Johnnie To’s Election is one of those rarefied sequels that doesn’t require viewing of its predecessor to get on board. While many of the characters return, it’s definitely not a prerequisite. Having not seen the first Election, a film billed as the Honk Kong Godfather, having won numerous awards for its portrayal of political machinations of the Triad life, I was struck by the gentle pacing of Election 2. It’s hyper stylish, beautifully composed, with odd acts of violence or savagery as well as action scenes involving sword battles and the odd bit of dismembering. Yet the pacing has more in common with the aforementioned Godfather or Michael Mann’s Heat. It is very clearly directed at the political, and the violence stems from each characters attempt to grab power. Every two years an election is held for the Wong-Sing triad. Election 2 begins two years after its predecessor finished and the candidates include a reluctant Jimmy, who wants to move from counterfeit porn DVDs into legitimate business on the Chinese mainland. However, some of the other candidates resent Jimmy’s perceived edge and take steps to remove him from the race, forcing Jimmy’s hand. Johnnie To, who has directed some great Hong Kong films including Breaking News and Exiled, excels in melding action with a message, bringing a touch of class and sophistication to what could clearly have descended into violent popcorn. The result is that Election 2 feels like something more, offering a context for the violence and offers a fascinating and rarely seen perspective on Triad life.
Bob Baker Fish
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