The Tigers

The Tigers

Year: 1991

Runtime: 110 mins

Language: Cantonese

CrimeActionDramaThriller

Cops find their careers and their lives in jeopardy when they spend a gangster’s bribe money after releasing him from custody during a drug bust.

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Timeline & Setting – The Tigers (1991)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Tigers (1991). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Hong Kong

The story unfolds across Hong Kong’s dense urban landscape, moving between shipyards, discos, police stations, and luxury hotels. The city’s crowded streets and port areas provide a backdrop for a web of crime, loyalty, and power struggles among police, triads, and corrupt officials. Key locations include a shipyard raid, a disco bar where deals go down, and the Volvo Hotel where the final confrontation unfolds.

🏙️ Hong Kong 🔪 Crime-ridden Streets 💼 Corruption 🕵️ Police and ICAC

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

Main Characters – The Tigers (1991)

Meet the key characters of The Tigers (1991), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Thief / Lau Chi-Ming

A veteran sergeant in Tin's CID squad, nicknamed Thief for his street-smart toughness. He first seizes the cash with other officers and contemplates sharing it, then drifts into a cover-up that culminates in a deadly confrontation. He ultimately shoots Tung and then kills himself, choosing to bear all responsibility.

🔎 Loyalty 💼 Corruption 🚓 Police

Dandruff / Tau-Pi

A hot-headed sergeant who games the system alongside Thief, contributing to the bribery and manipulation. He joins the cover-up but clashes with Pong’s strict morals. He is a key participant in the pursuit of Tung, with his fate left unresolved in the summary.

🔥 Impulsiveness 💼 Corruption 🚓 Police

Wah

A principled sergeant who resists false testimonies and fights to uphold the law. He collaborates in the anti-corruption efforts but is ultimately killed by Tung during the climactic hotel sequence, highlighting the human cost of the case.

🎯 Integrity 💼 Corruption ⚖️ Justice

Fong Heung-Tung

Tin’s brother-in-law who becomes entangled in Wai’s schemes. He pleads with Tin to release Wai, then flees with a bag of cash and colludes with the criminals to protect his own greed.

💼 Greed 🧭 Betrayal 🏦 Money-and-power

Shirley

Tin’s estranged daughter, who reconnects with her father as the case unfolds. She represents family ties and emotional stakes amid a world of corruption, serving as a quiet counterbalance to the violence around them.

👨‍👧 Family 💔 Estrangement

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

Major Themes – The Tigers (1991)

Explore the central themes of The Tigers (1991), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚖️ Corruption

The film centers on systemic corruption within police ranks and its collusion with triads. A police squad is tempted by stolen cash, and false testimonies are used to shield criminals as ICAC investigations loom. The narrative shows how power and money corrupt judgment, eroding trust and justice.

🕵️ Investigation

ICAC pressure, coercive testimonies, and covert informants drive the pursuit of truth. Tung’s threats to expose the squad propel a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game, leading to traps and confrontations that force the criminals to reveal their secrets. The investigation gradually unveils the depth of the wrongdoing.

💔 Sacrifice

Loyalty clashes with morality as characters choose between self-preservation and responsibility. Tin sacrifices himself to protect others, and Thief ultimately honors his vow to bear all responsibility, resulting in a climactic confrontation that ends in tragedy.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

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Unlock the Full Story of The Tigers

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Tigers 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 The Tigers is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Tigers Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Tigers, 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.

The Tigers Summary

The Tigers Timeline

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The Tigers Timeline

More About The Tigers

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More About The Tigers

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