Throw Down (film)


Throw Down is a 2004 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Johnnie To and starring Louis Koo, Aaron Kwok, Cherrie Ying and Tony Leung Ka-fai. The film was one of To's most personal to date; he dedicated it to the late Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and, in making it, had drawn upon elements of Kurosawa's debut feature, Sanshiro Sugata. Throw Down had its premiere at the 61st Venice International Film Festival.

Plot

Karaoke manager and band leader Sze-to Bo was a judo expert and former champion who gave up judo a few years ago for unknown reasons and became depressed and an alcoholic. Current judo champion Tony, a competitive fighter, admires Bo and challenges him to a duel. Bo's longtime rival, Lee Ah-kong, also arrives to challenge Bo for an old unfinished competition. Bo's mentor, Cheng, is old and frail and has a dementia ridden son, Ching. Wanting to save his judo dojo, which have become a depressing ruins, Cheng also asks his disciple to help him to restore the reputation of his dojo. Mona is a girl from Taiwan who dreams to become a singer, but was nearly forced into prostitution by her evil manager. She seeks refuge in Bo's karaoke, but thugs manage to chase her there. At this time, Bo can no longer keep his secret and reveals the true reason he gave up judo: he had developed an incurable retinal disease and his vision is gradually declining and currently only having one tenth of his vision left. When Master Cheng dies for his ideals battling on the judo stage and Bo's eyes are nearly becoming blind, Bo's heart is suddenly able to see clearly and his fighting spirit reignites. Bo is determined to defeat all his opponents before seeing the last line of light.

Cast