It is peace after carnage. It is a depiction on the means-ends orientation of resolution to problems and a vivid portrayal of the cycle of equilibrium-disequilibrium-restoration to equilibrium in any form of entity, physical and social. It is also a motion representation of the theme of organised manipulation in any election & politics at large. The Chinese title applies to the finale, not the means whereas the means is the opposite. The film is thematically expressive, political & violent but visually restrictive in terms of violence. Johnnie To uses parallelism between Lok (Simon Yam) & Jimmy (Louis Koo) on their respective families. It also exhibits the restraining role of the female in a masculine dominant community in the diegesis. The use of high angle extreme long shots on the negotiation between Jimmy & the Chinese police chief at the Shenzhen-HK border at the epilogue (and the beginning as well) probably connotes the desire for a wider foresight on the long term political equilibrium.