Sparrow (Chinese: 文雀; pinyin: Wen que; Cantonese Yale: Man jeuk) is a 2008 Hong Kong caper film produced and directed by Johnnie To. The film stars veteran Milkyway Image cast and crew alumni Simon Yam, Lam Ka-Tung, Law Wing-Cheong and Kenneth Cheung as a small gang of pickpockets, with each member being mysteriously approached by a beautiful Taiwanese woman (Kelly Lin) with a hidden agenda.
Sparrow remained in pre-production for three years from 2005 to 2008, with To shooting the film in between other projects. The film was selected in competition at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival, premiering during the festival in February 2008. It was released in Hong Kong on 19 June 2008.
Kei (Simon Yam) is the experienced leader of a team of pickpockets.(Pickpockets are also known as "Sparrows" in Hong Kong slang). He enjoys a carefree lifestyle taking photos with his vintage Rolleiflex. One day a dashing beauty, Chun-Lei (Kelly Lin), suddenly appears in Kei's viewfinder. Kei is mesmerized. Every member of his team has an encounter with her.... But behind Chun-Lei's attractive facade lies a mysterious past and a mission to set herself free.
All around us flies the snow
Winter finds us moving slow
From a dark wood comes the sound
Of a tall tree falling down
Little sparrow, did you hear?
Wings of angels draw you near
Breath of winter chills the ground
Now a tall tree's fallen down
Little sparrow, did you weep?
Did you wake from restless sleep?
Was your heart then turned around
By a tall tree falling down?
From the dark wood comes the sound
Breath of winter chills the ground
Was your heart then turned around
Sparrow?
Little sparrow, still you fly
Still you gaze into the sky
Are you longing, do you yearn
For a tall tree to return?
All around us flies the snow
Winter finds us moving slow
From a dark wood comes the sound
(Lyrics, Music: Leitch, Triano)
Your feet still stuck in the snow, the tracks you made have disappered
I cannot wait to see you close your eyes tonight
Can you see me standing against the wall that you built for me?
The nails in my hands from all the lies you thought were true
I cannot wait for you, I will not wait for you my friend
I need to get some rest before I fall asleep again
(Refrain)
Sparrow will fly high above the wind that brought you here
Sparrow will fly
Sparrow will fly high above the wind that brought you here
Sparrow will fly
Oceans swell inside my mind
but never will your sun dry the pain
The picture in my wallet is fading once again
Oh, mother, does she know how much I want to be her?
I cannot wait for you, I will not wait for you my friend
I need to get some rest before I fall asleep again
(Refrain)
Sleep my child, your time has come
Flowers lay across your body
I guess I should have waited for the sun to break the day
When the evening like a sparrow
Folds down under its small wings
All the light bones and the feathers of the day
Only then in that moment
Stop the rushing and just hold me
Lay your hands where it hurts
And we'll leave it that way
I have often dreamt of angels
But I very rarely see them
But I know that they've been there
Because something smells like sky
In the rustle of their presence
It sounds a lot like your breathing
Sounds a lot like a promise
But I can't say why
I have searched all the wise and the unwise places
I have known the price of passion
And what solitude can buy
But it was you I was looking for in all those faces
Always you I was hoping for
When I closed my eyes
I will gather all the feathers
That collect up in the corners
All the risings and the fallings
In the quiet of the day
When you speak, there's a flutter
Of some winged thing stirring
Lay your head on my heart
narrow marrow
silent sparrow
secret serpentine smile
distant crying child
you're my lost little love
you're my lost little one
urgent arrow
arcane echo
my, my, my have we thrown
together apart
and together again
we will scatter friends
like the whistling wind
you can see me wave
same, i'm the same
but if i did
and i meet you there
you'll hold my hand
pretend you understand
that i'm just one man
still a boy perhaps
simple silent humble human being
we will scatter friends
like the whistling wind
you can see me wave
same, i'm the same
and eiffel towers
and distant isles
and ocean miles
and mountain wilds
and film stars
and restless charge
moving roaring
soaring gone, gone, gone
and with built-in lion ears
Sparrow, say that love's a game
Win or lose, it's all the same
If it leaves, it comes again
I don't understand
Never let her be too sure
That would be so immature
Keep her guessing, that's the way
To show you really love her
I'd like to stop these guessing games
If it's all the same to you
'Cause when they're done
If you are gone
You know you'll make me feel so bad now
Sparrow, sparrow, love's a game
I don't understand
I'd like to stop these guessing games
If it's all the same to you
'Cause when they're done
If you are gone
You know you'll make me blue
(Feel so bad now)
(You know you'll make me feel so bad now)
Sparrow, say it's time to go
If you care, don't let it show
Hide it so she'll never know
Then she can't hurt you
Sparrow
Who will love a little Sparrow?
