Brothers, Guns, & Doves - Prison on Fire (1987)

Director: Ringo Lam

Cast: Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Chow Yun Fat, Roy Cheung, Ka-Kui Ho, Shing Fui-on

Country: Hong Kong

Rating: R

Run Time: 101 min

Brothers, Guns, & Doves is a series dedicated to discussing Heroic Bloodshed films produced inside or outside of Hong Kong. Films of this nature typically feature highly stylized gun play, emotional stories about honor and brotherhood, and, if directed by John Woo, lots of slow motion doves.

Prison on Fire is one of two films with the word "fire" in the title directed by Ringo Lam and released in 1987 (the other being City on Fire, which also stars Chow Yun Fat). The film was followed up by another Lam directed "fire" film, School on Fire, in 1988, as well as a direct sequel, Prison on Fire II, in 1991. Therefore, Prison on Fire is apart of both a loose stylistic trilogy of films as well as its own series of films. Man, it's tough keeping track of Hong Kong films sometimes.

Lam's loose "Fire" trilogy consists of three action dramas that are connected by their emotional drama, gritty action, and inclusion of actor Roy Cheung. All three films portray life in Hong Kong, as seen through the eyes of Lam. City on Fire focuses on the lives of cops and criminals, Prison on Fire focuses on the lives of prisoners and guards, and School on Fire focuses on the lives of students and triads. Many action fans will most likely never discover Prison or School simply because City on Fire is the most well known of the trilogy because of its connection to Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. Therefore, I implore all action fans to seek out the entire trilogy in order to fully appreciate Lam's artistic vision and cinematic goal.

Prison on Fire, the second in the "Fire" trilogy and the first of the Prison on Fire films, is a solid prison drama. In retrospect, the film shares many similarities with The Shawshank Redemption from 1994. Both films feature a good natured protagonist who is imprisoned for the wrong reasons, a veteran prisoner who befriends said protagonist, and corrupt guards who take advantage of the prisoners' situation. There are also scenes of joy and humanity amidst prison life as well as despair and conflict. Stephen King's Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption does pre-date Prison on Fire, 1982 to be exact. Regardless, this filmic depiction of life in the big house is awfully similar to Frank Darabont's master class film, coincident or not.

Tony Leung learns real quick how hard prison life is.

Lo Ka Yiu (Tony Leung Ka-Fai) is a beloved son, boyfriend, and grocery store clerk in resident Hong Kong. When several hooligans steal from his father's store, Yiu fights back and accidentally knocks one of the thieves into traffic and to his death. Yiu is sentenced to three years for manslaughter and finds his life turned inside out as various prisoners attack him and his girlfriend threatens to move away for school reasons. In steps 41671 (Chow Yun Fat), a veteran prisoner and surrogate Morgan Freeman for the film. 41671 doesn't narrate the film, but he does provide Yiu with friendship and knowledge amidst prison life. The two quickly bond and fight back against corrupt guards and cruel prisoners together. Yiu reaches his limits when the prisoners embark on a hunger strike that places all of their lives in danger.

Prison on Fire is a very basic film that portrays simple themes of friendship and self sacrifice amidst prison life. The film has no political agenda and takes no shots at the prisoners or the corrupt guards. It's simply a story of prison life in an extremely rough prison, made all the rougher due to the vile guards and despicable inmates. Not every film has to be particularly deep and meaningful, and Prison on Fire isn't. It's simplistic, gritty drama, ripped from reality and strewn across the screen.

The first two acts of the film make for an average and bleak prison affair. The film moves through the motions of a prison film, all while injecting copious amounts of humor courtesy of Chow Yun Fat (more on him later). However, Prison on Fire turns into a stellar prison film when it enters its final act. While the first two acts of the film focus on Yiu's struggle with villainous inmates, the third act hones all of its tension on an extremely intense hunger strike that the prisoners embark on in order to lower the prices on cigarettes and food. This final act of the film is incredibly unpredictable and particularly disturbing as well. Yiu and 41671 partake in an extremely brutal and painful prison brawl to the death that showcases Chow at his most insane. Therefore, even though the first two acts are your by the numbers prison film, Prison on Fire makes up for it with an unforgettable final act.

Chow and Leung leap to safety in one of the film's hardest hitting moments.

