Election 2 (aka Triad Election) (黑社會以和為貴). 2006. Hong Kong. Directed by Johnnie To. With Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Nick Cheung, Lam Ka-tung, Lam Suet. 35mm courtesy Media Asia Film Distribution (HK) Limited. Courtesy Kino Lorber. In Cantonese; English subtitles. 93 min.
In this darker, more complex sequel to Election (2005), Johnnie To delves deeper into the murky waters of Hong Kong’s triad societies and their uneasy relationship with mainland Chinese authorities. The polished, remote Louis Koo plays Jimmy, an ambitious mobster torn between the lure of legitimate business and the trappings of underworld power. To’s direction passes over typical gangster film pyrotechnics for a taut, suspenseful narrative that unfolds with the precision of a political thriller. The film’s muted palette and claustrophobic framing mirror Jimmy’s moral confinement, while bursts of shocking violence punctuate the psychological tension. Election 2 expands on its predecessor’s allegorical resonance, offering a stark commentary on Hong Kong’s political and economic entanglement with China.