Cast of violent Hong Kong gangster movie release fish at sea to improve karma

HONG KONG (AP) - A newspaper says the cast and director of a pair of violent gangster movies released 400 fish at sea in a Buddhist ceremony to improve their karma, after filming some bloody scenes.

Apple Daily newspaper ran a photo of director Johnnie To, actors Simon Yam, Louis Koo, Lam Ka-tung and Lam Suet lined up at the back of a boat, hands clasped in prayer position. Other pictures showed Koo clutching a basket of fish, preparing to dump them into the sea, and Yam removing a fish from a fish tank with a net.

Apple Daily quoted director To as saying the cast also set birds free when the sequel to Election, due out in Hong Kong Thursday, started filming.

"We're just doing what we're supposed to do," To reportedly said.

Election, shown in competition at Cannes last year, is the story of a gangster leadership race. Among its graphic scenes, one gang leader pounds a rival to death with a stone. In another scene, a gangster puts two fellow mobsters in wooden crates and rolls them down a mountain.

Election 2, which is screening out of competition at Cannes this year, is reportedly even bloodier, with cannibalism involved.

Milkyway Image, To's production company, didn't return calls seeking confirmation of the report.