I watched "A World Without Thieves" twice

I watched "A World Without Thieves" twice over Astro channel 322. Andy Lau and Rene Liu play a pair of pickpockets cum hustlers. When Rene Lau discovered she is pregnant with Andy's child, she decided to help a country pumpkin to keep his hard earned money on a train where they are riding from other pickpockets, especially a highly regimented group headed by a "uncle Li." (portrayed by Mainland actor Ge Bao) Rene wants to do a good deed to bring some karma to her unborn baby. At the end Andy died trying in order to keep his words to Rene.

The movie shows some majestic China scenery and is a typical train themed movie. Since this movie was shot in China and has a Chinese background, the Hong Kong producers took great care to portray the Chines police in a good light and even the Chinese criminals seems to be of the more "educated" and "civilized" class. Generally all the characters are well written.

Though it was not a hit in the local cinema circuit but I find it highly enjoyable. I really enjoy the chief villain's constantly 出口成章 and his casual philosophic observations of life (you have to watch the Cantonese version, otherwise all these will be lost with the Mandarin's). Andy Lau is at his usual best. And Rene Lau who has been my silver screen's secret lover of some sort never fail to deliver. Watch her at the end of the movie where she was informed by the police inspector that her lover did not make it. She just keeps on stuffing food into mouth with all the gravies stains around her mouth while tears just dashes out. I just wanted to die with her.


The music at the end where the credits roll is great too. The strings are so heart pulling it build up fire at your Dantien (ask Qigong people what is that) , the producer is very disciplined as not to put in any drumming. I just have to buy this CD .