Derek Yee's directorial debut confronts the entrenched taboo of mental illness head-on. The director had wanted to cast new actors in the film, but producer John Sham felt that the film's dark tone would be better realised by more experienced actors and convinced Chow Yun-fat and Tony Leung Chiu-wai to join the cast. The story sheds light on the plight of the mentally ill, challenging common misconceptions about them. The violent ending featuring Paul Chun drew criticism, partly for its resemblance to a 1982 mass-stabbing at a kindergarten, but Chun's performance was so compelling that he clinched Best Supporting Actor honours at both the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Golden Horse Awards.

# Post-screening talk with Pierre Lam

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