Héroïne connection

Here's a story that really sticks by it's guns, somewhat based on a true story, or not, as we learn in an afterword at it's end. It's a tight action thriller with lots and lots of action, in wonderfully staged shootout sequences, you almost feel you're in a John Woo film, and even though you aren't, this is what makes it the more impressive. The story that takes place in beautiful Amsterdam, between the warring Italian and Chinese mafia, to properly control the heroin market, you almost have flashes of Ferrara's China Girl, both these films incidentally, starring the cool Russell Wong, an underused actor, and one my favourite Asian stars. His younger and sometimes, hot headed brother, played adequately by the much lesser known Steven Vincent Leigh, (both small players in the drug game) is the less serious brother who likes to have fun, and that includes getting a little payback and bedding beautiful women that stand in window fronts, one sadly meeting her demise, an expendable victim in a shootout scene. What a waste. Two other assets are of course, the deadly, and evily faced Drago, an untouchable Italian drug lord, who steals the scenes, and his lethal right hand, a silent partner you could say, and she's feminine with hands that will paralyze you before you're shot up with heroin during the Q and A, you'll actually be checking your neck and throat, later. Wong also makes the mistake of falling in love with a beautiful woman, who's more than just a casino chick, her act of vengeance in it's finale, will catch you by surprise. CW is an underrated and very good quality film, that has almost everything, you will find when viewing it. This is one of the many examples of films, that are unjustly passed off because it didn't play theatrically. Hopefully you'll looks pass this, when choosing this one.

What could have been just another chop chop martial arts film, instead is somewhat above the norm, mainly due to authentic and colorful Amsterdam locations, creative brutality, and a strong performance from the always menacing Billy Drago. The story of rival drug gangs competing for valuable territory is nothing new, but a rapid pace negates some of the familiarity. Drago and his female bodyguard are definitely the most memorable characters, easily rising above the generic Asian gang members. Even skeptical non fans of this type action movie should find enough entertainment value in "China White" to maintain interest. - MERK

China White (1989) was Ronny Yu's first international film. This U.K,/Holland/Hong Kong production was shot in English and was slightly edited for the western audience. The American Wong brothers (Michael and Russell) were supposed to star in the film together but due to prior commitments was unavailable so another western actor Steven Leigh took his spot. Several Hong Kong stars such as Tommy Wong (playing a mute) and the always creepy William Ho appear as well as the director in an interesting cameo spot.

The Chow brothers are in Holland to run the family business. They want to the family business to go legit but the other Asian gangs don't want to and see there move as a face saving move to please the "foreigners" and want to keep on making money the old fashion way. Others want to take their business to even a new low by smuggling drugs and what not. After the Chow elder is gunned down in cold blood, the brothers make their move against any family who's not with them. Can the Chow family keep the families from killing one another or while the streets of Holland flow with the blood of the innocence and gangsters?

A highly underrated movie. I was surprised by how good it was. I haven't seen the Hong Kong version. That would be a huge treat for me. It's longer and has a lot more stars of the Hong Kong Cinema involved with the production. Too bad this film isn't available on D.V.D. The video print i saw was washed out and the sound reproduction wasn't that great.

Highly recommended for action fans.

factoid: This film takes place before the decriminalization of drugs

in Holland.

After a long time I have finally been able to get a copy of this and watch it again. Now I do know that there are several versions out there so there is no sure way to tell if the version I saw now is the same as it was the first time I saw it. The action is still top notch. Only those sequences aren't as long as one would expect from a movie in the genre. I have seen a lot of so called heroic bloodshed titles that tried to copy the master John Woo and never came close to it. "China White" is much better than most but also fails to come close of what John Woo has defined. There is one very big plus and that is the setting.Which is China town in Amsterdam. You get the impression it is a large district. But having lived in Amsterdam myself I know it is only a small area part of the red light district which happen to have a lot of Chinese stores and restaurants. But because of the way they shot the movie it actually looks like a big and important territory where people know not to mess with the triads. Besides the action "China White" is a somewhat compelling gangster drama with some decent acting. But could have used more intrigue if the focus was on the story. Russel Wong and Billy Drago do what they can with the material they are given. After careful consideration and comparing it to other titles in the genre this movie still is strong enough.Certainly worth watching.

According to the article at http://blog.ifeng.com/article/2737487.html, one of the actors in the film, Carina Lau, was forced to appear in this movie for free. She was the victim of an infamous kidnapping shortly before this movie was made, and later photos of her in distress were published in a magazine, which has since been forced to shut down and its publisher sent to jail. The actress denies she was assaulted but there was a movie leaked on net that allegedly showed her being gang-raped. (The Hong Kong press, out of respect for her, has mostly refused to report on the incident, but google will turn up a few articles about it.)