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 subt 117'

(1990)
 

Dark film about three teenagers Frank, Paul and Luke who leave Hong Kong and enter war-torn Vietnam in 1967. Woo's favorite of his films. The script was originally meant for 'A Better Tomorrow part 2', but studio people (at Cinema City, Tsui Hark actually was against it) didn't like it. Later Tsui Hark used the idea in Better Tomorrow 3, prequel set in Vietnam. Just before shootings of Bullet in the Head began Woo  changed the story because of tragedy what happened in Tiananmen Square, Peking (Beijing). B.i.t.H. is very dark movie, there's a chaos all the time, even in background of those few pleasant and romantic moments. There just is no better tomorrow coming, and that made it so hard movie. Maybe it was even too hard and pessimistic, especially for the people in Hong Kong. It is very tradigal movie, without heroes.  After Ringo with his gang tried to steal some money from Frank and hits him at the head with a bottle, Frank gets accidentally killed, when they go to take revengen. So they have to hide the police and they flee to Vietnam. Where they meet a hitman Luke who is onto some gold smuggling affair. These three best friend from the childhood get their worst nightmares in the horrors of war and finally the worst part in the warprisoner camp. They will loose their faith, humanity and friendship, when Paul gets greed of gold. Finally the best friend become the worst enemies.

Bullet in the Head was a commercial failure, it was too pessimistic and dark for Hong Kong people. Not only it got bad box office results but it also went heavily over budget. As John Woo said in some interview, hardly no one in Hong Kong wanted to see it more than once and in a small place like HK it is necessary to get the audience return if you want a box office hit.

  Simon Yam Tak Wah, one of my favourite actors, recalls the shootings of Bullet in the Head in an interview for Eastern Heroes:

"When I worked with John Woo on Bullet in the Head, I really felt like acting, and for methat is my best film to date." and yes he made really great work as Luke. Other great and absolutely recommended films starring Simon Yam are Tiger Cage, Full Contact (Ringo Lam, 1992) Black Cat (Stephen Shin, 1991) and Bullet For Hire (Ringo Lam,) Simon Yam comments about Woo: "He really is quite different to anybody else I have worked with, very professional, knows what he wants. i would love to work with him again."

John Woo received the Hongkong Film Award of Best editing. The awards for 1990 were announced on April 21, 1991.

Bullet in the head in Finland. 17.10.1997 Helsinki (Kino Engel 2)
Certification: K-18 / 132 minutes Uncut version, similar to 124 min VHS PAL version. No video release.

Long version was shown at Helsinki Film Festivals (Love & Anarchy). It was the complete version which is not officially released anywhere so far. It included also the notorious, infamous beer & urine drinking scene.