The Sparring Partner

"Based on the crime and trial that rocked Asia."

2022 2h 15m CN

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 49

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Adapted from a sensational real-life case in 2013, the intricate story begins when a young man partners with his friend to murder and dismember his parents. Pleading not guilty, the defense attorneys soon turn on each other, as the defendants play the devil and idiot game. Meanwhile, heated debates emerge inside the jury room, where nine jurors grapple with the truth.

“Based on the crime and trial that rocked Asia.”

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Cast

Yeung Wai-Lun
Henry Cheung
Mak Pui-Tung
Angus Tong
Louisa So Yuk-Wah
Carrie Yau
Jan Lam Hoi-Fung
Wilson Ng
Michael Chow Man-Kin
Allen Chu
Gloria Yip Wan-Yee
Yip Wai Ping
Chung Suet-Ying
Cheng Ka Man
Harriet Yeung Sze-Man
Tong Man Shan

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Ho Cheuk-Tin
Writers: Thomas Leung Wing-ho, Frankie Tam Gong-Yuen, Oliver Yip
Languages: Cantonese
Countries: Hong Kong

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 4 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Ho Cheuk-Tin, shot by Joseph Leung Yau-Cheong. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Sara Fung Chi-Han. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jojo Shek shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Yeung Wai-Lun and Mak Pui-Tung and Louisa So Yuk-Wah carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Based on the crime and trial that rocked Asia.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt21867590 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 49 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Ho Cheuk-Tin directs. Joseph Leung Yau-Cheong behind the camera. Sara Fung Chi-Han scores. Jojo Shek cuts. Produced in Hong Kong. Dialogue in Cantonese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 4 years ago.
2Directed by Ho Cheuk-Tin, shot by Joseph Leung Yau-Cheong. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Sara Fung Chi-Han. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Jojo Shek shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Yeung Wai-Lun and Mak Pui-Tung and Louisa So Yuk-Wah carry the top of the cast.
6Marketing tagline: "Based on the crime and trial that rocked Asia.".
7IMDB entry: tt21867590 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 49 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Joseph Leung Yau-Cheong
Original score: Sara Fung Chi-Han
Editing: Jojo Shek
Production design: Mak Tsz-Kwan
Costume design: Gummo Ng Ka-Lo
Runtime: 135 min · 2h 15m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: CN
Certification (US): 18
IMDB: The Sparring Partner (2022)

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Ho Cheuk-Tin

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-11-21
★ 7/10
Based on a rather shocking true story from Hong Kong, this is quite an intriguing depiction of the arrest and trial of Henry Chung (Yeung Wai Lun) for the brutal murder and dismemberment of his parents. He is pretty up-front about his guilt and the trial seems a bit of a fait-accompli. The gist of the film, though, centres on the involvement of his accomplice Angus Tong (Man Pui-tung). Now here is a character that has the IQ of a teabag, is overweight and generally comes across as infantile and incapable of taking responsibility for himself. Was he involved at all, and if so - in what capacity? That capacity issue is what makes this courtroom drama stand out. The performance from Man Pui-tung is superb. The depiction (illustrated via flashback) of his rather psychologically brutal interrogation; his constant incoherent mumbling and bumbling; the conflicting medical and psychological reports of his competencies - and all under the gaze of a jury made up of nine ordinary citizens with the prejudices and priorities of nine normal folks is well worked by Cheuk Tin Ho to create a genuine sense of our involvement in the future of this young man. Was he guilty or not? What might I have decided based on the evidence? Is there even any real evidence against him or is he just an easy target for the pursuing constabulary? It is too long, and takes a while to build up steam, but once it gets going it is an interesting character study - not just of the two accused, but of the jury, the police and of the judicial system that provides the framework for this maelstrom of advice, expertise, procedure and the genuine evil emanating from the effective Yeung Wai-lun. The imagery, especially amidst the wig-wearing scenario of the only recently reintegrated Chinese courtroom where the judge is still referred to as "my Lord" is suitably anachronistic too, and invites us to make or own assessments of the people and the process in quite a sophisticated fashion. There is a great deal of dialogue which is difficult for the subtitlers to do justice to, but it is photographed in an intimate and intense fashion and is thought-provoking to watch.

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