A Guilty Conscience

The script/plot, the acting and the pacing of the movie are top notch. It does a very good job in not reviewing the key plot until the very end. A climax is built up till the final showdown in the courtroom.

It certainly does not feel like a 2.25h movie and it's entertaining from the start till the end. Much effort has been put into crafting the dialogue between the barristers which does not make it corny but totally refreshing.

Feels like one of the very good HK movie in its golden era in the 80s. It deserves a film award and best actor award.

A 10 clap production.

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This review comes from Singapore.

First, there is a strong plot to support this movie. A half time of this movie shows the challenge and conflicts that are faced by the protagonist. Every challenge gives the protagonist more passion and determination to find justice. And the rest of the half time is the climax of this movie because the protagonist challenges the legal system in the courtroom.

Second, good reflection of the main character makes the audiences have more empathy for the protagonist. The story set different turning points to show the changes of the main character to make the audience more understand his emotions, behaviors, and motivations and realize what he stands for.

I think it is a HK movie that is worth watching because it not just have a strong plot to tell a good story and also shows the reflection of the protagonist to defend justice.

A Guilty Conscience has some of the most absurd, implausible courtroom scenes I have ever seen. The climax is so dramatic that it makes soap operas look grounded. It looks like the most exhausting trial ever. Lawyers shout at each other as if they are in a heated debate contest.

Our protagonist is the lawyer version of Doctor House: A bitter, talky person that solves cases in his own way. He is played by Dayo Wong, who used to be an infamous box office poison. Here he is better than ever (This doesn't mean he is great). The start of the plot is standard legal drama material (Think a Law and Order episode). Wong fails a big case involving a child's death, causing harm to an innocent person. Two years later the case returns... Yes, a Guilty Conscience recycles an ancient "redemption arc" story, yet it is done in a gloriously entertaining way.

None of the story is believable. They exist in an overwritten screenplay. Despite looking like and sounding like one, this is not a screwball comedy. Although when you think about it, certain parts are funny for the wrong reasons. The sudden rise of absurdity leaves me with a mixed feeling, but I sure am entertained.

NOTE: If you're planning to see this in theaters, be aware that the audio mixing is obnoxiously terrible. The dialogue is so loud, and gets covered by the even more deafening music. I felt like the lawyers were shouting beside my ears during the trial.

Duk Sit Dak Jong / A Guilty Conscience (2023) is an engrossing story that envelopes the viewer through its highly involved characters and the resulting courtroom dramas that unfold due to the attitude an behaviour of a rather lazes fere Hong Kong Lawyer, who simply takes the job with ease and an over comfortable laziness in his approach to the law cases that cross his desk.

This particular lawyer and his colleagues try to save an innocent woman after his carelessness causes her lose the case ending up with a very unfair conviction, which creates the guilty conscience within himself, thereby pushing him to make some big changes not only within his life and approach to his legal position but to the larger scope of things where he can see how his action or inaction directly affect others negatively no thanks to his unscrupulous work ethic and lackluster approach to justice, instead of being astute, we see him basically just phoning-in a half-assed attempt at putting any real effort into following up his cases.

He learns to drop the arrogance and take on a more empathetic approach, once he is shaken up through a variety of details that come to the surface.

Brilliantly acted and not just another run of the mill, tyical Hong Kong movie ~ this film begs to be watched by all who love a solid courtroom drama that verges on being a thriller.

Definitely see it, and watch it with an open mind. Having lived in GuangDong Province for 8 years of my life, surrounded by Cantonese culture, this film greatly appealed to me from a Cultural viewpoint, with the wonderfully familiar accents, personas, characters, situations, scenery, locations, language and local cultural aspects at the fore of the film throughout, which i found very pleasing and enjoyable indeed.

However, whether you are familiar or unfamiliar with Hong Kong, Macau, GuangDong Province or Cantonese Culture in general, THIS is still a highly recommendable movie and a must-see film for court-room drama/thriller fans. No matter what culture you are from, this film is essentially about finding humanity, compassion and empathy within ourselves!

A Guilty Conscience is an absolutely stunning courtroom drama and thriller from Hongkong that already qualifies as an early candidate for movie of the year.

This movie simply gets everything right. First of all, the characters are absolutely intriguing. You have a cold-hearted femme fatale who believes she is above the law. Up next, there is her weak, shallow and despicable husband who turns out to be a liar and a cheater. On the other side, you have a creative young mute girl who suffers more than any human should ever do. There is also her desperate mother who gets sentenced for a crime she obviously didn't commit and thinks about suicide time and again. Said lady is supported by a team of barristers. One of them is the son of an imprisoned gang leader who has seen both sides of the law. Up next, you have a young, incorruptible and ambitious woman who wants to build a successful career. And finally, you have this movie's main character, an aged barrister tormented by greed and recognition who is going through significant changes to fight for the hopeless and the poor.

All these wonderful characters wouldn't come to life without excellent actresses and actors and they all deliver the goods and then some. Wong Chi-Wah in particular impresses as versatile, profound and balanced lead character as the veterans convinces with all his charisma, credibility and experience.

The plot is absolutely gripping from start to finish as the movie doesn't include one single second of boredom throughout its satisfactory running time of two hours and fifteen minutes. The story revolves around a mute girl who was assaulted in her own home and tragically dies a few days later at the hospital. Her mother was drunk and sleeping on a couch in the neighbouring room before she realized that something was wrong and saw the girl's father trying to help his daughter next door. The mother's barrister thinks that this is an easy case to win for his client but his obsession with alcohol, drugs and recognition come into play as his case turns into tragedy and sends the innocent mother to prison for seventeen years. Ridden by guilt, the barrister tries to motivate his disappointed male colleague and his upset female colleague to right the wrong. After two long years, that opportunity arrises when a key witness confesses in his suicide note that he was bribed to make a false statement to send the mother to prison. This time around, the barrister and his team try to give it everything they have got to free an innocent woman and go against one of the city's most influential families.

Another strength of this film is its excellent mixture of genres. This is first and foremost a tense courtroom thriller. However, this movie is also a desperate family drama. This film however also interjects a few mild action scenes and elements of humour at the right moments to keep its pace gripping and steady.

Most importantly, this film has a profoundly human message that can also be seen as a metaphor for the current state of affairs in Hongkong. This message will resonate with viewers long after the credits will have stopped rolling. This message will even shake up the toughest of the tough and bring some tears to their eyes.

Don't hesitate any longer and watch this wonderful movie as soon as you can. Try to catch it on the big screen to appreciate it in its full beauty or purchase it once it's available to support these wonderful filmmakers. Anyone who appreciates excellent dramas or thrillers should definitely watch this moving masterpiece and early candidate for movie of the year. Make sure to watch this film all the way to the end since there are some additional scenes during the credits and a wonderful Lunar New Year wish from the most important actresses and actors. Since this is the Year of the Rabbit, I would like to wish you all to jump further and higher this year to make your wildest dreams come true.