''A Fighter's Blues'' () is a 2000 Hong Kong

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

written and directed by Daniel Lee, produced by and starring

Andy Lau Andy Lau Tak-wah ( zh, order=t,j, t=劉德華, j=Lau4 Dak1 Waa4; born Lau Fook-wing; 27 September 1961), is a Hong Kong actor, singer-songwriter and film producer. He was named the "Fourth Tiger" among the Five Tiger Generals of TVB in the 1 ...

. Lau, who displays profound emotions as a kickboxer who persistently pursues dignity and honorary value in the film, was awarded the

Golden Bauhinia Awards The Golden Bauhinia Awards () were Hong Kong film awards organised by the Hong Kong Film Critics Association. Its first award presentation ceremony took place in 1996. The award attracted controversy in 2007, when ten nominations were given to ...

for Best Actor for his performance. Released on 21 December 2000, ''A Fighter's Blues'' is Lau's 100th film role.

Plot

After spending 13 years in jail for killing one of his opponents Chat Chai in the dressing room after breaking up the fight because of a quarrel with his girlfriend Pim, Mong Fu (

), a washed up

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

kickboxer returns to

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

to look for his old love. Upon arrival in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

, he finds out that she died and that he has a 14-year-old daughter. He finds the orphanage and meets his daughter and starts a relationship with sister Mioko who runs the orphanage. To clean his past, he challenges the current and more than 15 years younger champion, who wants to avenge Chai. In the end, Mong Fu passes away from his injuries during the fight, but not without gaining back the acceptance and the respect of his daughter and rest of the world, including the very fighter who fights him.

Cast

as Mong Fu *

Takako Tokiwa is a Japanese actress. Career Tokiwa was nominated for the "Best Actress" award at the Japanese Academy Awards in 2005 for her performance in ''Akai Tsuki''. She co-starred with Hidetoshi Nishijima in Amir Naderi's 2011 film ''Cut''. Filmog ...

as Sister Mioko * Intira Jaroenpura as Pim Nathasiri * Dickens Chan as Mong Fu's coach * Chan Man-yee * Venus Keung * Kam Loi-kwan as Mong Fu's cornerman * Kowit Wattanakui as Sombat *

Samart Payakaroon Samart Popteeratham (, born ''Samart Thipthamai'', ; December 5, 1962), known professionally as Samart Payakaroon (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter, professional boxer, and entertainer. He is a former four-division Lumpinee Sta ...

as Chart-Chai Payakaroon (mistakenly credited as "Samart Tayakaroon") * Apichaya Thanatthanapong as Ploy * Niruj Soasudchart as Tawon * Ekachai Waritchaaporn as Ray * Peemachai Pengphol as Popeye * Sagat Porntavee as Sagat * Manunya Limsatain as Moon * Chaleampan Junthong as Ann * Bismillah Nana as May * Thapakorn Maungkrang as Little boxer * Juthaimas Changthong as Prae * Gunyarat Maunboon as Jane * Nutvara Hongsuwan as Alice * Sirinthorn Kittisrisawai as White * Natalie Stybert as Natalie * Suchai Tigitnalerd as Thai commentator * Philip Wilson as Ray's coach * Visapas Puemsuotavee as Eagle * Suwat Sfechompoo as Somar * Nizondh Chaisirikul as Somar's coach * Stephen Fox as Commentator * Suchao Pongvilai as General * Kowit Butrachart as Carlos * Aroon Lam as Master Lui * Kwok Siu-hang as Mong Fu's cornerman * Reila Aphrodite

Reception

''A Fighter's Blues'' was a box office success in Hong Kong, grossing HK$22,002,055 during its theatrical run from 21 December 2000 to 31 January 2001, making it the third-highest-grossing film of 2000 in the territory. The film received mixed reviews and has a score of 56 out of 100 on

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...

, but was praised for the beautiful locations in

, use of flashbacks, the acting of the main cast, and the editing of the fight scenes.

trained extensively in

for his role as Mong Fu.

Soundtrack

Theme song

* ''When I Met You'' (當我遇上你) ** Composer: Jacky Chan ** Lyricist/Singer:

Sub theme

* ''Smile'' (微笑) ** Composer: Henry Lai Wan-man ** Lyricist/Singer: Andy Lau

Accolades

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fighters Blues, A 2000 films 2000 martial arts films 2000s sports drama films 2000 romantic drama films Hong Kong martial arts films Hong Kong sports drama films Martial arts tournament films Hong Kong boxing films Muay Thai films 2000s Cantonese-language films China Star Entertainment Group films Films produced by Andy Lau Films directed by Daniel Lee Films about sportspeople Films set in Bangkok Films shot in Bangkok 2000s Hong Kong films Films scored by Henry Lai Wan-man