WHEN THE CAMERA is rolling, director Johnnie To Kei-fung is like the stern, tough cops you often see portrayed in his films. His manner is authoritative, he rarely smiles and he's quick to lash out at any crew member caught talking on a mobile phone.
Off set, there's little in To's demeanour to change this impression. Sitting bolt upright in his Kwun Tong office with the slightest of smiles, the 47-year-old seems always in control.
To is a firm believer in team work; he values discipline and wants the people he works with to put the team first - just as the police are supposed to. These beliefs permeate his new film PTU, a thriller about a group of Hong Kong's finest who rally together to help a troubled colleague search for his stolen pistol.
'I always believe there's more efficiency in team work,' To says. 'And when one team member makes a mistake, all others give support and shoulder the responsibility.'
PTU, the acronym for Police Tactical Unit, is To's latest personal project shot between a range of more commercial movies, including Love On A Diet and Fat Choi Spirit. It opened at the Hong Kong International Film Festival last week and had its world premiere at the Berlin festival in February.
What has attracted international attention to PTU is its unpredictable plot and unconventional camera work. Set in the mean streets of Tsim Sha Tsui, the film centres on Sergeant Lo (Lam Suet), who has his gun stolen by a gang during a fight. To hush up a blunder that may ruin Lo's chances of promotion, his colleagues - led by PTU officer Mike (Simon Yam Tat-wah) - promise to spend the night looking for the service revolver. If they can't find it by sunrise, Lo's fate will be out of their hands.
