Movie Digest
Da Chuan is a Chinese factory worker who fixes train accessories. He knows that he will lose his job soon. His only saving grace is the forty-thousand Yuan he’ll receive as compensation on account of his redundancy, which is just enough for him to afford open a small grocery shop that will provide a stable income for his growing family. Things go south when he’s spotted outside his workplace during a late-night robbery. He is accused of being the perpetrator, which causes him to lose his right to compensation. While the director believes in his innocence, the others don’t. He soon becomes an amateur detective to find the actual perpetrator to clear his name from a crime he did not commit but faced the consequences of.
The Feel-Good Part
The setting of the film fits the story quite well. The cinematography and the score of the film add to the cold and dreary tone of the film, which provides an immersive viewing experience for the audience. The film maintains a balance between all the genres it delves into. It goes from a crime thriller to drama quickly and smoothly while maintaining its focus on the core concept of the film, which is admirable. The director knows when to use subtlety to take the movie forward and when to dial up the suspense, which makes for an engaging viewing experience. The film takes a realistic approach and shows the daily lives of the people living in the region, which makes for a great backdrop for a plot like this to play out.
The Disappointing Factor
The film relies too much on exposition through dialogue, which can get frustrating to watch as the audience might want to see the suspense play out rather than hear about it through the characters. The dialogue is quite dull and leaves little to be desired as there are no lines that pack punches, which is disappointing for a story where a man is on a mission to clear his name from a crime.
In-Depth Analysis
The film’s highlight is its treatment of a simple story. The director is not afraid to play with different genres and tones to tell a simple story, which is quite refreshing to watch as these days, the plot of films get more complex, but the execution is often mediocre. The movie is quite enjoyable for the most part, it may feel like it’s dragging sometimes because of the dialogue, but it still manages to impress viewers.
Star Power
All the performances were excellent. The cast delivers their respective characters with nuance, which made the audience connect with the characters well. The performance of each actor is subtle, which lets the realistic aspect of the film shine.
Overall Opinion
People who enjoy realistic films with a twist will have a great time watching this. It’s a short film that manages to keep the audience hooked throughout the run-time and doesn’t demand too much from the audience in terms of commitment.
