Chinese Competition Films: Murder, Resilience & Sandstorms

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The Beijing International Film Festival’s 15th installment starts this coming Friday, featuring a competitive selection of 15 films among which are three locally produced Chinese movies.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that Chinese actor-director Jiang Wen, known for his roles in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Let the Bullets Fly,” is leading the jury for our main competition this year. It’s him who will be doling out the festival’s Tiantan Awards!

Here is THR‘s closer look at the three Chinese films in this year’s Beijing competition program.

Title Characterized as a Tribute to Female Resilience: Ma Li’s Portrayal of Bai Liping in “Hao Ming and Li Peiran’s Enhance Me, Empower You”

In this drama, the executive producer and actress Ma Li takes on the role of Bai Liping, a character that embodies female fortitude. The show, titled “Enhance Me, Empower You”, serves as a tribute to the strength and resilience in women.

The character, hailing from Northeastern China, who escapes a life marred by domestic violence to pursue a better life in the city, instead encounters numerous obstacles. In Beijing, she crosses paths with an isolated elderly woman named Tang Shuyin, played by Zhao Shuzhen. At first, they have their disagreements due to their differences, but as time passes, they develop an indestructible bond that encompasses both tender maternal-filial feelings and profound friendship, as described in the movie’s summary.

Spectators will find themselves immersed in a touching tale. Notably, the bond between these two characters transitions from contrasting perspectives to deep-rooted empathy, as showcased by the Beijing festival.

In the synopsis for the thriller titled “Trapped“, written by debutant director Sagara, we find a group of madmen, a whirlwind of sand, and a stack of cash clashing together under the impending shadow of a storm.

1. “The warning is to keep windows and doors shut, remain silent, and stay motionless.” In a secluded border village, an unexpected attack occurred by 44 heavily armed outlaws seeking money and lives. The town found itself in dire straits with no fuel or means of communication. There were merely three police officers and a lone firearm within the village.

2. “The warning tells you to shut your windows and doors, keep quiet, and stay put.” In a distant border settlement, a group of 44 heavily armed outlaws, who aimed for both riches and lives, suddenly launched an attack. The entire town was thrown into chaos with no fuel or communication available. There were only three police officers and a single gun at hand in the village.

Police officer “Night Owl” Xia Ran, portrayed by Bai Ke, finds himself in a perilous standoff against the dangerous criminal mastermind Beishan (Xin Baiqing), along with his conflicted gang, as they struggle internally.

Officer Xia Ran, played by Bai Ke, must confront Beishan, a dangerous criminal leader who has escaped, and his gang that is experiencing internal struggles, in a life-or-death situation.

Li Yongyi’s Deep in the Mountains

If you’re up for a wacky, humorous crime mystery set against the backdrop of the mountains, then make your way to the intriguingly titled “Deep in the Mountains”!

During the 1990s in a small town, an officer named Yao Sichen finds himself embroiled in a mystery surrounding a missing truck. Determined to solve the case, he delves into investigations in Maniao River Village, confronting the truck driver Yang Zhaowei and his daughter Yang Ge, the village chief Zhang Changchun, security chief Chen Yongjin, Yan Xue, and a suspected serial killer, Ge Wenyong.

Will Li Yongyi’s directorial debut, as an editing pro, be able to shed light on a series of cold-blooded murder cases in the end? This film seems set to leave viewers in suspense.

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2025-04-18 11:26