City of Desire

2001 1h 32m CN

😐

5.7

MID

★5.7TMDB · 3

CrimeDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Sandra (Sandra Ng) is in for a serious dose of culture shock when she returns from her studies abroad to her home in Macau, where her father is the head of a major network of underground gambling, prostitution, and other assorted super-vices. Sandra's father is putting on the pressure for her to inherit his morally-corrupt throne, but her morals dictate that she have nothing to do with it. However, Sandra's childhood friend Josie (Josie Ho) has gotten herself into serious debt and desperately needs any help Sandra can offer. Will Sandra help her friend at the cost of her own morals? It's now up to her to decide between upholding her own beliefs and making serious ethical sacrifices for the sake of her friend.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Sandra Ng Kwan-Yu
Sandra Lei (Sister 13)
Josie Ho
Pepper
Alice Chan Wai
Man-Sau
Blackie Ko Sau-Leung
Cat
Alex Fong Chung-Sun
Johnny
Law Kar-Ying
Uncle Motor
Keung Ho-man
Brother Jiang
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang
Pastor Gam

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Raymond Yip Wai-Man
Writers: Manfred Wong Man-Chun, Bryan Chang
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

25 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Part of the "古惑仔外传（系列）" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Raymond Yip Wai-Man, shot by Lai Yiu-Fai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Lincoln Lo. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Marco Mak Chi-Sin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Sandra Ng Kwan-Yu and Josie Ho and Alice Chan Wai carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0329792 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Raymond Yip Wai-Man directs. Lai Yiu-Fai behind the camera. Lincoln Lo scores. Marco Mak Chi-Sin cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Hong Kong. Dialogue in Cantonese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

125 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "古惑仔外传（系列）" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Raymond Yip Wai-Man, shot by Lai Yiu-Fai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Lincoln Lo. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Marco Mak Chi-Sin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Sandra Ng Kwan-Yu and Josie Ho and Alice Chan Wai carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0329792 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.