⏎ Words Summary from News
**Johnnie To’s *Running on Karma* (2003) is a dark Buddhist tragedy disguised as a genre-bending police thriller, marking the director’s first deliberate shift toward artistic cinema.** The film blends mysticism, action, and moral philosophy, following a former monk turned stripper who can see people’s karma. Initially marketed as a comedy sequel to *Love on a Diet* due to Andy Lau’s prosthetic muscle suit, the film instead delivers a somber meditation on fate and penance. Critic Paul Fonoroff called it “nothing if not ambitious,” noting its fusion of mystery, humor, and Buddhist themes.</p><p class="summary-lead">**The plot centers on Big, a former Buddhist monk who killed a sparrow in rage and now works as a male stripper, using his karmic vision to help undercover officer Lee.** Big sees a World War II Japanese soldier haunting Lee, revealing she is the reincarnation of a war criminal doomed to die young. He explains that karma is “unfair and inevitable,” with consequences cascading across lifetimes. Director To said the SARS epidemic reshaped the story, pushing the team toward a Buddhist philosophy of impermanence after a string of comedies.</p><p class="summary-lead">**The film’s initially cheerful tone darkens as Lee hunts her killer, leading to grim scenes and a surreal, Jodorowsky-esque climax.** Big confronts his own past incarnation and the murderer in dreamlike kung fu sequences choreographed by Yuen Bun, featuring physically impossible moves. A contortionist villain who hides in boxes adds to the eerie atmosphere. To was surprised by the film’s positive reception, with its slogan—“The only things to take to the next life are the deeds you accumulate in this life”—becoming a popular saying in Hong Kong.</p><p class="summary-lead">**The film won Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor for Andy Lau in 2004, cementing its legacy as a cult classic.** Despite its commercial origins, *Running on Karma* succeeded as a dark, philosophical tragedy that resonated with audiences during a turbulent period. To and co-writer Wai Ka-fai drew inspiration from the Leshan Buddha statue and South Korean Buddhist genre films. The movie remains an engrossing watch today, a testament to To’s ability to subvert expectations while delivering profound insights.</p><p class="summary-lead">**What to watch next:** To’s subsequent films like *Throw Down* (2004) and *Election* (2005) further explore existential themes and moral ambiguity, offering deeper dives into his auteur vision.
Key Takeaways
- Running on Karma is a dark Buddhist tragedy disguised as a genre-bending police thriller, not the comedy its marketing suggested.
- The film’s karmic philosophy—unfair and inevitable consequences across lifetimes—was shaped by the SARS epidemic and the Leshan Buddha.
- Andy Lau’s prosthetic muscle suit and the film’s surreal climax evoke Jodorowsky, yet the story remains accessible to secular audiences.
- The film won Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor, surprising its creators with its cultural impact.
Insights & Analysis
- To’s pivot from commercial comedy to artistic drama during a market flood of similar films demonstrates how external crises can catalyze creative risk-taking, a lesson for studios facing genre saturation.
- The film’s success suggests that audiences in crisis periods (post-SARS Hong Kong) crave moral and existential narratives, not just escapism—a pattern that may repeat in today’s global uncertainty.