Port of Call is a 2015 Hong Kong crime thriller film written, edited and directed by Philip Yung and starring Aaron Kwok as a veteran police detective who solving a murder mystery with unusual methods to prove his belief of virtue in human nature. The film is based on a real murder case where a dismembered corpse of a murdered 16-year-old female prostitute was found in Hong Kong in 2008.[3] Port of Call was the closing film at the 39th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 6 April 2015.[4][5][6] The film was theatrically released in Hong Kong on 3 December 2015. Port of Call won seven awards at the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards including acting awards Best Actor for Kwok, Best Actress for Jessie Li, Best Supporting Actress for Elaine Jin, Best Supporting Actor and Best New Performer, both for Michael Ning, as well as Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography, while also nominated for six other awards. The film also won many other awards and nominations at the Golden Horse Awards, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards and Asian Film Awards. It was selected as the Hong Kong entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.[7][8]
| Port of Call | |
|---|---|
Official film poster
| |
| Traditional Chinese | 踏血尋梅 |
| Simplified Chinese | 踏血寻梅 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Tà Xuè Xún Méi |
| Jyutping | Daap6 Hyut3 Cam4 Mui4 |
| Directed by | Philip Yung |
| Screenplay by | Philip Yung |
| Produced by | Julia Chu |
| Starring | Aaron Kwok Elaine Jin Patrick Tam |
| Cinematography | Christopher Doyle |
| Edited by | Philip Yung Chu Ka-yat |
| Music by | Ding Ke |
Production |
Mei Ah Film Production |
| Distributed by | Mei Ah Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Budget | US$5 million[1] |
| Box office | US$1.25 million[2] |
Filming for Port of Call began in Hong Kong on 1 September 2014[9] and wrapped up on 26 September.[10][3] In order to prepare for his role as a grizzled veteran police detective, Aaron Kwok grew a moustache and beard, which, along with his hair, were dyed grey in colour, and also had to reduce his gym exercise routines.[9]
Port of Call premiered as the closing film at the 39th Hong Kong International Film Festival on 6 April 2015 where the 120 minute director's cut version of the film was shown.[4] The film was later theatrically released in Hong Kong on 3 December 2015 with two versions of the film being shown; the 120 minute director's cut version which was rated Category III, along with a 98 minute IIB-rated version.[11]
| Awards and nominations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
| 35th Hong Kong Film Awards[12] | Best Film | Port of Call | Nominated |
| Best Director | Philip Yung | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Aaron Kwok | Won | |
| Best Actress | Jessie Li | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael Ning | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Elaine Jin | Won | |
| Best New Performer | Michael Ning | Won | |
| Jessie Li | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Philip Yung | Won | |
| Best Cinematography | Christopher Doyle | Won | |
| Best Film Editing | Liao Ching-sung, Wong Hoi, Philip Yung, Chu Ka-yat |
Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Score | Ding Ke | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Song | Song: On the Dark Sea (漆黑的海上)
Composer/Lyricist/Singer: Ding Ke |
Nominated | |
| 52nd Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film | Port of Call | Nominated |
| Best Original Screenplay | Philip Yung | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Aaron Kwok | Nominated | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael Ning | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Elaine Jin | Nominated | |
| Best New Performer | Jessie Li | Nominated | |
| Michael Ning | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Christopher Doyle | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Song | Song: On the Dark Sea (漆黑的海上)
Composer/Lyricist/Singer: Ding Ke |
Nominated | |
| 22nd Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Film | Port of Call | Won |
| Best Director | Philip Yung | Nominated | |
| Best Screenplay | Philip Yung | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Aaron Kwok | Nominated | |
| Michael Ning | Won | ||
| Best Actress | Jessie Li | Won | |
| 10th Asian Film Awards | Best Screenwriter | Philip Yung | Nominated |
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael Ning | Nominated | |
| Best Newcomer | Jessie Li | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematographer | Christopher Doyle | Nominated | |
| Best Editor | Chu Ka-yat, Liao Ching-sung, Wong Hoi, Philip Yung |
Won | |
| 19th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival | Best Actress | Jessie Li | Won |
| Best of Bucheon | Philip Yung | Won | |
| Special Mention | Port of Cal | Won | |
| 7th Youth Film Handbook Chinese-language Film Awards | Top Ten Chinese-language films | Port of Call | Won |
| Director of the Year | Philip Yung | Nominated | |
| Screenwriter of the Year | Philip Yung | Nominated | |
| Male Actor of the Year | Aaron Kwok | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Michael Ning | Nominated | |
| Newcomer of the Year | Michael Ning | Nominated | |
| Jessie Li | Won | ||
| 13th New York Asian Film Festival | Star Asia Award | Aaron Kwok | Won |
