PTU, also known as PTU: Police Tactical Unit, is a 2003 Hong Kong neo-noir action thriller film produced and directed by Johnnie To, starring Simon Yam, Maggie Shiu, Lam Suet and Ruby Wong.
Contents
Plot
The film follows a series of encounters of a group of patrolling Police Tactical Unit troopers during one night, which starts off when the patrol-team tries to help a sergeant of the District Anti-Triad Squad of the Hong Kong Police Force, Lo Sa, to retrieve his lost service-issue revolver after he was assaulted by a group of triad members. The films portrays the police officers' use of extra-legal means to achieve the results of investigations and reveals the complex relationships between criminals and police officers, the hostility amongst criminals themselves and even the rivalry among different bureaux within the Hong Kong Police Force.
Cast
Simon Yam as Police Tactical Unit Sergeant Mike Ho
Maggie Shiu as Police Tactical Unit Sergeant Kat
Lam Suet as District Anti-Triad Squad Sergeant Lo Sa
Ruby Wong as District Crime Squad Inspector Leigh Cheng
Raymond Wong Ho-yin as Constable Wong
Eddy Ko as Eye Ball
Lo Hoi-pang as Bald Head
Wong Tin-lam as Uncle Fat
Kenneth Cheung as Orderly
Production
According to To, the budget for the film was approximately HK$4,000,000 or about US$500,000. It was shot entirely at night.
While the final shootout sequence of the film takes place in Canton Road, To reportedly said that "if there was a single location where he would have wanted to stage a gunfight battle, it was Cameron Road, but he could not get permission from the police to do it". The sequence was actually shot in Ap Lei Chau.
Reception
Awards and nominations
Cognac Festival du Film Policier
Special Jury Prize (Johnnie To)
Golden Bauhinia Awards
Won: Best Actor (Simon Yam)
Won: Best Director (Johnnie To)
Won: Best Picture (Johnnie To)
Won: Best Screenplay (Yau Nai-Hoi and Au Kin-Yee)
Won: Best Supporting Actor (Lam Suet)
Golden Horse Film Festival
Won: Best Screenplay (Yau Nai-Hoi and Au Kin-Yee)
Nominated: Best Actor (Simon Yam)
Nominated: Best Cinematography (Cheng Siu-Keung)
Nominated: Best Director (Johnnie To)
Nominated: Best Editing (Law Wing-cheung)
Nominated: Best Costume Design (Sukie Yip)
Nominated: Best Original Film Score (Chung Chi Wing)
Nominated: Best Picture (Johnnie To)
Nominated: Best Sound Effects (Martin Chappell)
Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (Lam Suet)
Nominated: Best Visual Effects (Stephen Ma)
Sequels
Tactical Unit: The Code (2008), directed by Wing-cheong Law
Tactical Unit: No Way Out (2009), directed by Lawrence Ah Mon
Tactical Unit: Human Nature (2008), directed by Andy Ng
Tactical Unit: Partners (2009), directed by Lawrence Ah Mon
Tactical Unit: Comrades in Arms (2009) directed by Wing-cheong Law
