Peace Hotel

Peace Hotel is a 1995 Hong Kong action western directed by Wai Ka-fai in his directorial debut. It starrs Chow Yun-fat and Cecilia Yip. Produced by John Woo, Wai wrote the film's screenplay and co-wrote the story with Chow. Plot Ten years before the film's era, Wong A-ping slaughters an entire troop of bandits himself, earning him the nickname Killer. His wife was killed during the chaos, but Wong ultimately spared a teenage member of the bandits. Afterwards, he set up a Peace Hotel to act as a sanctuary. The hotel has a rule that nobody can harm someone who has sought refuge in the hotel, but the hotel will not fight nor protect them once they leave. One day, a penniless woman named Shau Shiu-man arrives at the hotel and claims to be an old lover of the hotel owner. The staff and guests give her food and let her stay in Wong's room. When Wong returns, Shau, who is bathing behind a curtain, lies to him, claiming to be one of the Soong sisters and at the same time, the daughter of Emperor Zhao Bing, while unsuccessfully trying to con money from him. At the hotel's restaurant, Shau sees Wong in person for the first time and tries to sell him some of his belongings that she had stolen from his room. She realizes who he is after seeing a picture of him in his pocketwatch that she stole and chokes on a sour plum she placed in her wine glass. Afterwards, Shau reveals that she is a clubgirl who is in debt and on the run after stabbing a loan shark. Wong refuses to let her stay and plans to send her off the next day. Shau gambles with the guests and workers all night until a group of bandits from the Grand Hall arrive and Wong forces her to reveal that the loan shark she stabbed died from his wounds. Wong walks outside to confront the bandits and its leader, Ting Moon. Shau shot their leader after stabbing him and stole 30 gold bars. However, Wong declares he will not allow trouble inside the Peace Hotel and kills one of the bandits who tries to attack him. Ting is determined to kill Shau within 21 days and waits outside the hotel.