A Day of Fury

A Day of Fury (Cantonese: 憤怒一天 Jyutping: fan5 nou6 jat1 tin1) is a 1990 Hong Kong independent action drama film directed by James Kung and Charles Cheung, and written by and Jenny Kawaye. Inspired by the 1969 Iraqi film Defense, he film stars in the lead role of Vincent Leung Ho-Yuen, a divorced and unemployed former defense engineer. The film centers on Leung as he treks on foot across the city of Kowloon, trying to reach the house of his estranged ex-wife in time for his daughter's birthday. Along the way, a series of encounters, both trivial and provocative, causes him to react with increasing violence and make sardonic observations on life, poverty, the economy, and commercialism.

Produced by Jones Films in association with Mu Zhong Film Co., Ltd. (now known as Hemu-Hemu, Peruru & Puar Films Co., Ltd.), A Day of Fury was released by Golden Flare Pictures in Hong Kong on June 3, 1990, to generally positive reviews. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Plot
Cody Leung Ho-Yuen is stuck in traffic on a hot day. After his air conditioning fails, he abandons his car and begins walking home across Kowloon, carrying his briefcase.

At a convenience store, the Vietnamese owner, Mr. Nguyen, refuses to give change for a telephone call. Leung begins ranting about the high prices; the owner grabs a baseball bat and demands Leung leave. Leung takes the bat, and destroys much of the merchandise before leaving. Shortly thereafter, while resting on a hill, he is accosted by two gang members who threaten him with a knife and demand his briefcase. Leung attacks them with the bat, and takes their knife.

The two gang members, now in a car with two friends, cruise the streets and find Leung in a phone booth. They open fire, hitting several bystanders but not Leung. The driver loses control and crashes. Leung picks up a gun, shoots the one surviving gang member in the leg, and then leaves with their bag of weapons. Leung encounters a panhandler, and gives him the briefcase in which only contains his lunch.

At a Chinese restaurant, Leung attempts to order breakfast, but finds they have just switched to the lunch menu less than 5 minutes ago. After an argument with the manager, Leung pulls a gun and fires into the ceiling accidentally. After trying to reassure the frightened employees and customers, he orders lunch, but is annoyed when the sesame balls look nothing like the one shown on the menu. He leaves, tries to call from a phone booth, then shoots the booth to pieces after being hassled by someone who was waiting to use the phone. After Leung calls "home" again and states his intention to attend his daughter Jennifer's birthday party, his ex-wife Chan Tan-Ling notifies the police because she has a restraining order, as she feared he might become violent.

Sergeant Ip Mun-Ting, who is on his last day before being forced into retirement by his dominating wife and routinely a subject of scorn and ridicule by his colleagues, insists on investigating the crimes. Interviews with the witnesses at each scene lead Ip to realize that the same person may be responsible. Leung's "D-FENS" vanity license plate proves to be an important lead, because Ip remembers being in the same traffic jam as Leung earlier that day. Ip and his partner, Detective Shek Wai-Yuk, visit Leung's mother, who is surprised to learn that Leung lost his job. They realize Leung is heading toward his former family's home in Tsim Sha Tsui and rush to intercept him.

Leung passes a bank where a businessman is protesting after being rejected for a loan application. The man exchanges a glance with Leung and says "don't forget me" as he is escorted away by the police. Leung stops at a military surplus store to buy a new pair of shoes. The owner, a white supremacist, diverts Shek's attention when she comes in to ask questions. After she leaves, he offers Leung a rocket launcher, congratulates him for shooting "a bunch of Asians" at the Wong Hui Leong Restaurant, and says that they are the same. Leung dislikes his racism, and replies that "We're not the same: I'm a Hong Kongese, and you're a sick jerk". The white supremacist draws a gun, attempting to handcuff Leung and turn him over to the police; Leung stabs him with the gang member's knife and shoots him dead. He changes into army fatigues and boots, and leaves with the rocket launcher.

He encounters a road repair crew, who are not working, and accuses them of doing unnecessary repairs to justify their budget. He pulls out the rocket launcher, but struggles to use it, until a boy explains how it works. Leung accidentally fires the launcher, blowing up the construction site. He crosses through a private golf course, frightening an elderly golfer into a heart attack, and also briefly holds a family hostage while dodging the police. By the time he reaches Chan's house, she has already fled with Jennifer. He realizes that they may have gone to nearby Kowloon Public Pier, but Ip and Shek arrive before he can go after them. Leung shoots Shek, injuring her, and flees with Ip in pursuit.

At the end of the pier, Leung encounters his ex-wife and daughter. Jennifer is happy to see him, but Chan is frightened. Ip arrives and acknowledges Leung's complaints about being ill-treated by society (revealing his own grief over his child dying from SIDS), but does not accept that as an excuse for the criminal rampage. With Leung distracted, Chan kicks the gun away as Ip draws his revolver, insisting that Leung give himself up. Leung instead pulls a water gun Jennifer was playing with earlier, tricking Ip into shooting him dead. Ip, finally asserting himself, opts to hold off on his retirement afterwards.

Cast

 * as Cody Leung Ho-Yuen
 * as Sergeant Ip Mun-Ting
 * as Chan Tan-Ling
 * as Detective Shek Wai-Yuk
 * as Ip Yu-Sum
 * as Bob
 * as Leung's mother
 * Leslie Ching as Jennifer Leung-Chan
 * Phùng Quang Thạch as Mr. Nguyen
 * as Captain Tsui Tik-Kwan
 * as Detective Poon Ka-Lok
 * as Detective John
 * as Cedric
 * Brian Powers as Richard
 * as Peggy Leo

Additionally, Daryl Lee, who voices Monga from in the Hong Kong Cantonese dub and Golden Harvest-animated productions, portrays as the man holding the "Not Economically Viable" sign. Alvin Ko portrays as the construction sign man by the bus stop. Lester Leighton portrays the white supremacist. Eric Derryberry portrays the boy assisting Leung and explaining how the rocket launcher works.