There are no subtitles in the first preview for Johnnie To‘s Three, and that is perfectly fine. In just one minute, this wordless preview builds tension with stern glares, withdrawn guns, plunging syringes, opening elevators, portentous push-ins and pull-aways — it builds with just about everything the trailer actually consists of, I suppose.
Through this, one can get some sense of the film’s narrative: criminals attempt to free their partner handcuffed to a hospital bed, leading to shoot-outs, explosions, tensions among staff, and police efforts to stop them. When its images are this exciting and assembled this well, one need not worry about narrative too much for the time being.
See it below:
Synopsis:
Realizing that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to bide time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for all.
Three is currently without U.S. distribution.