Director’ Statement
Director’s Statement: Johnnie To
Filmmaking is an ongoing journey. For me, collaborating with Wai Ka Fai has opened up new creative possibilities. His philosophy and concepts raised the level of storytelling of Hong Kong cinema and my films, in particular. Both of us are never satisfied with what’s already been done. Our drive comes from the desire to always break new grounds and to establish new rules.
Mad Detective is no exception. As was before, this film challenges story conventions and audience expectations. Narratively and visually, nothing is what it seems to be. As our hero embarks on his investigation, the fine line between truth and lies gradually becomes more ambiguous. Ironically, as we probe deeper to unravel the truth, we are only closer to losing grip on the reality of things. What is right or wrong is no longer a clear-cut answer, but the result of a series of morally complicated actions.
Having spent the past ten years exploring my personal style as a director, I look forward to setting a new direction for the next ten years.
Director’s Statement: Wai Ka Fai
Since 1996, Johnnie and I have been working together with the hope of pushing Hong Kong cinema’s creative boundaries. Milkyway Image’s films are the products of our efforts, and Mad Detective continues this philosophy ten years on.
Mad Detective is a traditional Hong Kong police film with a twist: Our hero eschews science and reason to investigate crimes. Instead, he possesses the supernatural ability to look into the darkest places of people’s minds. No human being is a stranger to thoughts of both good and evil, but most of us find the ability to suppress the evil. But perhaps under different circumstances, these thoughts could get the better of us. This is where our hero gathers his crucial leads.
In the film, the mad detective asks, “I’m human too, why should I be any different?” Sadly, the burden of “seeing too much” means our hero is destined to walk a solitary path in this world.