A touch of sin, four tales from china by jia zhangke. There was some small talk about his home province of shanxi, a dusty coal region in northern china, and then he turned off the lights. Tagged with a touch of sin jia zhangke cannes 20 lovers in a dangerous time. Over five years later, now that ive recently caught up with jias episodic a touch of sin, i must confess that i find myself more than a little baffled by colleagues of mine who have praised these earlier films and now seem to find little difficulty in placing this semidesperate sellout effort on the same plateau as his previous work. Chinese filmmaker jia zhangke returns to the shooting locations of his films, along with his actors, friends and close collaborators. With wu jiang, baoqiang wang, tao zhao, lanshan luo. What is the message of jia zhangkes latest movie, a touch of. Mountains may depart trailer acclaimed chinese drama from. Oct 02, 20 jia zhangkes a touch of sin is the subject of a feature by tony rayns in our septemberoctober issue. A touch of sin 20 zhangke jia, zhang ke jia synopsis.
Dec 04, 20 the average person here has never heard of jia zhangke, let alone a touch of sin, and, if a government ban on media coverage of the film is any indication, probably never will. Jiang wu as dahai in jia zhangkes new film, a touch of sin. A touch of sin is not much like the script that jia sent to the film bureau for preproduction approval. The film, which tells four looselyoverlapping stories about sudden acts of violence in different regions of china, reframes classic stories within a modern world. The film, which tells four looselyoverlapping stories about sudden acts of violence in different regions of china, reframes classic stories within a modern world that is constantly churning under the mill of history.
In a touch of sin, the director jia zhangke presents four stories, based on real events, that illustrate a countrys social and political upheaval. May 19, 2014 its hard to pinpoint the precise moment in a touch of sin when jia zhangkes reputation for the calm and contemplative takes a definitive battering. Stars of the film include zhao tao, jias wife and longtime collaborator. Though pulp fiction is an undisputed classic, jia zhangke s film has a more realistic bent, and is very much its own film, a work inspired by reality, not other films preceding it. An early version of chinese director jia zhangke s critically acclaimed film a touch of sin turned up on top piracy sites over the weekend. Oct 11, 20 that violence makes a touch of sin more commercial than jias other features, which is ironic, but not accidental. A touch of sin, four tales from china by jia zhangke the. The cannes prizewinner a touch of sin 20 focuses on four people living across china who are driven to acts of violence.
Four independent stories set in modern china about random acts of violence. Oct 04, 20 leading chinese director and independent cinema figure jia zhangkes newest feature, a touch of sin, flies in the face of official rhetoric about a harmonious chinese society with graphically violent images. Written and directed by master filmmaker jia zhangke the world, still life, one of the best and most important directors in the world richard brody, the. An angry miner, enraged by widespread corruption in his village, decides to. Jia zhangke talks a touch of sin, violence, and despair. Its illuminating to watch a film such as jia zhangkes 20 crime saga a touch of sin in our current moment. A touch of sin official film website with playdates and trailer. Since the story undoubtedly contains a kernel or more of truth, it may help explain why the film bureau swallowed its pride and passed jias cannes prizewinner a touch of sin for release in china with only minor changes. Critically acclaimed chinese filmmaker jia zhangke previously examined the recent economic growth in china with 20s awardwinning revenge film a touch of sin. A film about skyrocketing wealth in china and the desperation ordinary people feel to get their share of it, jia zhangkes a touch of sin tells.
In a brief interview at the 20 toronto international film festival, the director, writer, and producer discussed his latest work. A theatre troupe from rural fenyang struggles under the decline of communism and rise of popular culture in china in the 1980s. Jiang wu in a touch of sin t he english title of jia zhangkes new movie calls to mind king hus wuxia action movie a touch of zen, and also has a bleak, wellesian ring. Though pulp fiction is an undisputed classic, jia zhangkes film has a more realistic bent, and is very much its own film, a work inspired by reality, not other films preceding it.
