Topic summary

Election 2

Election 2
Directed byJohnnie ToWritten byYau Nai-Hoi
Yip Tin-ShingProduced byDennis Law
Johnnie ToStarringLouis Koo
Simon Yam
Nick Cheung
Cheung Siu-fai
Lam Suet
Gordon LamCinematographyCheng Siu-KeungEdited byLaw Wing-Cheong
Jeff CheungMusic byRobert Ellis-Geiger
Production
companies
Distributed byChina Star Entertainment Group
Release date
  • 27 April 2006 (2006-04-27)
Running time
92 minutesCountryHong KongLanguagesCantonese
MandarinBox officeUS$1.8 million

Election 2 (literal title: Black Society: Harmony is a Virtue), also known as Triad Election in the United States, is a 2006 Category III Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To with a large ensemble cast including Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Nick Cheung. A sequel to the 2005 film Election, the film concludes the events of the first film centring on triad boss Lok, who struggles to get re-elected as his two-year term approaches its end. He faces competition from Jimmy, who wants to retire from the triad to be a legitimate businessman but gets drawn into the conflict surrounding the election.

Election 2 was a critical and commercial success, and was shown as an "Official Selection" at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Afterwards, it became a popular hit on the international festival circuit.

The film has been described by multiple academics as the most directly political film made in the post-1997 era. Director Johnnie To has spoken repeatedly of his intention to make a third Election film, however he has referred to media censorship and the 2020 Hong Kong national security law as obstacles to the production of the film.