Vengeance (2009 Film)

Vengeance (2009 Film)

Vengeance (Chinese: 復仇) is a 2009 Hong Kong-French thriller film directed by Johnnie To, and written by Wai Ka-Fai. A co-production of Hong Kong and France, the film stars Johnny Hallyday, Anthony Wong, Lam Ka-Tung, Lam Suet, Simon Yam and Sylvie Testud. Vengeance tells the story of Francis Costello, a French chef and former asssasin. When his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren are attacked by a gang of Triads, Costello heads to Macau to embark on a violent quest for revenge, enlisting the aid of three hitmen. The film explores the themes of assassination, violence and the influence of Triads in modern society.

The idea of Johnnie To directing an English-language film originated with the ARP co-founders and French producers Michèle and Laurent Pétin, who had Alain Delon in mind for the lead role. In 2006, after the Pétins approached him with their idea, To met with Delon, who was not interested in making the film. The Pétins later recommended Johnny Hallyday, who was cast in the lead role after meeting with the director in early 2008. Principal photography for Vengeance began in November 2008, and concluded in February 2009; filming took place on location in Hong Kong and Macau, with a crew mainly based in Hong Kong. The film was produced by Milkyway Image, and released by ARP Sélection in France, and Media Asia Films in Hong Kong.

Vengeance competed for the Palme D'Or award at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, and was released theatrically in France on 20 May 2009. The film was later released in Hong Kong on 20 August 2009. It premiered in North America at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. Vengeance was met with positive reviews, with several critics praising To's direction, Hallyday's performance, the cinematography and editing. During its theatrical run, the film grossed over US$1.3 million worldwide, having been released in Asia and parts of Europe. In the United States, the film was distributed by IFC Films, which made it available as a video-on-demand selection on pay television formats.