Media Review: "The Mobfathers"

"The Mobfathers" 選老頂

All Photos from: https://www.facebook.com/TheMobfathers/photos

At the first glance, by its title “The Mobfathers” (選老頂) and its poster in which criminal bosses holding a knife or having blood on his body are present, “The Mobfathers” should thus be merely classified a movie of the criminal genre; as well as of erotica featured with sexuality. But as one of Hongkongers, who are subject to Hong Kong’s cultural context and able to make reference to the same intertextuality for this movie, with the scrutiny of the plot; and dialogue, I would argue that this movie’s genre is also of political.

The movie’s genre can be attributed not to “criminal”, “erotic”; but also “political”, with regard to the movie’s plot; and dialogue. In addition to its title and its poster of advertisement, the criminality is well expressed by the elements peculiar to criminal movies: foul language; bloody slaughter scene; entertaining venues, such as disco and place providing message and spa, etc.; and worship of Kwan Yi Gor (關二哥), a hero in the Three Romance of Kingdom, who symbolizes loyalty and righteousness (“Revised Online Chinese…”). And the genre can be of erotica too, adduced by the scenes of naked pole dance girls in a club and a scantily dressed lady dancing for and then having sex with the main actor Chapman To. However, the audience of Hong Kong people can easily notice the similarity between the plot and the current affairs of the Hong Kong’s politics.

Firstly, the movie’s backdrop movie is in line with Hong Kong’s current political situation. For instance, while To is in jail, he mentions that it is soon 2017 but they (the prisoners) still have not the right, which they think they should and prisoners in foreign countries already and had. At the same time, it is about the time for the gang To belongs to to have a new leader, out of two candidates nominated by the group of bosses, including four seniors, and five district leaders including To himself. Notably, one of the final candidates is named as “Jackal Wolf” (豺狼). This is similar to the situation of the progress of the endlessly disputed 2017 election for the HK Chief Executive, whom some of HK people claim that they are endowed the right to choose, as same as the international standard for political leader election (“Manifesto”; “I Want Real Suffrage”). But it was ascertained that the HK Chief Executive 2017, out of 2 to 3 candidates, must be nominated by the Election Committee, which is formed by four sectors, and delegated by the Chinese Central Government, who if the citizens are allowed to vote for (Hkpolitics 101; “Introduction to Candidates”; “Annex I: Method…”). Coincidentally, the gang’s leader, out of two candidates, is to be chosen by those four most superior seniors who have five district leaders subordinate to them. Moreover, one of the candidate of the gang leader, and also the incumbent HK Chief executive, CY Leung, are dubbed the Wolf, who are also related to the police force: while “Jackal Wolf” is a former undercover for the police force, CY Leung is a police’s son, and also a secret Chinese Communist member (Wai Kwok). Related to the police force, both of them are questioned whether the interests of their people or former boss will be given priority.

Still, the representation of HK’s ongoing political circumstance by the movie, is revealed by the abundant usage of HK specific political terms in the dialogue. For example, in a conflict with another district leader “Coffee”, To mentions a HK political term: he says he recently advocates the belief of being peaceful and reasonable, committing no violence and blasphemy (和理非非). And during a confrontation that To tries to take over a gangster’s territory, the term “the Basic Law” is mentioned. Many terms used in the movie dialogue are related to HK politics; and should not be expected by the audience of criminal movies.

It is argued here that “The Mobfathers” is not only a criminal and erotic movie, but also a political movie making reference to HK late politics and represent some of the political incidents, which can be interpreted by the plot; and also the dialogue, by anyone who have knowledge of HK culture and therefore are able allude the movie to HK politics.

Works Cited

“Annex I: Method for the Selection of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.” The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. 28 Apr. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. <http:/ / www.basiclaw.gov.hk/ en/ basiclawtext/ annex_1.html>.

“Introduction to Candidates.” Registration and Electoral Office. Registration and Electoral Office. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. <http:/ / www.elections.gov.hk/ ecss2011/ eng/ intro_to_can.html>.

“I Want Real Suffrage.” AppleDaily. AppleDaily. 27 Oct. 2014. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. <http:/ / hk.apple.nextmedia.com/ news/ art/ 20141027/ 18914145>.

“Manifesto.” Alliance for True Democracy. Alliance for True Democracy. 21 Mar. 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. <http:/ / www.atd.hk/ en/ ?page_id=10>.

“Revised Online Chinese Dictionary.” Ministry of Education, R.O.C.. Ministry of Education, R.O.C.. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. <http:/ / dict.revised.moe.edu.tw/ cbdic/ search.htm>.

Hkpolitics 101. “Hong Kong’s Political Reform (4): The 831 Resolution by the National People’s Congress.” Inmediahk. Inmediahk. 1 Mar. 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. < http:/ / www.inmediahk.net/ node/ 831>.

Wai Kwok, Wong. “Observation on Hong Kong: Is the Battle between Leung and Tong a competition between a Pig and a Wolf?.” BBC. BBC. 29 Nov. 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2016. <http:/ / www.bbc.com/ zhongwen/ trad/ hong_kong_review/ 2011/ 11/ 111129_hkreview_hkelection_pigvswolf_byhuangweiguo.shtml>.

Word Count: 726

Student Name: Wong Kwok Wai

Student Number: 10555623/ 21619895