2023 Movie
Dir. Wong Ching-Po · Taiwan · Cantonese, Mandarin
A dying criminal kills to be the most wanted in this Taiwanese Western-esque gangster drama
Gangster films have an issue of glorifying organized crime, and in some ways The Pig, The Snake, and The Pigeon does the same. There are excellent, action-packed fight scenes that makes Ethan Juan as Chen Kui-lin look so damn cool, and the journey Chen takes as a stern criminal out for his legacy definitely romanticizes the character, but it’s so compelling to see him contemplate the purpose of his life through confronting those like him, who tend to move for the ideas of love and spiritual detachment. There are some moments when the pacing falters, but The Pig, The Snake, and the Pigeon delivers on its ending and reimagines the gangster as something to remember.
The arrogant, third most-wanted criminal in Taiwan, decides to get rid of the top two competitors and crowns himself the most-wanted criminal before dying.
After discovering that he’s only the third most wanted fugitive in Taiwan, Chen Kui-lin embarks on a journey to kill the first two, to establish his legacy before he dies from lung cancer.
Ethan Juan is really suited for this role– he’s able to capture the insanity that makes Chen Kui-lin’s quest, and the ironic redemption a true one.
Well, I suppose this is one way to approach your impending mortality…
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
Comments