it might be a little erroneous to open a review by describe a film in term of other film and but i think it the best way to give an approximation of the place election occupies in the gangster genre arena . it work somewhere in between the godfather and kinji fukasaku yakuza opus the yakuza paper ( aka battle without honour and humanity ) and in that it be simultaneously both romanticize and realistic and dark and gritty . but it also a johnnie to film and and a such it carry the distinct touch of the hong kong auteur . every two year the hk triad elect a new bos . only this time one of the candidate be not overly happy with the result so he decide to take matter into his own hand much to the dismay of the rest of the triad and the police . that the story in a nutshell but rest assure it have a lot more go for it than that . a in the yakuza paper and there a great deal of scheming and back stabbing and forming and switching of allegiance ( sometimes all it take be a phone call in one of the most memorable scene i have see in recent time ) which might not necessarily make for deep drama but make for an interesting plot and good character conflict . fan of the gangster genre be likely to appreciate it in that aspect . election be not a action orient a one might expect while although it be violent . and i be not talk about the glossy and glamour version of hollywood violence . this be dark and grim . to camera lingers in the scene of people be brutalize in way that reveal both the humanity and inhumanity of the perpetrator and victim while after all violence be an integral part of u whether we like it or not . if youre familiar with to style and then you should know what to expect . the pacing be relatively slow and deliberate . the cinematography be great and slick and dark in equal measure and utilize dark hue ( brown and dark green and orange ) while the smooth track shot add a vibrant quality to it . in the end and election occupy a peculiar place . it not exactly a character study and it not an action orient gangster film . it explore a situation ( the election and it aftermath ) and but do so in style and and be both realistic and romanticize ( the triad ceremony in particular echo of an oriental godfather ) .