Who's traveled far and cries for rest?
Not I, said the Oak Tree,
I won't share my branches with
no sparrow's nest,
And my blanket of leaves won't warm
her cold hreast.
Who will love a little Sparrow
And who will speak a kindly word?
Not I, said the Swan,
The entire idea is utterly absurd,
I'd be laughed at and scorned if the
other Swans heard.
Who wiIl take pity in his heart,
And who wiII feed a starving sparrow?
Not I, said the Golden Wheat,
I would if I could but I cannot I know,
I need all my grain to prosper and grow.
Who will love a little Sparrow?
Will no one write her eulogy?
I will, said the Earth,
For all I've created returns unto me,
From dust were ye made and dust ye shall be.
It's a load off my mind
Its no one that I can find
It's a load off my mind
It's no one that I can find
I am sick of the girl
Waiting in my shadow
I'm looking at the girl
Changing to a sparrow
I'll be your edge when you go down
It's a load off my mind
It's no one that I can find
It's a load off my mind
It's no one that I can find
I can't say another word
I know where you are at
You're running down my back
I know where you are at
You're running down my back
I will be your edge when you go down
Aching
To be a victim
I'm aching
To be a victim
I'm aching
To be a victim
I'm aching
To be a victim
I know where you are at
You are running down my back
I know where you are at
If I was not afraid to meet
Then I might live in peace
I'd give away my wooden ears
Help you teach your frozen lips to speak
You have not stolen here
But you can hardly sleep
The horns and shells you've gathered here
One day the one you battle might be me
Blackbird, go lost
I will bring her back to you in spring
She won't change at all
Let your sparrow fall to what might be
And when you've done your howling
And done with everything
If she is gone for months again
Will you still say you watch for sparrow wings
You have not stolen dear
But I can plainly see
The horns and shells you're holding here
One day the one you battle might be me
Blackbird, go lost
I will bring her back to you in spring
She won't change at all
Let your sparrow fall to what might be
She won't change at all
Let your sparrow fall
She won't change at all
Sometimes to synpathize sounds like
A tamborine in my mind
This precious time
Outside of my world
What would happen if I could
Be like a sparrow?
I would like you to draw a circle w/ a star
I would like you to be able to cry
I’ts a dream to get away
From the crimes we commit
I would like you to be able to tell them
Who came (x2)
Like a sparrow in my head
Like a sparrow when I’m afraid...
I would like you to be able to tell them that they are
I have walked these city streets alone
I found no comfort out here on my own
My feet get tired and my knees get weak
There's no one left to carry me
When there's no way in
And no way out
You'll hear me say
Keep my head on my pillow
When the walls all fall down
Save my tears for tomorrow
And keep my feet on the ground
Keep my hands off the wheel
When it's out of my control
And keep my eye on that sparrow
'Cause he knows the way home
The words you speak fall right off your tongue
They break my bones and the future comes undone
Between where you go and where I stand
Blows a hot angry wind
And I'm fading fast
'Cause I know we won't pass
This way Again
Keep my head on my pillow
When the walls all fall down
Save my tears for tomorrow
And keep my feet on the ground
Keep my hands off the wheel
When it's out of my control
And keep my eye on that sparrow
'Cause he knows the way home
Well maybe I'm weak
Maybe I think too much
But I know God and His angels
Are watching over us.
Keep my head on my pillow
When the walls all fall down
Save my tears for tomorrow
And keep my feet on the ground
Keep my hands off the wheel
When it's out of my control
And keep my eye on that sparrow
Accidentally on a date with destiny
And face to face you are afraid of cupid’s arrow
You’re running from my love like a wounded enemy
One shot doesn’t make you sick, little sparrow
Why won’t you be straight up with me?
Why?
Why won’t you be straight up with me?
I could never understand why the touch of my hand
didn’t transform your universe
I was waiting by the phone.