Tony Leung (A Better Tomorrow III, Election), well known as 'Big Tony' in Hong Kong, gives a solid performance as the film's protagonist. Yiu is a relatable character because he's a hard working every man who simply wants to love his girlfriend and do the right thing. Unfortunately, doing the right thing gets him in trouble and plunges him into the hell hole that is prison. Yiu's limits and wits are tested as various prisoners accuse him for crimes he didn't commit and attempt to murder him as well. If you want to see some intense acting, than check out the scene where Yiu defends himself against a group of prisoners with a broken shard of glass. Leung exudes sheer insanity and terror with a chunk of glass in his hand and blood all over his body. All in all, Leung does fine work and earns his freedom by the film's end.

As with most films featuring Chow Yun Fat (Hard Boiled, The Killer), he practically steals the show even though he's not the lead character here. Chow plays the same kind of character he plays in most of his films: a happy go-lucky guy who jokes around most of the time but turns intense when serious situations arise. There's a ridiculous scene where Chow takes a dump in a bathroom accompanied by fart noises. When Yiu leaves the room, Chow declares, "Remember, there's always...a better tomorrow! *fart noise*" For those who don't know, A Better Tomorrow was Chow's breakout film the year before Prison on Fire. Talk about a ridiculous reference, and all while on the toilet too. Prison on Fire also features two solid villains, Ka-Kui Ho as the cruel inmate Micky and Roy Cheung as the corrupt Officer Scarface Hung. Both repeatedly pester our two lead prisoners throughout the film and eventually get their comeuppance at the hands of an insane Chow Yun Fat. Seriously, you don't know how intense and crazy Chow can get until you see him in the film's final prison brawl. 

Officer "Scarface" Hung is the Clancy Brown of the picture.

Even though Prison on Fire is mainly a drama, the film features enough prison brawls to classify it as an action film. There are two short but sweet brawls that take place within the first two acts of the film: one in the prison yard and the other inside of a wash room. The physical bout in the wash room is especially intense because it drives Yiu over the edge and towards insanity. The fight scene also features an insane stunt where Chow and Leung leap off of a ledge and slam onto the top of a glass table, only for it to shatter and break underneath them. However, the film's final bout inside of the main hall of bunk beds is the highlight of the film. Chow dishes out revenge on Micky and Scarface after taking their crap for an entire movie. This brutal fight also features an amazing stunt where Chow runs on top of a series of bunk beds and jump kicks Officer Scarface into a wall. It's immensely satisfying and worth the price of admission alone. Action fans will also want to check out the film because of how tightly connected it is to the heroic bloodshed genre, especially because of its lead actors and director Ringo Lam. 

The heroic bloodshed genre is a stylistic sub-genre of Hong Kong action films that feature themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and self sacrifice. These type of films also feature lots of stylized violence and double fisted gun play. Heroic Bloodshed 101 can be found below...

Major films in genre: the A Better Tomorrow trilogy, The Killer, Once a Thief, Bullet in the Head, Hard Boiled, Full Contact, City on Fire, the Rich and Famous saga, the Long Arm of the Law films, and the God of Gamblers films (contemporary examples include American films The Corruptor and The Replacement Killers, as well as Hong Kong films Exiled and Vengeance)

Major filmmakers: John Woo, Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark, and Johnnie To

Major stars: Chow Yun Fat, both Tony Leungs, Anthony Wong, Simon Yam, and Andy Lau

Unfortunately, Prison on Fire takes place within a prison. Therefore, the film is stripped of the gun play and settings that make up most heroic bloodshed films. However, the film still features all of the signature themes of said genre in order to classify it as one. The film also features three major players of the heroic bloodshed genre: director Ringo Lam, star Chow Yun Fat, and star Tony Leung. The film is also extremely bloody and emotionally over the top, especially during its unforgettable finale. Therefore, heroic bloodshed fans will find themselves right at home with Lam's tale of life in the big house, especially whenever Chow and Leung bond or a prison fight breaks out.

This is what prison does to you.

Ringo Lam is a simple filmmaker who makes straight forward films with both satisfying action and engaging drama. His films are never dull and typically over just when they start to run their course. Prison on Fire is exactly that: a rarely dull and simplistic action/drama that ends just when it starts to loose steam. The direction is on point and every performer shines through in an engaging genre film that is about as effective as the umpteenth prison film can be. The film is nowhere near as memorable as Lam's superior efforts (City on Fire, Full Contact) but infinitely more satisfying than his horrendous collaborations with Jean Claude Van Damme (Maximum Risk, Replicant, In Hell). All in all, Prison on Fire is recommended viewing for Hong Kong action fans like myself who have already made their way through all of the classics and are desperately in need of something good from the late 80s/early 90s that they may have missed.

Rating: 7/10 - A simplistic and brutal prison film that makes you thankful for your own living situation.