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Man of the Times
Movie

Man of the Times

1993 • Unknown

Woke Score
1.4
out of 10

Plot

A look at the life and times of Chan Chi Chiu--an ambitious cop's journey to become the highest ranking officer in Hong Kong.

Overall Series Review

Man of the Times is a Hong Kong crime satire focused on the rampant corruption and power struggles within the Hong Kong Police Force during the late British colonial era. The story follows ambitious male officers vying for the top spot, framing the narrative as a rivalry based on individual ambition and criminal enterprise rather than ideological conflict. Female characters are relegated to supporting roles, serving largely within the traditional dynamics of the crime genre. The film's critical focus is on the systemic immorality of a local institution, the police, and the personal failures of the men who run it. It contains none of the specific, identity-focused political or social messaging found in contemporary Western media.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics1/10

The entire cast is ethnically Chinese and the conflict is a rivalry among Hong Kong police officers for power. Character advancement depends purely on political maneuvering and criminal effectiveness, which aligns with universal (though immoral) meritocracy. The narrative does not lecture on 'whiteness' or intersectional privilege.

Oikophobia3/10

The central premise is a satire on the extreme corruption and immorality of the Hong Kong Police Force during the 1960s-70s. This critiques a major institution of the 'home culture' and colonial system, framing it as fundamentally corrupt, which slightly elevates the score. The critique is focused locally on secular state power and not a broader deconstruction of Chinese heritage or Western civilization as a whole.

Feminism1/10

The core story is a male-centric power struggle. Female characters are relegated to supporting roles, with no 'Mary Sue' or 'Girl Boss' lead figure demanding cultural attention. The narrative does not contain anti-natalist or anti-family messaging; the focus remains on the men's crime and ambition.

LGBTQ+1/10

The plot is a straightforward crime drama about corruption and rivalry. The traditional male-female pairing is the normative structure, and there is no presence of alternative sexual ideology, gender theory lecturing, or centering of LGBTQ+ issues within the narrative.

Anti-Theism1/10

The conflict is entirely secular, dealing with police corruption and immorality. Traditional religion is neither a source of strength nor a root of evil. Morality is shown as subjective due to the characters' greed and hunger for power, but this is a focus on human vice, not a philosophical attack on objective or transcendent moral law.