The Moss

Section: Elements of Crime
Directed by: Derek Kwok Chi-kin


Ching toi
Hong Kong, 2008

Dir.: Derek Kwok Chi-kin
Scr.: Clement Sze-Kit Cheng, Derek Kwok Chi-kin, Man Hong Lung; Phot.: Sing-Pui O; Ed.: Matthew Hui; Music: Teddy Robin Kwan, Tommy Wai
Cast: Shawn Yue, Bonnie Xian, Louis Fan, Matt Chow, Gill Mohindepaul Singh, Kai Chi Liu
Format: 35 mm; Color; 95 mins
Language: Cantonese voice, English subtitle, Hungarian voice over
http://moss.big.com.hk/

The Moss is hotly tipped Hong Kong director Derek Kwok’s follow-up to his much praised debut The Pye-Dog, and sees him sticking to the same territory with another gritty tale of urban angst. Here, the tone is somewhat darker, and the film delves even further into the lives of criminals and dirty cops, whilst still attempting to find a sense of heart and humanity in their desperate deeds. Although not straying too far from the well, the film certainly represents a step up for the director, as he manages to pull together an impressive cast and tries his hand at a more complex narrative style. Kwok manages to lift The Moss above its inherent familiarity, and it is a tribute to his skill that he is able to turn something potentially uninspiring into one of the better Hong Kong films of the year so far.

See also:
	The Chaser		Gomorrah
	Hand of the Headless Man		The Horseman
	Long Shadows		The Bone Man
	The Racketeer		Timecrimes