A Touch of Sin

Jia Zhangke’s latest offering cannot be compared with his usually so patient and quiet movies. Here he serves up quite a different dish; this time his social critique is jam-packed with action. These four episodes tell of which drastic measures the antagonists resort to, seemingly out of necessity, in a modern China. And if it looks too crazy to believe, remember that Jia based the stories on real-life cases he found in the news. So although this film contains brutal action, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from - the core is still the Chinese identity amid big picture politics. Jia seems to be warning us about what China could become, if the greedy can continue to prey on people’s trust. gil

Suitable for persons 15 years and older.

Jia Zhangke (b. 1970) has been one of the most interesting directors in China the last fifteen years. He started off making underground films, but since 2004 he has been supported by the state. His films are often based on the society in his home province Shanxi. He received the Golden Lion in Berlin for the film Still Life (2006).