''Saving Mr. Wu'', (), previously known as ''The Strongest Competitor'' (), is a 2015 Chinese
action
Action may refer to:
* Action (narrative), a literary mode
* Action fiction, a type of genre fiction
* Action game, a genre of video game
Film
* Action film, a genre of film
* ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford
* ''Action'' (1980 fil ...
crime thriller
Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...
film directed by
Ding Sheng and starring
Andy Lau
Andy Lau Tak-wah (; born 27 September 1961) is a Hong Kong actor, singer-songwriter and film producer. He has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maint ...
,
Liu Ye, Wu Ruofu and Wang Qianyuan. The film was based on a true abduction case where cast member Wu Ruofu was the victim.
Plot
Ruthless criminal Zhang Hua (
Wang Qianyuan
Wang Qianyuan is a Chinese actor who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama. He won Best Actor at the 23rd Tokyo International Film Festival for his role in the movie, ''The Piano in a Factory
''The Piano in a Factory'' () is 2010 Chine ...
) and his gang impersonate as police officers to abduct wealthy businessmen. Setting a trap outside a Beijing karaoke club, they hit the jackpot with Hong Kong film star Mr Wu (
Andy Lau
Andy Lau Tak-wah (; born 27 September 1961) is a Hong Kong actor, singer-songwriter and film producer. He has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maint ...
), forcing him into their car on the pretext of being investigated for a hit-and-run.
In the Beijing suburbs, Wu is bound, gagged and beaten into compliance by Zhang's men. Then Wu is made to witness the execution of Xiao Dou (Cai Lu), Zhang's last abducted victim, who failed to have his ransom paid within 24 hours. Wu steps in to save him, promising to pay both men's ransoms.
To ensure he is not delivered as a corpse, Wu makes a call to his old friend Mr. Su (
Lam Suet
Lam Suet (; born 1964), or Lin Xue, is a Hong Kong film actor.
Life and career
Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after, all the money had been squander ...
) and asks him to ensure that he is alive before delivering RMB3 million. Wu's calm, intelligence and dignity in the face of death earns Zhang's respect. Zhang leaves for the city in morning, instructing his gang to kill both victims at 9pm if they do not hear from him.
Meanwhile, police vice captain Xing Feng (
Liu Ye) and captain Cao Gang (Wu Ruofu) have formed an anti-kidnap task force. After a series of tip-offs, they detain Zhang when he leaves the apartment of his mistress, Chenchen (Vivien Li). But Zhang refuses to give up Wu's location without a pardon. As 9pm approaches, the police stage a final desperate rescue attempt based on an unreliable tip as the kidnapping gang, fearing they'll be Zhang's next victims, decides to kill the hostages before the deadline. The police break into the house as the gang is strangling the hostages, narrowly saving both Wu and Dou.
Cast
*
Andy Lau
Andy Lau Tak-wah (; born 27 September 1961) is a Hong Kong actor, singer-songwriter and film producer. He has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maint ...
as Mr. Wu (吾先生), a Hong Kong film star and the abducted victim
*
Liu Ye as Xing Feng (邢峰), a police vice-captain
*Wu Ruofu as Cao Gang (曹剛), a police captain
*
Wang Qianyuan
Wang Qianyuan is a Chinese actor who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama. He won Best Actor at the 23rd Tokyo International Film Festival for his role in the movie, ''The Piano in a Factory
''The Piano in a Factory'' () is 2010 Chine ...
as Zhang Hua (張華), leader of the abductors
*
Lam Suet
Lam Suet (; born 1964), or Lin Xue, is a Hong Kong film actor.
Life and career
Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after, all the money had been squander ...
as Mr. Su (蘇先生), a friend of Mr. Wu
*Zhao Xiaoyue as Zhang Yi (張總), a police commander
*Vivien Li as Chenchen (陳晨), Zhang Hua's girlfriend
*Cai Lu as Xiao Dou (小竇), another victim abducted by Zhang Hua
*Yu Ailei as Cang (倉哥), an abductor
*
Ma Sichun
Sandra Ma Sichun (, born 14 March 1988) is a Chinese actress of Hui ethnicity. She is noted for her roles in the films '' The Left Ear'' (2015) and ''Soul Mate'' (2016), for which she won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress alongside ...
(cameo)
Production
Production of ''Saving Mr. Wu'' was kept at a low profile and was first revealed when actor
Liu Ye wrote in his
Sina Weibo
Sina Weibo (新浪微博) is a Chinese microblogging ( weibo) website. Launched by Sina Corporation on 14 August 2009, it is one of the biggest social media platforms in China, with over 582 million monthly active users (252 million daily acti ...
account that he was working on a film with
Andy Lau
Andy Lau Tak-wah (; born 27 September 1961) is a Hong Kong actor, singer-songwriter and film producer. He has been one of Hong Kong's most commercially successful film actors since the mid-1980s, performing in more than 160 films while maint ...
. In early January 2015, location shots were being filmed in
Sanlitun
Sanlitun () is an area of the Chaoyang District, Beijing containing many bars, restaurants, and stores. It is a popular destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
The area has been under almost constant regeneration since the la ...
,
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
. On 26 January, location shoots were done at
Pinggu District
Pinggu District (), formerly Pinggu County (), lies in the far east of Beijing Municipality. It has an area of and a population of 396,701 (2000 Census). The district is subdivided into 2 subdistricts, 14 towns, and 2 townships. It borders the Be ...
where Lau was spotted by reporters and fans. On 9 February, it was announced that production of the film had officially wrapped up.
Release
On 8 February 2015, the teaser poster of the film was unveiled at the
65th Berlin International Film Festival
The 65th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 5 to 15 February 2015, with American film director Darren Aronofsky as the President of the Jury. German film director Wim Wenders was presented with the Honorary Golden Bear. The ...
. In May 2015, another teaser poster was unveiled
68th Cannes Film Festival
The 68th Cannes Film Festival was held from 13 to 24 May 2015. Joel and Ethan Coen were the Presidents of the Jury for the main competition. It was the first time that two people chaired the jury. Since the Coen brothers each received a separate ...
displaying an international release date of October 2015.
Box office
As of 27 October 2015, the film has grossed a total of US$31,212,702 worldwide, combining its box office gross from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, North America and Singapore.
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
*
*
{{Ding Sheng
2015 action thriller films
2015 crime thriller films
2010s Mandarin-language films
Chinese action thriller films
Chinese crime thriller films
Films directed by Ding Sheng
Films about actors
Films about kidnapping
Thriller films based on actual events
Films set in Beijing
Films shot in Beijing
2015 films
Chinese nonlinear narrative films