Zhang Yimou

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    ‘Full River Red’ Review: A Song Dynasty Blockbuster

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    The latest film from Zhang Yimou weaves slapstick fun into an investigation of a 12th-century political murder.Nearly everyone in China is familiar with “Full River Red,” a wistful, jingoistic poem by the 12th-century general Yue Fei. Zhang Yimou’s new film of the same name is an origin story of sorts for the poem, spinning a web of political intrigue and comedy that takes place during the Song dynasty and unfolds early one morning, entirely in the pre-dawn hours.Qin Hui (Lei Jiayin), a prime minister preoccupied with his reputation, brings an army with him to a diplomatic meeting with enemy forces. But before the meeting, a delegate carrying a mysterious letter turns up dead, leading to an investigation, full of twists and turns, helmed by a commander (Jackson Yee) and his bumbling nephew (Shen Teng).The film, which has skyrocketed to popularity in China — currently the country’s sixth highest-grossing box office entry of all time — is somewhat surprising as the most bankable of Zhang’s career. Despite a prolific filmography of grandiose art house fare that has often wrestled with the vast span of Chinese history, the filmmaker has suffused a dynastic war fable with elements of a slapstick whodunit. Yet the light charm, mostly offered by Shen as the oafish sidekick, serves as a saving grace amid the shadowy political games.At times, particularly in its overwrought closing act, the film feels as if it’s going to collapse under the weight of its relentless, convoluted twists. But the lighthearted tone poking through keeps it afloat, and suspends the viewer in mostly carefree entertainment for its two-and-a-half-hour running time.Full River RedNot rated. In Mandarin, with subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 39 minutes. In theaters. More

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      ‘Cliff Walkers’ Review: Double Crosses and Double Agents

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      Zhang Yimou turns his hand to a fast-paced spy thriller set during the Japanese occupation of Manchuria.“Cliff Walkers,” the new picture from the protean Chinese director Zhang Yimou, arrives here after a hiccup in his filmography.“One Second” (2019), the follow-up to his startling film “Shadow,” released in the United States the same year, had been slated to compete in the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival but was withdrawn by the Chinese government in what many interpreted as an act of censorship.It’s likely that “Cliff Walkers,” which is dedicated to “All the heroes of the revolution,” passed through official channels unimpeded. This spy thriller takes place in the early 1930s, during the Japanese invasion and occupation of Manchuria and northern China, and depicts near-superheroics on the part of its daring, sometimes self-sacrificing main characters.The movie is set in and was shot in Harbin, a city in Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province, an area that came under significant Russian influence during the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. The snowy settings start with a forest and extend to city streets lined with unique architecture, where small gangs of black-clad spies pursue each other on foot to thrilling visual effect.The cast, led by Zhang Yi and Liu Haocun as a seasoned operative and a rookie, is appealing. The movie’s multiple double and triple crosses are apt to induce whiplash, and they underscore the ways in which espionage resembles theater.The numerous action set pieces would be memorable even if the plot points didn’t eventually fall into place, which they do. The filmmakers’ treatment of Japanese war crimes is trenchant; the movie makes clear that the wounds China suffered have not been forgotten. Call it patriotism or nationalism, the director and cast really sell it, complete with some blatant tear-jerking for the finale.Cliff WalkersNot rated. In Mandarin, with subtitles. Running time: 2 hours. In theaters. Please consult the guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before watching movies inside theaters. More