Man, Johnnie To did an excellent job at reversing the romanticization of the triads in Hong Kong.

Man, Johnnie To did an excellent job at reversing the romanticization of the triads in Hong Kong.

borderline horrifying ending.

borderline horrifying ending.

Dude ate a spoon

Dude ate a spoon

As the name implies this is a film fully committed to displaying the politics and deep rooted traditions of the triad. 
The members try to convince themselves, that they act as a civilized society, that they value each other and their principals, but when it comes down to it they throw away all of these morals and revert to the animalistic instinct of „kill or be killed“ or in this case maybe the more selfish version „kill or give up (some) of your power and status“. 
And in the end this very instinct is what keeps you in power, not rules, traditions or even brotherhood. Because once you become a killer you might as well start calling yourself an animal dressed in human skin.

As the name implies this is a film fully committed to displaying the politics and deep rooted traditions of the triad. 
The members try to convince themselves, that they act as a civilized society, that they value each other and their principals, but when it comes down to it they throw away all of these morals and revert to the animalistic instinct of „kill or be killed“ or in this case maybe the more selfish version „kill or give up (some) of your power and status“. 
And in the end this very instinct is what keeps you in power, not rules, traditions or even brotherhood. Because once you become a killer you might as well start calling yourself an animal dressed in human skin.

I’m still a newbie to the heroic bloodshed subgenre, but it’s safe to say that Election is my favorite representative of it so far.

The devotion to ritual and tradition serves as a facade for greed and the relentless lust for power. The film brilliantly exposes how hollow these traditions really are when the only real goal is unopposed control. Once symbolic authority is granted, their own codes of so-called brotherhood become irrelevant – power is its own justification.

I can’t speak to the accuracy of the depicted triad customs, however the storytelling itself feels engaging and atmospheric. It’s like being given a rare opportunity to peek into the underground world of the triads – and not every film can achieve this feeling.

I’m still a newbie to the heroic bloodshed subgenre, but it’s safe to say that Election is my favorite representative of it so far.

The devotion to ritual and tradition serves as a facade for greed and the relentless lust for power. The film brilliantly exposes how hollow these traditions really are when the only real goal is unopposed control. Once symbolic authority is granted, their own codes of so-called brotherhood become irrelevant – power is its own justification.

I can’t speak to the accuracy of the depicted triad customs, however the storytelling itself feels engaging and atmospheric. It’s like being given a rare opportunity to peek into the underground world of the triads – and not every film can achieve this feeling.