Election 2
| Election 2 | |
|---|---|
Original Hong Kong theatrical poster
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| Traditional | 黑社會:以和爲貴 |
| Simplified | 黑社会:以和为贵 |
| Mandarin | Hēi Shè Huì Yǐ Hé Wéi Guì |
| Cantonese | Hak1 Se5 Wui2 Ji5 Wo4 Wai4 Gwai3 |
| Directed by | Johnnie To |
| Produced by |
Dennis Law Johnnie To |
| Written by |
Yau Nai-Hoi Yip Tin-Shing |
| Starring |
Louis Koo Simon Yam Nick Cheung Cheung Siu-fai Lam Suet Gordon Lam |
| Music by | Robert Ellis-Geiger |
| Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung |
| Edited by |
Law Wing-Cheong Jeff Cheung |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | China Star Entertainment Group |
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Release date
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Running time
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92 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese Mandarin |
| Box office | $1,833,853 |
Election 2 (literal title: Black Society: Harmony is a Virtue), also known as Triad Election in the United States, is a 2006 Category III Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To with a large ensemble cast that includes Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Nick Cheung. A sequel to the 2005 film Election, the film concludes the events of the first film centring on Lok (Yam), who this time struggles to keep his title as triad boss as a triad re-election draws near, while Jimmy (Koo) attempts to retire as a triad to become a legitimate businessman.
This film enjoyed box office success in Hong Kong and being shown as an "Official Selection" at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival; afterwards, this film became a popular hit on the international film festival circuit.
Lok is now holding his position as triad chairman of the Wo Shing society unthreatened in Hong Kong. As his two-year term expires, a new chairman election nears, but Lok contemplates breaking tradition, attempting to seek re-election. At the same time, Jimmy is trying to escape Wo Shing by building a legitimate business empire in mainland China. When he is arrested in an illegal financial trade with a government official for the building of a new logisitics center and highway, the section chief of the Public Security Bureau forbids him to re-enter the mainland to do business, unless he becomes Wo Shing's next chairman. Reluctant, but forced to accept the reality he can never truly exit the triad, Jimmy enters into the election nomination, with Jet and Kun also seeking the chairman position.
Lok first negotiates with Kun, claiming Wo Shing's "Uncles" will support Kun, so long as they team up for a joint election bid. Kun then kidnaps and places Jimmy's financial supporter Mr Kwok in a coffin alive with Big Head, so as to eliminate the competition. Lok also asks Jet to assassinate Jimmy, also claiming the "Uncles" will support Jet. Unfortunately, Jet does not complete the assassination, following Jimmy warning the youth Lok will most likely have him and Kun killed, once Jimmy is dead. Mr So, having been similarly arrested in the mainland for an illegal gambling ring, allies with Jimmy to see to his election as chairman. Meanwhile, Lok hides the Dragon Head Baton, the symbol of Wo Shing's leadership, in mainland China, hoping to reassert his power, then outright kills "Uncle" Teng Wai, after Teng blasts Lok for breaking Wo Shing tradition. Seeing the corruption and civil war escalating in the society, Jimmy kidnaps Lok's lieutenants and bribes them to work for him. After exposing Kun for kidnapping Mr. Kwok and Big Head, while ordering Lok's lieutenants to murder the chairman, Jimmy's nomination is successful, and he wins the election.
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