Protégé

A gripping and often uncompromising look at the Hong Kong drug trade from the seller’s and user’s side, Derek Yee’s ‘Protege’ is one of the finest dramas to come out of Hong Kong in recent years. Andy Lau is Quin the head of a drug cartel who is now getting on in his years, suffering from ill health and contemplating handing over his empire to one of his young runners, and confidant, Nick (Wu). Nick has been climbing the ranks of the drug business, gaining Quin’s respect and trust. Unbeknown to Quin, Nick is actually a deep undercover cop about to bring down Quin and his empire. Meanwhile, Nick forms a rocky relationship with his neighbour, Jane (Chu), and her daughter. Jane is addicted to heroin and it’s destroying her life and putting her young daughter in jeopardy. Nick attempts to help her break the habit, and break free of her abusive junky husband (Koo), all the while juggling his role as an undercover operative who’s loyalties are put on the line when the time comes to bring Quin in. —Far East Films