Oct. 04, 2013|China, Japan, France|131 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Adventure;Drama
Description: A Touch of Sin, a 2013 Chinese anthology film, was written and directed by Jia Zhangke. The film features a cast including Jiang Wu, Wang Baoqiang, Luo Lanshan, and Zhao Tao, Jia’s wife and frequent collaborator. Structured as four loosely connected stories, it explores different geographical and social settings in modern China. Drawing inspiration from recent historical events, the film also incorporates elements of wuxia tales and Chinese opera. Its Chinese title, “天注定” (Tiān zhù dìng), translates to “heavenly fate” or “fated doom,” while its English title nods to King Hu’s 1971 wuxia classic, A Touch of Zen. The film earned a Palme d’Or nomination at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, with Jia winning the Best Screenplay award. Each of the four vignettes is set in a distinct location and is based on notable events from China’s contemporary history.
The narrative follows Dahai, whose campaign against corruption leads to a violent confrontation with the Jiaos, the mine owners. After losing public support and being brutally attacked, Dahai seeks revenge. Armed with a shotgun, he confronts those involved in the corruption, ultimately resorting to violence to settle his grievances. The story culminates in a dramatic and bloody resolution.
Cast director: Jia Zhangke
Cast actor: Jiang Wu, Baoqiang Wang, Zhao Tao, Zhang Jiayi, Luo Lanshan, Han Dong, Lu Liu, Qiang Wang, Li Meng, Wang Hongwei
Original name: 天注定