Sparrow
Promotional poster
Directed by	Johnnie To
Written by	Chan Kin-Chung Fung Chih-chiang Milkyway Creative Team
Produced by	Johnnie To
Starring	Simon Yam Kelly Lin Gordon Lam Law Wing-cheung Kenneth Cheung
Cinematography	Cheng Siu-Keung
Edited by	David M. Richardson
Music by	Xavier Jamaux Fred Avril
Production companies	Universe Entertainment Milkyway Image
Distributed by	Universe Films Distribution Co. Ltd. China Film Group
Release dates	11 February 2008 (2008-02-11) (Berlinale) 19 June 2008 (2008-06-19) (Hong Kong)
Running time	87 minutes
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese
Budget	$0.8 million[1]
Box office	$3.55 million[2]

Sparrow (Chinese: 文雀; pinyin: Wen que; Cantonese Yale: Man⁴ jeuk³) is a 2008 Hong Kong caper film produced and directed by Johnnie To. The film stars veteran Milkyway Image cast and crew alumni Simon Yam, Gordon Lam, Law Wing-cheung and Kenneth Cheung as a small gang of pickpockets, with each member being mysteriously approached by a beautiful Taiwanese woman (Kelly Lin) with a hidden agenda.

Sparrow remained in pre-production for three years from 2005 to 2008, with To shooting the film in between other projects. The film was selected in competition at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival, premiering during the festival in February 2008. It was released in Hong Kong on 19 June 2008.

Plot

Kei (Simon Yam) is the experienced leader of a team of pickpockets.(Pickpockets are also known as "Sparrows" in Hong Kong slang). He enjoys a carefree lifestyle taking photos with his vintage Rolleiflex. One day a dashing beauty, Chun-Lei (Kelly Lin), suddenly appears in Kei's viewfinder. Kei is mesmerized. Every member of his team has an encounter with her.... But behind Chun-lei's attractive facade lies a mysterious past and a mission to set herself free.

Cast

Production

Director Johnnie To shot the film in Hong Kong over a three-year period. In an interview, To said he and his crew would shoot every three or four months between projects.^[3]

Awards and nominations