My Hong Kong | After John Wick: Chapter 4, Donnie Yen should be made a global ambassador for Hong Kong to lead a surge in the city’s international prominence
- Donnie Yen’s stand-out appearance in John Wick 4 – and Keanu Reeves’ replication of Yen’s Cantonese dialogue – presents an excellent opportunity for Hong Kong
- It will be interesting to see how the government uses the phenomenon to increase the city’s visibility – could the next John Wick film even be set here?
Current Hollywood blockbuster John Wick: Chapter 4 features Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen playing “Caine”, a foul-mouthed, blind assassin. His role catapults the city back into the international spotlight and is no doubt a significant moment for the Cantonese language, too.
It has been many years since I last heard an entire cinema audience burst out in spontaneous laughter but when Yen uttered one particular profanity, and Keanu Reeves – who plays the titular role – copied it in his well-known minimalist style, that was exactly what happened.
It will be interesting to see how far Yen’s swearing will take the Cantonese language in terms of global visibility, but so far it has certainly drawn a welcome bit of attention.
The exact line Yen uses – ham gaa caan – is one of the most common swear phrases in Hong Kong, and translates as “May your entire family be bulldozed”. While the curse is not particularly vulgar, its intention – to send your loved ones to the grave – can be considered rather mean-spirited.
While the use of profanity in movies is a risky move, it can be effective if executed correctly. In the case of John Wick 4, Yen’s use of a moderate Cantonese expletive has added value to the movie, lending a sense of realism and honesty to the character he portrays through the authenticity of language.
