Flaming Brothers

Flaming Brothers

Year: 1987

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: Cantonese

RomanceActionCrime

Bound by a strict code of honour, two blood brothers raised on the streets of Macau cling to each other while navigating a ruthless underworld. Their loyalty pulls them deeper into violent turf wars, and as they attempt to break free, the same bond forces them into a brutal, tragic clash.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Flaming Brothers yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Flaming Brothers (1987)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Flaming Brothers (1987). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The story unfolds over several years, tracing the brothers’ ascent, conflicts, and losses as crime and loyalty shape their fates across Macau, Thailand, and Hong Kong. The narrative relies on shifting borders and street life rather than explicit calendar dates to set its temporal mood.

Location

Macau, Thailand, Hong Kong

Macau serves as the gritty backdrop for the brothers’ rise in the underworld, with crowded streets, docks, and casino-lit nights. The city is a nexus for cross-border crime, from arms deals in Thailand to tense confrontations in its streets and institutions. Churches and schools anchor personal stories amid the violence, grounding the drama in real, lived spaces.

🎭 Drama 🔫 Crime 🌆 Urban

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Main Characters – Flaming Brothers (1987)

Meet the key characters of Flaming Brothers (1987), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Wing / Chan Wai Lun (Alan Tang)

A charismatic street-smart leader who rises to triad leadership alongside Tin. His fierce ambition drives much of the plot, and his loyalty to his brother is tested by power, rivals, and betrayal. He is quick to calculate risk and willing to cross lines for advantage when needed.

🔥 Ambitious 💪 Loyal 🗡️ Ruthless

Tin (Chow Yun-Fat)

Street-smart and fiercely loyal to his brother, Tin dreams of a better life but is drawn into the underworld’s violence. His love for Ho Ka-hei and his desire for peace pull him toward moments of restraint, clashing with Alan’s drive for power. His choices create personal and collective costs for everyone around him.

💪 Loyal 🕊️ Peace-seeker 🔥 Impetuous

Kao (Patrick Tse Yin)

A cunning triad boss who manipulates alliances and trusts to advance his own power. He orchestrates confrontations, uses others as pawns, and keeps the grip on the city through calculated moves. His strategic mind drives the war and tests Tin and Alan at every turn.

🗡️ Calculating 💼 Power 🤫 Deceptive

Ho Ka-hei (Tin's Wife)

A compassionate presence who feeds Tin and his friends and offers a glimpse of a peaceful life. She inspires Tin to leave crime behind, sparking conflict with Alan over loyalty and love. Her relationship with Tin represents hope amid violence, and her choices carry significant personal cost.

💖 Compassionate 🕊️ Hope 👊 Courage

Jenny (Jenny Tseng)

A Macau singer who becomes Alan’s love interest, adding a romantic dimension to the brothers’ world. Her presence heightens the stakes and humanizes the brothers’ struggles. She dies while protecting Alan, underscoring the toll violence takes on those they hold dear.

🎤 Performer 💘 Romantic 🕯️ Sacrifice

Chiu (Norman Tsui Siu-Keung)

A loyal underling of Ko Lo-sei, drawn into the power struggles that define the city’s underworld. His actions contribute to the escalating cycle of violence and retaliation. Chiu’s role highlights how subordinates become pawns in the triad wars.

⚔️ Underling 🗡️ Violence

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Major Themes – Flaming Brothers (1987)

Explore the central themes of Flaming Brothers (1987), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👬 Brotherhood

Alan and Tin pledge to be brothers, forming a bond that sustains them through poverty and crime. Their loyalty is tested by rival gangs, betrayal, and the lure of power. The film uses their relationship to explore loyalty, family, and the costs of choosing family over peace. Ultimately, the brothers’ kinship drives both ambition and tragedy.

💥 Power

The duo rises to triad leadership, maneuvering through alliances and betrayals. Strategic gambits and violent clashes push the plot forward and escalate the stakes. Power in the story is seductive yet corrosive, revealing how quickly trust erodes under pressure. The warfare ends only with devastating losses that redefine what they fight for.

💖 Love

Tin’s love for Ho Ka-hei and Alan’s romance with Jenny add humanity to the brutal world. These relationships offer solace and motivation but also compel costly sacrifices. Love creates tension between loyalty to kin and desire for a peaceful life away from crime. The movie uses romance to highlight the human costs of violence.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:25

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Flaming Brothers

Don't stop at just watching — explore Flaming Brothers in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Flaming Brothers is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Flaming Brothers Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Flaming Brothers, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Flaming Brothers Summary

Flaming Brothers Timeline

Track the full timeline of Flaming Brothers with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Flaming Brothers Timeline

More About Flaming Brothers

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Flaming Brothers: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Flaming Brothers

Explore More About Movie Flaming Brothers

Flaming Brothers (1987) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

Flaming Brothers (1987) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline

Flaming Brothers (1987) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow