Japanese manga artist Shuichi Shigeno's Initial D was a smash hit in Asia, and its anime adaptation in Japan was equally popular. But it was Hong Kong filmmakers, instead of a Japanese one, who turned it into a live-action motion picture in 2005. Andrew Lau and Alan Mak made the film on location on Mount Haruna, famous for its five hairpin turns in a row. Shootings of the four breath-taking car racing scenes were done in the ‘Hong Kong style', with all car stunts being real. Computer graphics were employed for only four shots instead of over a hundred as originally anticipated.

Initial D sees Andrew Lau and Alex Mak joining creative forces again following the great success of the Infernal Affairs trilogy (2002-03). They demonstrate their strong visual language in manoeuvring the mise-en-scène of the car scenes. Bunta and his son Takumi, the story's two main characters embodying much sophistication in Felix Chong's screenplay, are played by veteran and award winning Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong and Taiwanese pop icon Jay Chou, who took a leading role in a film for the first time. The combination of skillful direction, well-written script and plausible acting stunned the audience and even impressed the Japanese film industry back then.

Courtesy of Media Asia Film Distribution (HK) Limited

# Post-screening talk with Alan Mak & Thomas Shin

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