The average person here has never heard of jia zhangke, let alone a touch of sin, and, if a government ban on media coverage of the film is any indication, probably never will. Chinese director jia zhangkes a touch of sin leaks to. During the press conference of 18 april 20, jia s film tian zhu ding a touch of sin was nominated for the palme dor at the 20 cannes film festival. With hongwei wang, tao zhao, jing dong liang, tianyi yang. Critically acclaimed chinese filmmaker jia zhangke previously examined the recent economic growth in china with 20 s awardwinning revenge film a touch of sin. With the decadesspanning drama mountains may depart, zhangke is yet again exploring the contemporary life in his home country. The opening scenes of a touch of sin began unfolding on a widescreen television. A touch of sin writerdirector zhangke jia talks with varietys steve gaydos at the variety studio. As reported on ecns, torrent files for downloading the movie appeared on the night of 28 february and soon circulated all over the internet. During the press conference of 18 april 20, jias film tian zhu ding a touch of sin was nominated for the palme dor at the 20 cannes film festival. Brutal and beautiful in equal measure, this is one of the best films to come out of. Jia zhangkes a touch of sin is a difficult film to watch, but it is one that needs to be seen all the same. Zhangke jia celebrity profile check out the latest zhangke jia photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes.
Jia talked to the dissolve through a translator shortly after the films screening at the new york film festival. Certainly, it is jeopardised in the opening minutes, when a migrant worker riding a motorbike along a dusty loop of mountain road has his path blocked by three bandits brandishing hatchets. On torrent providers such as the pirate bay, the illegal. Written and directed by master filmmaker jia zhangke the world, still life, this reflection on capitalist china focuses on four people, living in four different provinces, who are driven to violent ends. Watch the clip titled dahai for the film a touch of sin 20. This daring, poetic film focuses on four characters, each living in different provinces, who are driven to violent ends. Its hard to pinpoint the precise moment in a touch of sin when jia zhangkes reputation for the calm and contemplative takes a definitive battering. Jia served us tea as we waited for everyone to gather.
That reading is too simple, however, which i realized as i watched it multiple times over the course of days in cannes. Jia recalls the inspiration sources for his movies, such as platform, still life and a touch of sin. Jia zhangke, a guy from fenyang 2014 yts movie torrent. That violence makes a touch of sin more commercial than jias other features, which is ironic, but not accidental. Powerful and poignant, a touch of sin should be enjoyed on the big screen. A brilliant exploration of violence and corruption in contemporary china jon frosch, the atlantic, a touch of sin was inspired by four shocking and true events that forced the worlds fastest growing economy into a period of selfexamination. This ultraviolent attack on chinese consumerism is a stunning slap in the face from previouslysedate. Oct 20, 20 jiang wu as dahai in jia zhangke s new film, a touch of sin.
This is a beautiful, violent, strange and confusing film from the great chinese director zhangke jia. Jia talked to the dissolve through a translator shortly after the. A touch of sin is censored in china, but not for its. A touch of sin is released on the upcoming three films by jia zhangke bluray boxset from arrow academy on 29 january 2018, including 24 city and mountains may depart, and walter salles documentary jia zhangke. An early version of chinese director jia zhangkes critically acclaimed film a touch of sin turned up on top piracy sites over the weekend. Leading chinese director and independent cinema figure jia zhangkes newest feature, a touch of sin, flies in the face of official rhetoric about a harmonious chinese society with graphically violent images. Cannes edition at chivas house, presented by chivas brothers and sponsored by hp. Cinema scope cannes 20 a touch of sin jia zhangke, china. Last week i had a chance to speak with jia zhangke and his wife zhao tao star of several of his films, including a touch of sin while they were in town for the new york film festival. For the next few weeks, well be covering the 20 new york film festival, now in its 51st year. Credit kino lorber in the second part of my interview with the chinese director jia zhangke, he discusses censorship, industry financing and the need for films to reflect everyday life in china. Some of these pictures and descriptions may give away plot details that you might not want to know before watching the film. Why censors are scared of jia zhangkes film china digital. Sep 17, 20 watch the clip titled dahai for the film a touch of sin 20.
An angry miner, enraged by corruption in his village. Oct 04, 20 in a touch of sin, the director jia zhangke presents four stories, based on real events, that illustrate a countrys social and political upheaval. Stars of the film include zhao tao, jia s wife and longtime collaborator. Jia zhangkes a touch of sin is the subject of a feature by tony rayns in our septemberoctober issue. Director jia zhangke uses the tales of a fedup miner, a beatendown.
He is generally regarded as a leading figure of the sixth generation movement of chinese cinema, a group that also includes such figures as wang xiaoshuai and zhang yuan. A touch of sin is an absolute standout piece in modern chinese cinema, and deserves to be world famous. Theres an urgency to the film, a demand to be seen at home as well as abroad. A touch of sin official trailer 1 20 zhangke jia movie hd a brilliant exploration of violence and corruption in contemporary china jon frosch, the atlantic, a touch of sin was inspired. It was nominated for the palme dor at the 20 cannes film festival, with jia winning the award for best screenplay. If jia has a comedy in him, a touch of sin may be its precursor.