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Sparrow

Play trailer Poster for Sparrow 2008 1h 27m Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 61% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
A gang of pickpockets preys on people in the streets of Hong Kong.

Critics Reviews

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Philip French Guardian A beautifully made, deliberately puzzling thriller... Apr 17, 2011 Full Review Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard Clearly a labour of love. Rated: 4/5 Apr 15, 2011 Full Review Peter Bradshaw Guardian It's a sprightly comedy caper about a pickpocket gang that pays eccentric homage to French cinema. Rated: 3/5 Apr 14, 2011 Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine Short, sharp, and wonderfully charming. Rated: 9/10 Sep 8, 2020 Full Review Jamie Russell Total Film The slow-burn of a cigarette in a lip-glossed mouth, the languid sprawl of Hong Kong, and a jazzy, bluesy soundtrack give this Cantonese drama an arty insouciance. Rated: 3/5 Apr 15, 2011 Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times Has all the lyricism, fluency and precision of a musical. Rated: 3/5 Apr 14, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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DanTheMan 2 Pieced together over three years, Sparrow is a short, sharp and wonderfully charming passion project and tribute to old French New Wave cinema. One that unfurls like an elegant ballet and excels at capturing a romanticised Hong Kong that feels particularly warm and inviting, yet comparatively rich in a relaxed sense of charm and play. While this one didn't immediately grab me as effortlessly as other ventures by Johnnie To, it won me over in the end, as gorgeous lighting and musical score by Xavier Jamaux and Fred Avril virtually dance across the screen. There is relatively little dialogue involved, so the music ends up providing much of the guidance with a series of witty and self-aware compositions that go a long way in making the funnier elements succeed. This near-silent treatment makes the film stand out from its contemporaries; without much in the way of talking, attention is re-directed to the physical performances, the music, and the beautiful photography. The film happily canters along, bathed in gorgeous lighting and drenched in atmosphere, but Sparrow equally feels like it comes with a sad and rather heavy dose of lethargy. It flies where it will, ever joyous and blissful as the slow-burn of a cigarette in a lip-glossed mouth and the languid sprawl of Hong Kong give the film an arty insouciance. There's sound and fury here, and while it may signify nothing, it's still something to behold. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/21/25 Full Review Shin S 在这部电影里,杜琪峰把它严丝合缝的整齐结构用到极致,先是林熙蕾1234依次勾引他们4个,然后是他们1234连续遭遇暗算,制造出一种四平八稳的重复节奏。通过小偷与小偷的较量,来拯救一个被挟持的女人,带来了一个风格化极强的小品。 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/10/25 Full Review Audience Member Another great movie from Johnny To Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review camille l Il arrive qu'un auteur prenne totalement ses spectateurs et fans à contre-pied et livre un de ses films les plus réussis et singuliers de sa filmographie. En effet, Sparrow est aussi drôle que poétique et captivant, contant l'histoire de quatre pickpockets aux prises avec une femme fatale. Sparrow ne recule jamais devant les scènes les plus étranges, refuse même le dialogue pendant de longues plages de 20 minutes, animées par la mise en scène virevoltante d'un Johnnie To plus optimiste que jamais et la musique absolument parfaite de Fred Avril et Xavier Jamaux. Simon Yam est exceptionnel et Lam Suet assure encore un maximum en second rôle. Un délice de 90 minutes. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A melange of styles enmeshed in one film, which didn't create as much of a mess as you might think, thanks to the gorgeous palette and cinematography which unifies the film. Part comedy, a touch of Hitchcockian suspense, and - yes - even something reminiscent of an old Western showdown. The soundtrack is as determinedly old-fashioned as the film camera the main character uses, and just as full of charm. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member A heist movie like no other, with To paying homage to the roaring 60ies, femme fatales and, apparently, fellow director Kar-Way. Culminating in an original burglars showdown: a must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Sparrow

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Movie Info

Synopsis A gang of pickpockets preys on people in the streets of Hong Kong.
Director
Johnnie To
Genre
Drama, Romance
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (DVD)
Jan 13, 2009
Runtime
1h 27m