Rent Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014)

Noir-ish Chinese crime drama - a bit depressing, but well worth a watch - Black Coal, Thin Ice review by RP

I quite enjoyed this Chinese film that won two award at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival.

It's an atmospheric, noir-ish crime drama set in a bleak, unnamed northern Chinese city apparently in the throes of a perpetual winter. A disgraced cop is now working as a security guard and fast descending into alcoholism when he comes across something reminiscent of a crime scene from 5 years before. Assorted body parts are found in the coal feed to a power station. It seems the victims are all connected to the same beautiful woman who works in a local laundry. The ex-cop stars a relationship with her, his ex-partner (still in the police) doggedly continues the official investigation - and suffers death by ice-skate. In the end, the baddie is found and the film ends with a somewhat pretentious firework display.

It isn't a bad film but I confess that I found it all very depressing, perhaps literally too noir. If you haven't seen any modern Chinese cinema this is well worth a watch. I'll give it 3/5 stars.

A Chinese thriller that should puzzle and captivate you - Black Coal, Thin Ice review by Philip in Paradiso

In Heilongjiang Province, in the north of China, in 1999, the dismembered parts of a man's body appear in shipments of coal across the region, at coal plants in different cities. The movie is rooted in its dark, grim and frozen environment: the city is perpetually covered in snow and ice (hence the title of the film in English).

The central character is a local detective (serving, then having left the force) who investigates the murder (or murders) and becomes obsessed with the case, and with a woman who works in a dry cleaner's (she is linked to the case). There is something heavy, claustrophobic, gloomy and close to depressing about the story, because of the plot but, even more so, because of the atmosphere and the surroundings. But this overwhelming atmosphere is also the movie's strongest point, as it fascinates, while we descend into the underbelly of this Chinese provincial town and its chain-smoking, heavy-drinking and gambling rough men.

The characters are enigmatic for 2 reasons. First of all, because of the storyline and what thrillers tend to be like. The second reason is that it is a Chinese film (I think that is the reason, at any rate): the characters speak relatively little; they do not explain their reactions or emotions: they merely state them. We are left to imagine what is going through their minds. Many things are left unsaid or merely alluded to. The combination is quite disconcerting and fascinating.

Despite the fact the film can be slow at times, and is not always plausible (which is true of most thrillers), I would recommend it and enjoyed watching it from start to finish. It will surprise you.

[PS: The review by 'RP' should be accompanied by a 'spoiler alert' warning, as it gives away the entire plot.]