[ONLINE] Social Soul Sessions: Film Aesthetics in Hong Kong Gangster Movies - Johnnie To’s Election (2005)

The genre of gangster movies has made a remarkable presence in the Hong Kong film industry since the 1980s. Instead of presenting a formulaic combination of exaggerated fights and unmerciful bloodshed, Election (2005) depicts the gang rivalry between two triad leaders and their followers through dialogues and mixed uses of low-key and high-key lightings as well as bright and dark color palettes. In this SSS, we look forward to exploring the underground order of the triad community and experiencing the alternative aesthetics and mise-en-scene of this gangster film skillfully crafted by Johnnie To.