Academy Award nominee David Bradbury pulls no punches as he epitomises the discrepancies between the poor and the privileged. Nevertheless, it is clear from the beginning of the film that not all support Castells’ revolution. Although not averse to their cause, many believe that Castells and his members are disruptive. As Argentina’s Robin Hood, Castells’ actions create mixed feelings’is he brash or is his seeming wilfulness necessary to get the job done?

The documentary’s pace is at times frustrating, although arguably augmenting the audience’s grasp of the waiting game between Castells and the government in which responses are rare and scheduled meetings are stood up.

Bradbury’s message is clear; Argentina is in urgent need of an economic and political reformation to alleviate the dire circumstances of its poor and unemployed. However, the film inevitably questions the effectiveness of such revolutionaries as Castells and their success.

With the exception of some agonisingly long scenes, the documentary provides a frightening insight into the politics of poverty and a man whose driving force remains the hardships of his comrades.

There are no adrenaline-pumping chopper scenes and wild street-chases typical of Hong Kong gangster movies. The Young and Dangerous series, one of Hong Kong’s much-loved triad films, seems brash by comparison. Johnnie To abandons B-grade irrationality and madness for calculated bludgeoning, making these acts even more unnerving, cold-blooded and vile.

Nick Cheung is excellently cast as the nae’ve Jet and his understated performance, both pathetic and painful, contributes unmistakably to the mood of the film. Simon Yam’s amicability adds depth to the sly crocodile which hides behind the ready smile, quick to snap at his enemies’ bones when they threaten his territory.

It is the juxtaposition of timidity and bravery, fear and ambition that organises To’s film. To asks hard questions here: if survival were the sole purpose of human existence, to what extent would one go, and at what cost is harmonious living achieved in the post-1997 new world order? One of Communism’s foundations remains prevalent: the individual must not impede on the well-being of society. To asks us to consider the inner workings of a nation and what is at stake when territoriality becomes uncertain.