Jumping Ash

Jumping Ash is perhaps not a New Wave work but a forerunner, its accomplishments paved the way for what was to come. The hard-hitting thriller, directed with blazing proficiency by British-bred Leong Po-chih, captures the Hong Kong condition in gritty complexity, exposing the collusion between the triad and powerful businessmen while taking the story from the international glamour of Amsterdam to the local exoticism of Kowloon Walled City. The script, freshman project of ex-cop Philip Chan, offers a vivid portrait of the police force's professionalism, detailing their hard-boiled dedication and revealing their many frustrations. The film's most compelling expression of professionalism, however, is behind the screen – by Josephine Siao, former child star and dainty jade girl, now a professional woman, who co-directs, co-writes and co-produces Jumping Ash by forming her own company.

Screening Courtesy of Golden Sun Films Distribution Ltd