Johnnie To
Hong Kong film director and producer celebrated for stylish crime thrillers, prolific output, and a devoted international cult following.
What do we know about Johnnie To?
Here are the key biographical details about Johnnie To:
- Name: Johnnie To
- Also Known As: ジョニー・トー, 杜琪峰, Johnnie To Kei-Fung
- Date of Birth: April 22, 1955
- Place of Birth: Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]
- Gender: Male
- Job Title: Director
- Crew Jobs: Producer, Director, Assistant Director, Executive Producer, Writer
Who is Johnnie To?
Johnnie To Kei-Fung (Chinese: 杜琪峯, born 22 April 1955) is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas. Intensely prolific, To has made films in a variety of genres, though in the West he is best known for his action and crime movies, which have earned him critical respect and a cult following.
His films, often made in collaboration with the same group of actors, screenwriters and cinematographers, frequently explore themes of friendship, fate and the changing face of Hong Kong society. Sometimes described as "multifaceted and chameleonic" due to his ability to switch tones and genres between movies, To is nonetheless seen as having a consistent style, which involves mixing subdued realism and social observation with highly stylized visual and acting elements. To heads the Hong Kong-based production company Milkyway Image with his frequent co-director Wai Ka-Fai.
What is Johnnie To known for?
Johnnie To's most celebrated directorial works include:
- Drug War (2012, Movie)
- Election (2005, Movie)
- Exiled (2006, Movie)
- Mad Detective (2007, Movie)
- Vengeance (2009, Movie)
- Election 2 (2006, Movie)
- The Mission (1999, Movie)
- PTU (2003, Movie)
- Breaking News (2004, Movie)
- Running Out of Time (1999, Movie)
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