the serenity of the mountains, he undergoes a profound transformation.

Info
  • 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
Synopsis

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 …

 

Cast
  • 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
Crew
  • 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
Festivals
  • 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
Awards
  • 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

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