I studied your prose and verse
Had visions of us tumbling in the sky
Visions of us finding out all the reasons why-
I found my self on a date with destiny
Got shot then tried to break cupid’s arrow
Who needs love when you’ve got a wounded tendency
For swallowing up every sick little sparrow?
Why won’t you be straight up with me?
Any time now I know I’m going to hear you say
Why won’t you be straight up with me?
Are you frightened it’s going to hurt if I go ahead and
say:
I’ll be your baby doll, the one you hold a candle for
I’ll be your crazy love, the one you hold and can’t
ignore
I’ll be your vedic law, I’ll make your babies talk
Don’t you like searching for
Don’t you like searching more
Don’t you like searching for
I know you like running from
I’ll be your vedic law, I’ll make your babies talk
When I see you again
It's different like you said it's be
Differences I feel and the walls ahead of me
Like markers on my journey
I'm sick and tired of the thought of you
The complimenting way in which we lay
Why'd you come so close to me today?
My love is like a sparrow sittin' on the window sill
Listening to lovers time waiting to be filled
My love is like a sparrow dancing on the roof
Listening to lovers speak finding silent proof
My love is like a sparrow
Oh yes it is
And if I go in again
It's deeper like you said it'd be
Heightening the senses all around me
Like summer winds in bloom
I'm woozy from the thought of you
The complimenting way in which we lay
Sparrow calling me
Up high from the tallest tree
Sparrow calling
Wings to spread me though the seas
Take my side away
Setting suns won't take away
Rays so bright i'm blind.
Wasting all my time.
Sparrow calling me
up high from the tallest tree
Sparrow calling
Wings to spread me though the seas.
Send my touch a straight
Drifting farther from my fairest day
healing hands are far
can i readh that far
Sparrow calling me
up high from the tallest tree
Sparrow calling
Who will love a little sparrow?
Who's traveled far and cries for rest
"Not I", said the oak tree
"I won't share my branches with no sparrow's nest
And my blanket of leaves won't warm her cold breast"
Who will love a little sparrow?
And who will speak a kindly word
"Not I", said the swan
"The entire idea is utterly absurd
I'd be laughed at and scorned if the other swans heard"
Who will take pity in his heart?
And who will feed a starving sparrow?
"Not I", said the golden wheat
"I would if I could but I cannot I know
I need all my grain to prosper and grow"
Who will love a little sparrow?
Will no one write her eulogy?
"I will," said the earth
"For all I've created returns unto me
either way
you'll have to say "i'm sorry"
by the end
if the you i have is different
and bare is the state you bring.
bare is the slate you bring
spare you new love nothing.
love is the knife
we pulled out of our backs
i know the sound that it makes.
I used to hear a sparrow singing, baby
Oh, but one day as I went along
I didn't hear his song
But I know the sparrow should sing
Sing on such a morning in spring
Oh sparrow, why don't you sing
Sing to me, Oh sparrow come around
Come around why don't you can around
Sing about melody, oh melody
About the things you see
Anything you want to sing about
Just sing it on out now
Sing it on out
Let the world know what life's all about
Sing little sparrow sing
Sing little sparrow sing
Oh sing little sparrow
Won't you sing for me?
And for the rest of all my world
They'll appreciate it, I know
Everytime I'm feeling low I know
I can always count on you
Sing little sparrow
About the troubles you're in
Places you've been
You can sing, I know it
Dont you try to pretend
But sing while you're here
Sing a song my dear
Let me hear your song don't you be too cold
Sing little sparrow sing
I want you to sing little sparrow sing
I want you to sing little sparrow sing
Oh a pretty bird song
Sing to me let me hear your agony
Did you say May sucking up the lay
Sing to me of peace and love
Sing to me of God above
Sing, sparrow
Oh, sparrow sing
Sing to me about about mans and humanity
And all the injustice you see
Sing, sparrow
Sing little sparrow sing,
Sing about what to give
Sing about how to live
I want you to sing your true sparrow
Oh sparrow sing
Sing to me of jealousy
I've seen what it's all about
Sing it all out
Shout, little Sparrow
Oh sing at me
Sing me a, sing me a song
I wanna know what's wrong
Little bird tell me
Ah, sparrow
Sing, sparrow
Cause I wanna know
You sleep itty bitty pretty bird
Sing to me, before you go
Sing to me, Marvin Gaye
Before you fly away
Never stop singing, Sparrow
Till we hear your song
Song
Sing your song
Sing your song
On and on and on and on and on
On and on and on and on and on