Story of Ricky - Louis Fan Siu-wong (1991) - Estabelecimento Prisional de Macau, Coloane

The main setting for the story is a prison and the film used the very real Macau prison (on Coloane, then called the "Estabelecimento Prisional Masculino") for the location filming. The prison looks brand new and this is most likely because that the crew probably shot there soon after its completion, but before it became operational, in 1990.

Having said that, it's obvious many of the interiors (and some exteriors) were studio sets. It might be possible to figure out some of the exteriors (such as Ricky's burial punishment scene, or the final [spoiler alert] wall breaking scene) but then again, it might not.

Story of Ricky - Louis Fan Siu-wong (1991) - Taipa-Coloane Causeway, Macau

One of the most over the top gratuitously gory and violent movies ever to come out of Hong Kong is Story of Ricky. Based on the Riki-Oh manga comic, it follows the trials and tribulations of convicted killer Ricky (Louis Fan), jailed for killing his girlfriend's rapist, as he finds himself in the middle of a corrupt and violent institute run by a sadistic warden and his assistant. Its Japanese comic origins explain why the violence is OTT but there was obviously a budgetary constraint involved and the crew did a fantastic job on what looks like limited resources. If there are any fans of Peter Jackson's Bad Taste reading this then you will appreciate the effects/FX in this film. 

The opening shots of the film are a bit of lost history because they were filmed on what was once the causeway (or isthmus) that connected Taipa to Coloane. It's historical because this place doesn't exist anymore, at least not in any recognisable form, since the reclamation between the two former islands - the Cotai Strip - joined them together. The route of this old causeway is still there but now supports the Estrada do Istmo, the main road that runs through the centre of the Cotai Strip.

It's hard to believe that the left hand side of the top image is now completely filled with garish casinos and hotels. Google Earth's Macau imagery is quite old now (2008), but you can still get a feel for the changes by looking at this similar view. 

The Thieves - Kim Yoon-seok (2012) - Largo Eduardo Marques, Coloane

The gang have commissioned a replica diamond so they can do the swap without it being immediately noticed. The package is delivered to a non-descript shop located under the arcade at Largo Eduardo Marques on Coloane. The yellow building is Francis Xavier Chapel.

Amor e Dedinhos de Pé - Joaquim de Almeida (1993) - Coloane Coast, Macau

I think there is time for one more film before this year ends. This next film is a Portuguese/Spanish/French co-production starring one of Portugal's most famous actors, Joaquim de Almeida. Based on a book by Henrique de Senna Fernandes, it was filmed in 1991 (according to the copyright mark in the credits) in Macau but not released until 1993.

The story follows Francisco Frontaria (Almeida) who is a rather reckless playboy from a well-to-do family. One day he turns up to a wealthy socialite wedding and insults the bride, causing him to be shunned by his friends and beaten to within an inch of his life by the groom's hired thugs. Now a pariah, he slowly slips into vagrancy before being rescued by the daughter (Ana Torrent) of a local doctor who recognises him under all the facial hair and skanky clothing. The film name comes from a scene where she treats his badly infected feet.

Someone has uploaded it toYoutube: https://youtu.be/6xtTO_4YXZM?si=vibBdsnPW4WdPd0t

I'm quite impressed by the set designers of this film, not just the period costumes but also the built sets including the main one below. This seemingly colonial-era house - replete with a rather nice exterior verandha overlooking the sea - appears to have been constructed specially for the movie, because its location, on the very southern tip of Coloane, is just a rocky beach. The only hint of it being fake is what seems to be a concrete base it sits on which is more visible in the last image. The land in the background is Mainland China because we are at Coloane's southern coastline here.

Pedicab Driver - Sammo Hung (1989) - Largo Eduardo Marques, Coloane

Staying on Coloane, the next scene shows the drivers stopping in front of St Xavier's church on Largo Eduardo Marques before they head back to Lilau Square for their evening meal where everything kicks off.

Pedicab Driver - Sammo Hung (1989) - Concrete Pier, Coloane

After their brush with the gangster boss and subsequent arrival at the gambling hall (via the window) and Sammo's - now classic - fight with Lau Kar-leung, the couple are next seen fishing at the concrete pier in Coloane village.

Pedicab Driver - Sammo Hung (1989) - Tam Kung Temple, Coloane

Malt Candy takes Siu Chiu to the Tam Kung Temple in Coloane. He's so infatuated with her that he waits around for her to finish her praying so he can take her back.

Pedicab Driver - Sammo Hung (1989) - Rua do Tassara, Coloane

Anyone who has made the effort to visit Coloane and try the delights sold by Lord Stow's Bakery may have passed this next location without even realising it. I know I have, many times. In the scene, Mang Hoi is collecting his fare from a passenger in front of an old Colonial building that is actually the local Coloane Health Centre (Posto de Saúde de Coloane). Lord Stow's is directly opposite by the way. Andi's blog has a recent image here.

