The White Storm

The White Storm, formerly known as The Cartel War[1] (Chinese: 掃毒) is a 2013 Hong Kong-Chinese crime thriller film directed by Benny Chan and starring Sean Lau, Louis Koo, and Nick Cheung.[3] The film had its world premiere at the 2013 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival on 25 October 2013.[4]

The White Storm
China poster
Directed byBenny Chan
Produced byBenny Chan
Written byBenny Chan
Manfred Wong
Ram Ling
Wong Chun
Tam Wai Ching
StarringSean Lau
Louis Koo
Nick Cheung
Music byNicolas Errèra
CinematographyAnthony Pun (HKSC)
Edited byYau Chi-wai (HKSE)
Production
company
Universe Entertainment
Sun Entertainment Culture Limited
Bona International Film Group
Sil-Metropole Organisation
Golala Investment Limited
Distributed byUniverse Films Distribution Company Limited
Release date
  • 25 October 2013 (2013-10-25) (Hong Kong Asian Film Festival)
  • 29 November 2013 (2013-11-29) (China)
  • 5 December 2013 (2013-12-05) (Hong Kong)
Running time
134 minutes
CountryHong Kong
China
LanguageCantonese
Thai
English
BudgetUS$16,000,000[1]
Box officeUS$44,670,277[2]

A sequel titled The White Storm 2: Drug Lords was released on 16 July 2019, with Koo returning, Andy Lau joining the cast as well as producing and Herman Yau directing.[5][6]

Plot

Ma Ho-tin, So Kin-chow and Cheung Tsz-wai are good brothers who grew up together. When they grew up, they were stationed in the Narcotics Bureau of the Hong Kong Police Force. Among them, Chow has been undercover for a long time in the drug trafficking group. He can't live a normal life and make him extremely annoyed. Big brother Tin and his detective brother Wai often persuade him that he can return to the team after catching the last big drug lord. The high-level police force asked Chow to follow up to catch a long line to catch big fish. Chow was deeply dissatisfied. The last three brothers decided to go to Thailand to catch the big poisonous eight-faced Buddha and help Chow to escape. However, due to the safety concerns of Chow, he was reluctant to conduct a fake drug transaction with the Eight-faced Buddha. He secretly used the telephone to contact the other party and said that the transaction was cancelled, which led to the suspicion that the Eight-faced Buddha had bought the drug party Chow and others. After the war, the two sides forced Tin to choose a rescue between Chow and Wai. Finally, Tin chose to save Chow, and Wai was shot in the crocodile pool. Wai’s death made both Tin and Chow deeply embarrassed. The two also took care of Cheung’s mother who was hospitalized for her illness and amnesia. Chow’s wife broke up with him after giving birth to his daughter.

Five years later, the son of the Eight-faced Buddha, Sanit Wei is killed in Hong Kong by the gang of the Tsim Sha Tsui gang lead by Dune Kun. Chow and Tin found out that Wai is alive when he investigated the incident. He also married Mina and became the son-in-law of the Eight-faced Buddha. The trio was tied up by the daughter of Chow, and finally resolved the resentment between each other. The brotherhood was reborn again, and Chow reconciled with his wife and daughter. He learned that Wai and Dun Kune had killed the son of Eight-faced Buddha. In the night when Eight-faced Buddha mourns his dead son, the three brothers chose to fight with the Eight-faced Buddha. Wai, who had been suspected by the Eight-faced Buddha, was forced to cut off one of his own hands. An intense showdown ensures, where Tin, Chow and Wai gun down a huge number of Eight Faced Buddha's men. During the chaos Wai is killed and Tin and heavily wounded by a strong henchman. Chow is pinned down by Eight Faced Buddha. Tin appreciating all that Chow has done sacrifices himself to draw out Eight Faced Buddha, who guns down Tin but allows a wounded Chow to finally gun down Eight Faced Buddha. Chow then smiles, despite the deaths of Tin and Wai, realizing that they have finally taken down the whole crime syndicate but at a heavy cost.

Cast

Critical response

Andrew Chan of the Film Critics Circle of Australia writes, "“The White Storm” is easily the most entertaining (Hong Kong) film of the year, an edge of the seat thriller, smash buckling action affair and a powerhouse of acting experience. "[7]

Awards and nominations
List of Accolades
Award / Film Festival Category Recipient(s) Result
12th Changchun Film Festival Best Cinematography Anthony Pun Nominated
Best Visual Effects Ng Yuen-fai, Chow Chi-sing, Tam Kai-kwan Nominated
Best Film Score Nicolas Errèra Won
33rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best Film The White Storm Nominated
Best Director Benny Chan Nominated
Best Actor Louis Koo Nominated
Sean Lau Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Law Lan Nominated
Best Cinematography Anthony Pun Nominated
Best Editing Yau Chi-wai Nominated
Best Original Film Song Song: "Tacit for Life" (心照一生)

Composer: RubberBand
Lyrics: RubberBand, Tim Lui
Sung by: RubberBand

 Nominated
32nd Hundred Flowers Awards Best Actor Nick Cheung Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Yuan Quan Nominated
Best New Performer Marc Ma Won
51st Golden Horse Awards Best Actor Sean Lau Nominated
Best Visual Effects Ng Yuen-fai, Chow Chi-sing, Tam Kai-kwan Nominated
Best Action Choreography Nicky Li Nominated
Best Cinematography Anthony Pun Nominated
Best Sound Design Kinson Tsang, Yiu Chun-hin, Chow Yuk-lun Nominated
Best Original Film Song Song: "Tacit for Life" (心照一生)

Composer: RubberBand
Lyrics: RubberBand, Tim Lui
Sung by: RubberBand

 Nominated

Sequel

On 16 March 2018, Universe Entertainment announced that a sequel of the film, titled The White Storm 2: Drug Lords, would start shooting during the summer and unveiled its teaser film poster. Being a sequel in name only with a similar thematic but a new storyline, Louis Koo returned playing a different role, making him the only returning cast member. Andy Lau joined the cast and also served as the film's producer, while Herman Yau replaced Benny Chan as the director for the sequel. Filming for The White Storm 2: Drug Lords took place in Hong Kong and the Philippines and the budget of the film was over HK$200 million.[5] Production for The White Storm 2 - Drug Lords began on 23 June 2018[6] and was released on 16 July 2019.[8]

References
  1. "Sean Lau, Louis Koo, and Nick Cheung's "The White Storm" Trailer". jaynestars.com. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  2. "THE WHITE STORM". Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  3. "扫毒The White Storm (2013)". movie.mtime.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  4. "10th HKAFF cooks up a White Storm". Stephen Cremin, Film Business Asia. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  5. "【連串計劃】寰宇宣佈開拍《掃毒2》《拆彈2》劉德華新姿態登場".
  6. "【《掃毒2》開鏡】華仔演金融大亨火拼毒販古仔".
  7. Andrew Chan (28 October 2013). "The White Storm". [HK Neo Reviews].
  8. "Filmart: Universe whips up sequels to 'The White Storm', 'Shock Wave' (exclusive)".
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