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CrimeDrama

The Sparring Partner

- Based on the crime and trial that rocked Asia.

Adapted from a sensational real-life case in 2013, the intricate story begins when a young man partners with his friend to murder and dismember his parents. Pleading not guilty, the defense attorneys soon turn on each other, as the defendants play the devil and idiot game. Meanwhile, heated debates emerge inside the jury room, where nine jurors grapple with the truth.

Release Date : 2022-10-27

Language :Cantonese

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Mei Ah EntertainmentWord By Word LimitedFiece Urchin Production Limited

Production Country : Hong Kong

Alternative Titles : The Cloister of Justice

Cast

Yeung Wai-Lun

Character Name : Henry Cheung

Original Name : Yeung Wai-Lun

Gender : Male

Mak Pui-Tung

Character Name : Angus Tong

Original Name : 麥沛東

Gender : Male

Louisa So Yuk-Wah

Character Name : Carrie Yau

Original Name : 蘇玉華

Gender : Female

Jan Lam Hoi-Fung

Character Name : Wilson Ng

Original Name : Jan Lam Hoi-Fung

Gender : Male

Michael Chow Man-Kin

Character Name : Allen Chu

Original Name : 周文健

Gender : Male

Gloria Yip Wan-Yee

Character Name : Yip Wai Ping

Original Name : 葉蘊儀

Gender : Female

Chung Suet-Ying

Character Name : Cheng Ka Man

Original Name : 鍾雪瑩

Gender : Female

Harriet Yeung

Character Name : Tong Man Shan

Original Name : Harriet Yeung

Gender : Female

Chu Pak-Him

Character Name : Cheung Hin Jo

Original Name : Chu Pak-Him

Gender : Male

Matt Chow Hoi-Kwong

Character Name : Superintendent Kam

Original Name : 鄒凱光

Gender : Male

Rachel Leung

Character Name : Ho Man Yee

Original Name : Rachel Leung

Gender : Female

Ursula Wong Yue-Si

Character Name : Liu Mei Fan

Original Name : Ursula Wong Yue-Si

Gender : Female

Xenia Chong

Character Name : Shiu Pui King

Original Name : Xenia Chong

Gender : Female

David Siu

Character Name : Cheung Chiu

Original Name : David Siu

Gender : Male

Larine Tang Yue-Ping

Character Name : Witness, Mika

Original Name : Larine Tang Yue-Ping

Gender : Female

Lam Sen

Character Name : Ko Si Kwan

Original Name : Lam Sen

Gender : Male

Yau Man-Shing

Character Name : Lee Kin Shing

Original Name : 邱萬城

Gender : Male

Jimmy Wong Wa-Wo

Character Name : Ho Fu

Original Name : Jimmy Wong Wa-Wo

Gender : Male

Joe Cheung Tung-Cho

Character Name : Judge

Original Name : 張同祖

Gender : Male

Patra Au Ga-Man

Character Name : Little O's mom

Original Name : Patra Au Ga-Man

Gender : Female

Amen Au Cheuk-Man

Character Name : Mak Siu Hung

Original Name : Amen Au Cheuk-Man

Gender : Male

Nicky Wong Yung-Tai

Character Name : Little O

Original Name : Nicky Wong Yung-Tai

Gender : Male

Ho Kai-Nam

Character Name : Dr. Chan Kam Hung

Original Name : 何啟南

Gender : Male

Singh Hartihan Bitto

Character Name : New rentee of Tong's flat

Original Name : Singh Hartihan Bitto

Gender : Male

Lawrence Lau Sek-Yin

Character Name : Mr Siu

Original Name : 劉錫賢

Gender : Male

James Au

Character Name : Cheung Kuen Kwai

Original Name : James Au

Gender : Male

Chan Gam-Fung

Character Name : Shiu Suet Yee

Original Name : Chan Gam-Fung

Gender : Female

Myth Or

Character Name : Reporter Kate

Original Name : Myth Or

Gender : Female

Crystal Lui Kwok-Wai

Character Name : Reporter Amanda

Original Name : Crystal Lui Kwok-Wai

Gender : Female

Wong Hin-chung

Character Name : Au Yeung Shan

Original Name : Wong Hin-chung

Gender : Male

Choi Tsz-Ching

Character Name : Chan Yuk Yu

Original Name : Choi Tsz-Ching

Gender : Female

Brenda Chan Kwai-Fan

Character Name : Suen Yim Or

Original Name : 陳桂芬

Gender : Female

Kiki Cheung Hoi-Kei

Character Name : Koo Ka Yan

Original Name : Kiki Cheung Hoi-Kei

Gender : Female

Albert Cheung Miu-Hau

Character Name : Dr. Chung Ka Long

Original Name : Albert Cheung Miu-Hau

Gender : Male

Ricky Chow Hau-Yan

Character Name : Dr. Lui Hok Fung

Original Name : Ricky Chow Hau-Yan

Gender : Male

Hui So-Ying

Character Name : Dr. Siu Man Man

Original Name : Hui So-Ying

Gender : Female

Edmond Wong

Character Name : Dr. Cheung Kin Hung

Original Name : Edmond Wong

Gender : Male

Hui See-Wai

Character Name : Forensic

Original Name : Hui See-Wai

Gender : Male

Mouse FX

Character Name : Witness, Chan Chor Shan

Original Name : Mouse FX

Gender : Male

Leung Kwan-Leun

Character Name : Witness, Li Chiu

Original Name : Leung Kwan-Leun

Gender : Male

Ronny Yuen

Character Name : Witness, Cheng Wing Hong

Original Name : Ronny Yuen

Gender : Male

Wong Kwok-Keung

Character Name : Witness, Lee Siu Lung

Original Name : Wong Kwok-Keung

Gender : Male

Juliana Wong Pui-Chun

Character Name : Judicial Clerk

Original Name : 黃佩珍

Gender : Female

Leung Chi Kwong

Character Name : Judicial Clerk

Original Name : Leung Chi Kwong

Gender : Male

Franchesca Wong Yuen Wah

Character Name : Court Usher

Original Name : Franchesca Wong Yuen Wah

Gender : Female

Lai Chai-ming

Character Name : Solicitor

Original Name : Lai Chai-ming

Gender : Male

Jasmine Leung Kin-Yi

