John Woo's 1986 masterpiece returns to UK cinemas
John Woo's 1986 action classic 'A Better Tomorrow' is set to be re-released in UK cinemas from June 26, offering audiences a chance to experience the film that defined Hong Kong action cinema. The title is derived from the 1985 Taiwanese charity single 'Tomorrow Will Be Better', which was inspired by Live Aid and became a pan-Asian hit. The song is performed poignantly in one scene by a choir of schoolchildren, their innocence contrasting with the film's violent gangsters, while also reflecting the criminals' desire for redemption: 'Let our smiles show off our pride of youth / Let us look forward to a better tomorrow.'
Plot: Brothers in arms and blood
Ti Lung stars as Ho, a triad gangster involved in counterfeiting US dollars using advanced technology. Chow Yun-fat plays his loyal friend Mark, and together they run a successful criminal enterprise, though they are troubled by an ambitious young triad named Shing (Waise Lee). However, Ho harbours a secret: his younger brother Kit (Leslie Cheung) is a police cadet. Ho feels immense guilt and pressure from his ailing father to leave crime behind to protect Kit's reputation.
After a deal in Taiwan goes wrong, Ho is imprisoned for three years. Mark is permanently injured in the leg after seeking revenge on those who betrayed them. Upon his release, Ho returns to Hong Kong to find Mark reduced to a beggar, working for the now-dominant Shing. The film explores themes of honour and fraternal loyalty as Ho must reconcile with both his blood brother Kit and his criminal brother Mark. John Woo himself appears in a cameo as a Taiwanese cop determined to bring down the gang.
Action and emotion: Woo's signature style
The film features spectacular firefights, including a memorable shootout at a dockside petrol station surrounded by diesel drums. Woo blends intense action with broad emotion and comedy. In one scene, Kit's girlfriend Jackie (Emily Chu) is late for her cello audition; in a chaotic melee reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy, her cello case accidentally hits a pregnant examiner. 'A Better Tomorrow' is unsubtle but fierce and compelling, running on rails of pure adrenaline.
The film's enduring appeal lies not only in its balletic gunplay but also in its unapologetic melodrama and sentimentality. According to critics, Woo's movies are addictive for their fierce emotional core, where family is paramount but crime families are not endorsed. The film remains a benchmark for action cinema, influencing countless filmmakers worldwide.
