The Significance and Importance of A Better Tomorrow
Coming into my first semester at Loyola Marymount University, I didn’t know what to expect. As a naïve and nervous Freshman, I was worried about whether the food here would be good, if I would even like the people here, but above all things, my classes. What if I hated all the curriculum? What if my teacher was boring? What if the education I was receiving wasn’t worth my time? After a few weeks here, these concerns were quickly quelled as I grew to love each of my classes; specifically, my Eastern Asian Pop Culture class. This course was interactive and allowed me to think abstractly for myself then engage in eye-opening discussions with my peers. It allowed me to become more immersed in my Chinese culture learning about the media influences that shaped the world of my ancestors. But above all things, this course introduced me to some of my favorite films; namely A Better Tomorrow.
John Woo’s 1986 film, A Better Tomorrow, tells the story of two brothers who stand on opposite sides of the law. Ho, the older brother, works for the Triads whereas Kit, the younger brother, is part of the police force. Throughout the film, the film explores themes as the characters learn the importance of family, brotherhood, and sacrifice. Ho must give up his life of crime and turn his life around to prove to his brother that he cares about him while Kit must get over the death of their father and forgive his brother. The two repair their once broken relationship through a dangerous shootout with the Triads and their undying sacrifice for one another. Both Ho and Kit develop compelling character arcs to grow from being naïve in their own way to mature, loving, understanding brothers. All of this is derived from the pivotal point in the story being the death of their father which drives them to change in their own way. But through making peace with this traumatic event are they able to grow in the end. The score of this film is Leslie Cheung’s “In the Sentimental Past” which does a brilliant job of beautifully encapsulating the tone of the film. The string ensemble creates a sense of nostalgia and time of the past when things were more peaceful. The score takes us through a journey as this string ensemble goes from being innocent to dramatic as it gains in volume into the middle of the song. At the end of the score, the strings revert to the initial sound of nostalgia that is created at the beginning to reiterate that both brothers have found peace with not only themselves but one another as well re-establishing those nostalgic days of old. This film of redemption is not just about Kit who tries to redeem his father and Ho who tries to redeem his brother but also Mark who tries to redeem himself. Mark, a previously powerful member of the Triad, is now a lowly lackey for the organization who looks down upon him absolutely degrading him showing no respect. However, he risks his life to steal a computer tape containing all the data for the Triad counterfeit operation and successfully escapes with it holding it hostage. In the end, he not only successfully steals the tape but helps rescue Ho and Kit from Triad pursuit. He regains his respect for himself by the time he dies and teaches Kit a valuable lesson. Every character in this film changes significantly for the better learning very “Chinese” virtues; respect, sacrifice, brotherhood. Stylistically, Woo’s usage of slow motion explosions, a protagonist who jumps and rolls through gunfire, and intimate standoffs between the protagonist and antagonist are greatly influential in the American film industry as it has been inspired by many directors. Woo, without a doubt, popularized Hong Kong cinema and gave it popularity in the West.
A Better Tomorrow effectively depicts Hong Kong’s political climate and general attitude of the 1980s. The undercover cop genre, was reflective of Hong Kong’s confusion with identity as they struggled to figure out who they were before British rule. The themes of brotherhood and heroism appealed to many during the struggle with Great Britain and created a sense of “Hong Kong Pride”. Creating male characters who embodied “masculine qualities” and passionately suffered together in chaotic times but remaining strongly loyalty to one another were relatable ideals to many of the men in Hong Kong. This film also relieved China of its frustration and anger from the Chernobyl Disaster of 1986 in the Soviet Union. Chernobyl was one of the worst nuclear power plant disasters known and after this traumatic incident, “Hong Kongers” greatly protested the development of a nuclear power plant 30 miles north of their island at Daya Bay. There was great political opposition as Hong Kong felt as if China were using them to try out nuclear experiments and were incredibly frustrated. The people joined together to rise against a stronger and bigger power to fight for their own well-being. This is similar to A Better Tomorrow where Kit and Ho join together to fight against the Triad who has taken much away from them and constantly tamper with their lives. They struggle against an institutional power that is deep rooted within the Hong Kong system and shows the battle against it. This film was also affected by the Sino-British Declaration of 1984 which gave filmmakers and Hong Kong producers much more creative freedom to create movies. It was this that gave the inevitable rise of great filmmakers like Peter Chan, Ann Hui, and John Woo.
A Better Tomorrow has not only greatly impacted Hong Kong but the world as well. It was remade in several countries such as India, Korea, and China. The importance of this film and legacy it has created in popularizing Hong Kong cinema will last forever and continue influencing filmmakers in the years to come.
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- NATHAN XiA ASPA PORTFOLiO Nathan Xia