Review of A Touch of Sin (2013) by Matty S — 13 Apr 2014
It is so rare for a filmmaker to change his/her style so dramatically, but Zhang Ke Jia has made a completely unexpected film. This film has been banned within the borders of China, but for some reason the country allowed the film to be released.
This is a scathing and rage-filled film about the plight of Chinese working and lower class during the fast and turbulent change in Chinese government dynamics. Zhang Ke Jia has taken several real life tragedies and turned them into allegories to demonstrate the desperation created by a corrupt government that essentially has enslaved a vast majority of its population into servitude and dependance.
The characters in this film have been pushed to their limits and literally strike out. To his credit, the graphic violence is not sensationalized or glorified. The violence depicted is shocking and disturbing.
In some ways the storytelling is done in the manner of Wuxia Story with our "Anti-Heros" pledging allegiance to no one and out only to right wrongs. However, the truly disturbing stories presented fail to right wrongs -- they only manage to add wrongs to wrongs.
Powerful and potent human film.
This review of A Touch of Sin (2013) was written by Matty S on 13 Apr 2014.
A Touch of Sin has generally received positive reviews.
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