Goo wak chai: Hung Hing Sap Sam Mooi

Intriguing gangster film about the rise of a female triad boss in charge of Portland Street gangs in HK. This is a spin-off of the YOUNG & DANGEROUS series, and cast members from that series pop up here - those unfamiliar with the Y&D films may find that a bit confusing. The film at first takes a while to catch on to, since characters pop in and out in rapid succession, and the direct-translation subtitles are a bit uneven (they may also be some excised scenes whose absence contributes to that – the DVD length here is 114mins but the Japanese edition is shown to be 122 mins, so something is missing from the HK DVD I saw). But once the film goes onto an extended flashback, the story of Sister Thirteen's rise in the triads, it becomes quite compelling. Sandra Ng is outstanding as Sister Thirteen, with notable guest performances by the ever-appealing Shu Qi (as a junkie betrayed by a cop, whose killing - the cop's - gives Sister Thirteen her first step up in the triads), and the intricately beautiful Kristy Yeung as Thirteen's best friend. By the end the character has become real and the tale told a most memorable one. Ultimately, the film is more than a triad crime action fest, but a poignant and tragic drama.

Lively but somewhat implausible plot is about a petite/steel-nerved lesbian, named Thirteen or Teenie (Sandra Ng Kwan Yue), who thrives in Hong Kong's seamy/ violent underworld. Shielded by her powerful uncle, she can confront gangs; she and Yun (Christy Yang), one of her favorite "girls", get away with simple scams. Feisty Teenie then overcomes opposition and gains control over prostitution on Portland Street. Yun becomes a star on TV dramas. Oft-illegible white subtitles in Mandarin as well as in English.

The always reliable Sandra Ng plays Sister Thirteen, a lesbian triad leader. The film is mostly told in flashback, to show how she became the leader of Portland Street. The flashbacks are few and lengthy, but very intriguing. You see how she interacted with her father, her relationship with Yun, played by the beautiful Kristy Yeung, and how she deals with this life. Shu Qi, in a smallish but compelling role plays Scarface, who is a battered woman. She meets up with Thirteen and you'll see what happens. Sandra Ng is great in this role. The lesbian angle is not played up in that there is nothing gratuitous, and she actually falls in love with a boxer named Coke. Sandra's portrayal is gritty, sober and compelling to watch, you're always wondering what she's thinking. There is violence, but a typical episode of the Sopranos has more. I highly recommend this, it kept my interest throughout. You get Sandra Ng and Shu Qi both at their best. There is no more of a ringing endorsement than that.