Johnnie To | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
杜琪峯 | |||||||||||
 To in an interview for Septet: The Story of Hong Kong in 2022 | |||||||||||
| Born | 22 April 1955 | ||||||||||
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1972–present | ||||||||||
| Notable work | Full list | ||||||||||
| Spouse |
Wong Po-ling (m. 1978) | ||||||||||
| Awards | Full list | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 杜琪峯 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 杜琪峰 | ||||||||||
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Johnnie To Kei-fung (born 22 April 1955) is a Hong Kong filmmaker. Popular in his native Hong Kong,[1] To has also found acclaim overseas. Intensely prolific, To has made films in a variety of genres, though in the West he is best known for his action and crime movies, which have earned him critical respect[2][3] and a cult following, which includes American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.[4]
To's biggest international successes include Breaking News, Election, Election 2 (a.k.a. Triad Election), Exiled, Mad Detective and Drug War; these films have appeared in a number of international film festivals, been distributed theatrically in France and the United States, and been widely sold to foreign countries.
His films, often made in collaboration with the same group of actors, screenwriters and cinematographers, frequently explore themes of friendship, fate and the changing face of Hong Kong society.[5][6] Sometimes described as "multifaceted and chameleonic"[3] due to his ability to switch tones and genres between movies, To is nonetheless seen as having a consistent style, which involves mixing subdued realism and social observation with highly stylised visual and acting elements.[5] To has cited King Hu as the director who has influenced his work the most.[7]
To heads the Hong Kong–based production company Milkyway Image with his frequent co-director Wai Ka-fai.
- ^ Axmaker, Sean (19 February 2004). "Karma Chameleon: A talk with Johnnie To (Page 1)". Green Cine. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^ "Rotten Tomatoes Profile". Rottentomatoes.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Senses of Cinema: The Belated Auteurism of Johnnie To". Archived from the original on 30 March 2009.
- ^ Taylor, Ella (18 August 2009). "Quentin Tarantino: The Inglourious Basterds Interview". Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- ^ a b "Interview with Johnnie To". Cineaste. 22 April 1955. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^ "Review of Exiled for the Chicago Reader, by Fred Camper". Fredcamper.com. 7 September 2007. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^ "Johnnie To: 'I just happened to be assigned to the drama department'". FilmDoo. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.