As Tears Go By

by Wong Kar-wai

1989 Selection

HONG KONG 1989 1h40

Feature Film

Ah Wah (Andy Lau) is a small time crook who collects debts owed to his Godfather (Lam Gao), the leader of his Triad. As violent and as faithful to the Triad as his archrival for gang promotion, Tony (Alex Man), Ah Wah has a weakness : his love and fidelity to his blood brother and fellow Triad member Fly (Jacky Cheung). Trying to prove he is more than Ah Wah's shadow, Fly constantly provokes trouble from which he must be saved by his "big brother". Ah Ngor (Maggie Cheung) further complicates Ah Wah's existence with her innocence and vulnerability, especially when he begins to fall in love with her. When Fly borrows money he can't repay, violence erupts, which lends to open warfare between Tony and Ah Wah. Deciding finally to leave the Triads and Hong Kong to live in peace with Ah Ngor and Fly, Ah Wah finds Fly has agreed to assassinate a witness protected by the police. He must choose between his "little brother" and Ah Ngor.