The Last Time I Saw Macao - João Rui Guerra da Mata (2012) - Caverna de Morcegos, Macau

The secret hideout of the mysterious gang that Da Mata is trying to find more information about is located inside a seacave and he takes a boat there. There's a brief reference to Macao (one of several) here as he notices a pair of stockings floating in the water and wonders if they are the same ones discarded by Jane Russell (there's scene in that film where she discards some stockings over the side of the ferry). Anyway, the exterior of the hideout is a real sea cave off the east side of Coloane and it's called the Caverna de Morcegos (second image) and we also see a bit of the rugged coastline there (a rare sight in Macau).

The Last Time I Saw Macao - João Rui Guerra da Mata (2012) - Largo do Cais, Macau

The story moves on a few metres to the Largo do Cais - the main square on Coloane where the old ferry pier is located (these days Taipa and Coloane, formerly two separate islands, have been merged via the Cotai Strip). As with the rest of the film, the footage appears to be candid stuff of the locals going about their business, incorporated into the story via the post-production soundtrack. In this case we are led to believe that the shop owners here are all members of the mysterious gang that has been after Da Mata and his friend Cindy throughout the film.

If you have been following this blog for a while you may recall this same area stood in for Brasil many years ago for the opening scenes of Largo Winch. You can see the same blue/green corrugated iron shack in both films (image 3).

The Last Time I Saw Macao - João Rui Guerra da Mata (2012) - Estrada de Lai Chi Vun, Macau

The story moves to Coloane and we get a nice overview of the shipyards that back onto Estrada de Lai Chi Vun (top image).

The Last Time I Saw Macao - João Rui Guerra da Mata (2012) - Vila de Nossa Senhora, Macau

The Vila de Nossa Senhora are a cluster of old houses located on Coloane. Nearby is the Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Dores (Our Lady of Sorrows Church), the Catholic church that used to use the houses for the treatment of local lepers. The houses had been sitting, rotting and falling apart for many years but were quite distinctive with their verandahs - smaller versions of the houses that make up the Taipa Houses Museum on Taipa. It seems that someone in the Macau Govt took note and they have recently undergone some renovation and decoration (looks like one might now be a cafe, but I'm not sure as I have never been and currently can't go).

They can be seen (pre-renovation) after Da Mata has found the cave-like hideout of the mysterious gang that are after him and Cindy. Although there is another brief shot later in the film which features the view from the church looking up towards the houses (last image).

Vengeance - Johnny Hallyday (2009) - Macau Bus Stop C664 - Estrada de Cheoc Van, Coloane

Although I enjoyed this film, my familiarity with many of the locations made it hard for me to determine if the action was supposed to be taking part in Hong Kong or Macau - confusing because many of the supposedly Macau-set scenes were filmed in HK.

The only reason I know the last post is supposed to be set in Macau is because it ends with Anthony Wong and Co catching a bus to their final showdown from a bus stop in Cheoc Van on Coloane Island in Macau. In the grab below, Wong is supposedly looking back at the beach where he has left Hallyday in the care of Wong's girlfriend (played by Michelle Ye).

Anyway, for the exact location of this bus stop you can click on the location link at the bottom of the post.

Challenge of the Tiger - Bruce Le (1982) - Hac Sa Beach, Macau

Much of the latter part of the film was shot in Macau, but we go there a bit earlier than announced for a scene where Richard Harrison, playing the suave womanizing part of the partnership, is picked up on a beach by an enemy spy - wearing a red bikini...

The beach in question is Hac Sa beach on Coloane island - the southern most part of Macau. We been to Coloane previously on this blog (e.g the opening section of Largo Winch) but not to Hac Sa beach as far as I am aware.

In 1982, the Grand Coloane Resort (formerly the Westin Resort Macau - once managed by Starwood, it is now managed by the Harilela Group) had yet to be built, as had the row of houses along the southern headland of the bay giving the beach a much more unspoilt and rugged look. Actually, if you look at the second picture you can see some excavation going on at the cliff side in the background - it looks like the formation work for the resort was underway by 1982.

Around the World in 80 Days - Pierce Brosnan (1989) - Coloane, Macau

When Fogg and the princess arrive in Yokohama, they finally catch up with Passepartout who has joined an acrobatic troupe. In reality, Yokohama is in fact the village of Coloane in Macau. The main scenes were filmed in Largo Eduardo Marques - the famous square that houses the Chapel of St Francis Xavier. In fact you can see the chapel at the back of picture 3, with its recognisable "天主堂" script just visible above the picture of Mt. Fuji.

The last picture is facing back towards the harbour and the set is obviously there to cover up the obelisk that sits in front of the square.

Largo Winch - Tomer Sisley (2008) - Coloane Part 3 - Rua Dos Navegantes, Macau

Immediately after escaping the scuffle on a motorbike, the pair race down the nearby road, Rua Dos Navegantes. You can see the same crooked tree in the background of the Streetview grab as well.

At the end of this section of road is a small circular piazza next to the local temple (Sam Shing Temple). In the film a car pulls out and they narrowly avoid it. Notice the tarpaulin behind it - our Streetview images reveal what was behind there. I'm not sure if it's a new building or just being renovated when the film crew passed by.

After a rather fast chase through various roads and small lanes inside Coloane Village itself (the locations of which I can't exactly confirm due to the lack of Streetview and other photography) the pair eventually stop next to a small hut with green railings on the front. It just so happens this spot is in the same small round piazza where they just avoided crashing into the car (above). I can't get a better angle on Streetview though.