A behind-the-scenes video of Hong Kong crime movie Integrity was recently released, unveiling the stories that inspired the production and allowing viewers to preview some of the important issues that the movie is going to convey. Directed by Alan Mak and produced by Felix Chong, the film centres on a cigarette smuggling case investigated by the ICAC of Hong Kong, exposing the secrets of illicit cigarette trading.
In the video, Mak and Chong revealed that the film was adapted from a sensational cigarette smuggling case in 2003, where the tainted witness was murdered before the trial. This case was so intriguing that they deemed it suitable to be made into a movie. In addition, they chose commercial crime as the theme of the film, because it is closer to the social reality. “These days, crimes involving money are mostly commercial crimes. An interesting thing about it is that the criminals don’t feel guilty. They think they’re just taking advantage of the loopholes in the law.” The film reflects this dark side of the society, serving as a wake-up call for both officials and the general public.
Director Mak promoting the film
In the movie, Nick Cheung plays the accountant who helps a tobacco company to “manipulate numbers”. Driven by his conscience, he goes to the ICAC to report the company’s criminal acts of making false accounts and money laundering. In the behind-the-scenes video, Cheung said, “Integrity has given me a better understanding of money laundering, of how it is operated and completed.” Director Mak also revealed that his own brother had worked as an accountant for two years, but later resigned and became a policeman. According to his brother, “when you are an accountant, you realize that you don’t work with numbers. Instead, you make up numbers for others.” Such an act is to exploit legal loopholes, creating serious ethical dilemmas for accountants.
Nick Cheung starring as the accountant Hui Chik-yiu
When encountering this kind of ethical dilemmas at work, do we have the courage to stand up against unethical requests? Or, will we choose to go with the flow? These are exactly the questions that Integrity wants to raise to the audience. In the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays, are you looking for a more meaningful time? Check in to your local cinema and embark on an intellectual journey with this though-provoking film!
Integrity is scheduled to be released exclusively by Tangren Cultural Film Group in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand during 2019 Chinese New Year.