Character Name : Assistant of Carrie Yau

Original Name : Jasmine Leung Kin-Yi

Gender : Female

Chung Pak-Ho

Character Name : Assistant of Wilson Ng

Original Name : Chung Pak-Ho

Gender : Male

Wing Mo

Character Name : TV Presenter

Original Name : Wing Mo

Gender : Female

Friendo Ng

Character Name : Production Assistant

Original Name : Friendo Ng

Gender : Male

Ho Yuk-Fai

Character Name : Cameraman

Original Name : Ho Yuk-Fai

Gender : Male

Joe Hu

Character Name : Interviewee

Original Name : Joe Hu

Gender : Male

Wong Wing-Man

Character Name : Action House Secretary

Original Name : Wong Wing-Man

Gender : Male

Yip Wai-ping

Character Name : Forensic Officer

Original Name : Yip Wai-ping

Gender : Male

Thomas Leung Wing-ho

Character Name : Forensic Officer

Original Name : Thomas Leung Wing-ho

Gender : Male

Natalie K.

Character Name : Leni Riefenstahl

Original Name : Natalie K.

Gender : Female

Zoe Wong

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Zoe Wong

Gender : Female

Leo Lo Hoi-Ying

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Leo Lo Hoi-Ying

Gender : Male

Carmen Hau

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Carmen Hau

Gender : Female

Vivian Leung Chi-Ching

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Vivian Leung Chi-Ching

Gender : Female

Tam Leung-Ying

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Tam Leung-Ying

Gender : Male

Jessica Likens

Character Name : Reporter

Original Name : Jessica Likens

Gender : Female

Leung Lai-Sun

Character Name : HKCSD staff

Original Name : Leung Lai-Sun

Gender : Male

Ho Wai-Ming

Character Name : HKCSD staff

Original Name : Ho Wai-Ming

Gender : Male

Lui Wing-Chuen

Character Name : HKCSD staff

Original Name : Lui Wing-Chuen

Gender : Male

Emil Chan Cheuk-Wah

Character Name : Plainclothes Police

Original Name : Emil Chan Cheuk-Wah

Gender : Male

Lam Chun-Kit

Character Name : Plainclothes Police

Original Name : Lam Chun-Kit

Gender : Male

Mok Wai-Fung

Character Name : Plainclothes Police

Original Name : Mok Wai-Fung

Gender : Male

Vincent Tam Yu-Hong

Character Name : Plainclothes Police

Original Name : Vincent Tam Yu-Hong

Gender : Male

Courtney Wu

Character Name : Disabled

Original Name : Courtney Wu

Gender : Male

Poon Hoi-Ching

Character Name : Cashier of home store

Original Name : Poon Hoi-Ching

Gender : Male

Yau Ng-Chu

Character Name : Tong's mother

Original Name : Yau Ng-Chu

Gender : Female

Ranson Ma

Character Name : Register

Original Name : Ranson Ma

Gender : Male

Angelica Grace Intan

Character Name : Tong's ex-wife

Original Name : Angelica Grace Intan

Gender : Female

Andrew Kwok Hon-Chu

Character Name : Concentration camp captive

Original Name : Andrew Kwok Hon-Chu

Gender : Male

Singh Hamihanata

Character Name : New rentee of Tong's flat

Original Name : Singh Hamihanata

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-11-21

Based on a rather shocking true story from Hong Kong, this is quite an intriguing depiction of the arrest and trial of Henry Chung (Yeung Wai Lun) for the brutal murder and dismemberment of his parents. He is pretty up-front about his guilt and the trial seems a bit of a fait-accompli. The gist of the film, though, centres on the involvement of his accomplice Angus Tong (Man Pui-tung). Now here is a character that has the IQ of a teabag, is overweight and generally comes across as infantile and incapable of taking responsibility for himself. Was he involved at all, and if so - in what capacity? That capacity issue is what makes this courtroom drama stand out. The performance from Man Pui-tung is superb. The depiction (illustrated via flashback) of his rather psychologically brutal interrogation; his constant incoherent mumbling and bumbling; the conflicting medical and psychological reports of his competencies - and all under the gaze of a jury made up of nine ordinary citizens with the prejudices and priorities of nine normal folks is well worked by Cheuk Tin Ho to create a genuine sense of our involvement in the future of this young man. Was he guilty or not? What might I have decided based on the evidence? Is there even any real evidence against him or is he just an easy target for the pursuing constabulary? It is too long, and takes a while to build up steam, but once it gets going it is an interesting character study - not just of the two accused, but of the jury, the police and of the judicial system that provides the framework for this maelstrom of advice, expertise, procedure and the genuine evil emanating from the effective Yeung Wai-lun. The imagery, especially amidst the wig-wearing scenario of the only recently reintegrated Chinese courtroom where the judge is still referred to as "my Lord" is suitably anachronistic too, and invites us to make or own assessments of the people and the process in quite a sophisticated fashion. There is a great deal of dialogue which is difficult for the subtitlers to do justice to, but it is photographed in an intimate and intense fashion and is thought-provoking to watch.