The Dragon Family

The Dragon Family

Year: 1988

Runtime: 91 mins

Language: Cantonese

ActionCrime

Rival Triad gangs go to war…

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Dragon Family (1988)

Trace every key event in The Dragon Family (1988) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Lung declares intent to retire from drugs

Lung Ying, patriarch of the Lung family, announces he will quit the drug trade and pursue legitimate business. No. 3 and No. 4 follow his lead, signaling a potential shift in Triad power. White Wolf, however, continues his illegal dealings, setting the stage for tension within the family.

Opening sequence Lung family compound
2

Allan tasked to kill Golden Teeth Shing and flee

Lung sends his hitman and adopted son Allan to kill Wolf's drug underling, Golden Teeth Shing. After the hit, Lung orders Allan to hide in Taiwan to stay ahead of the police. The mission marks Allan's first brutal assignment tied to the ongoing power struggle.

Soon after the decision to reform Lung's base / Wolf's territory
3

Wolf's rage and Kui's betrayal revealed

White Wolf learns of the attempted hit and becomes furious, dialing up Tsui to coordinate a response. Kui pleads for mercy over the missing HK$5 million, only to be exposed as colluding with Tsui. The betrayal deepens the rift between the four families and sets the stage for further violence.

Shortly after the hit Wolf's wood factory / hideout
4

Ka-yip drawn into the cocaine scheme

Ka-yip, Lung's second son, is drawn into the cocaine operation as Tsui and Kui exploit his casino debt. He becomes entangled in shipping drugs through Lung's container terminal. The lure pulls a family member deeper into the violent power struggle.

Soon thereafter Lung's container terminal
5

Trap on Ka-yip and prelude to a meeting

Tsui and Kui set a trap to pressure Lung into action and to justify Wolf's next move. They orchestrate a meeting with the other patriarchs at Wolf's wood factory in Cha Kwo Ling. The trap tightens the net around Lung and his sons.

Pre-meeting setup Wolf's wood factory, Cha Kwo Ling
6

Factory confrontation escalates; Lung stabs himself

Lung arrives at the factory with his bodyguard Po, while Wolf demands he kill Ka-yip on the spot. Believing his son has been framed, Lung stabs himself and asks for two days to investigate, but Wolf refuses. Kui stirs the tension as the confrontation spirals toward violence.

During the meeting Wolf's wood factory
7

Ka-wai arrives; Lung dies in the clash

Ka-wai bursts in with Sek and clashes with Wolf's henchmen, while Kui tightens his hold on Lung. In the struggle, Lung is stabbed in the chest and dies, his death watched by his sons and the wavering loyalties of the men around him. The family fissure widens at the hospital afterward.

Moments after the confrontation Wolf's wood factory
8

Lung's death and Tsui plans revenge

In the hospital, Ka-wai confronts Ka-yip as Po and Sek try to break up the brawl. Lung dies with his dying wish that his sons not seek revenge, while Tsui and Kui immediately begin plotting to purge the remaining Triad bosses and consolidate power under Wolf. The heat of vengeance now drives the next acts of violence.

Shortly after the factory incident Hospital
9

Funeral massacre confirms a new blood feud

At Lung's funeral, No. 3 and No. 4 arrive with Sergeant Fung to pay respects before Wolf and his gang launch a brutal massacre of the funeral parlour. Ka-wai and Bill clash amid the chaos, and Ka-wai is fatally wounded by Wolf's men while Bill is killed in the melee. Tsui's treachery is revealed as the power shift erupts into close-quarters violence.

Funeral day Funeral parlour
10

Ka-chung's escape and safehouse

Po escorts Ka-chung from the airport and informs him of the massacre. Ka-chung is sent to a safehouse while Tsui's henchmen hunt him, and Po is killed when Tsui's men crash his car. The youngest brother slips into Taiwan to regroup for the next move.

Night after funeral Airport / roadblock / safehouse
11

Ka-chung and Allan reunite in Taiwan

Ka-chung finds Allan in Taiwan and they decide to return to Hong Kong to confront Tsui together. Allan bids farewell to his girlfriend before rejoining Ka-chung for the mission ahead. The two brothers prepare to challenge the drug network back home.

Shortly after Taiwan
12

Return to Hong Kong and Tsui's shadow

Ka-chung and Allan head back to Hong Kong and begin tailing Tsui as he campaigns for district council. Ka-wah continues to support their mother by running a pimp operation, highlighting the family’s continued grasp on crime. The pursuit begins in earnest.

After Allan's departure Hong Kong
13

Mother on the boat; Tsui's henchmen strike

Ka-wah leads Ka-chung and Allan to their mother on a boat, hoping to reunite the family. Tsui's henchmen set the boat on fire, and their mother is burned alive as the trio watches in horror. The tragedy consolidates the trio's resolve for revenge.

After reconnection with mother Boat / harbor
14

Kui captured and brought to Tsui

Ka-wah, Ka-chung and Allan track Kui to a bar and capture him, forcing him to lead them to Tsui. The capture marks the turning point that brings the trio directly into Tsui's drug factory and the final showdown. Kui's fate now hinges on the trio's ability to reach Tsui.

After mother’s death Bar
15

Final showdown at Tsui's drug factory

Kui leads them to Tsui's drug factory where a fierce gunfight erupts on the upper floors. Ka-wah and Ka-chung fight Tsui while Allan clashes with a foreign buyer; a flaming bottle hurled by Allan ignites Tsui, sending him to his death. The four-family power is settled in a blaze of violence.

Final confrontation Tsui's drug factory

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:24

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