UnDeR20 SS25 Prison On Fire Vintage Washed Tee

 Prison on Fire (1987) is a classic Hong Kong crime drama that had a major influence on TenGuSan, the founder of our brand. The film received seven nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards and starred Chow Yun-fat—then at the peak of his fame—alongside Leung Ka-fai, who had just been released from a politically motivated industry blacklist.

One of the film’s iconic scenes shows Leung Ka-fai’s character being processed upon entering prison. We adapted a still from this scene in a bold pop-art style: his mouth is sealed, but his eyes burn with fire—echoing the film’s English title Prison on Fire. The number “51910” on the shirt represents the prisoner ID of his character.On the back is the film’s most iconic line. In the film, Chow Yun-fat, playing a prisoner, roars at the brutal prison guard portrayed by Tommy Wong:“Just because I speak loudly doesn’t mean I’m being disrespectful, Sir!” Back then, this line sparked a range of interpretations. Today, it invites us to ask — what might it mean now?

There's also a compelling story behind the movie. In 1983, Leung Ka-fai was blacklisted in Taiwan for starring in a mainland Chinese film (Reign Behind a Curtain). At that time, Taiwan was a key market for Hong Kong cinema, and the political climate led to bans on artists collaborating with the mainland. After winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor, Leung refused to apologize, choosing instead to stand firm. With few acting opportunities, he reportedly resorted to street vending to make a living. In 1986, thanks to intervention by Chow Yun-fat and Ti Lung, the ban was lifted and Leung returned to the big screen. In 1987, Chow brought his “little brother” back into the spotlight by co-starring in Prison on Fire. The deep brotherhood in the film mirrored their real-life bond—and the theme song Friendship Forever (Yau Yi Ji Gwong) leaves an unforgettable emotional resonance.