Synopsis
Black Coal, Thin Ice is a 2014 crime romance film directed by Diao Yinan, starring Liao Fan, Gwei Lun-mei, and Wang Xuebing. It tells the story of police officer Zhang Zili, who develops complex feelings for the suspect Wu Zhizhen while investigating a dismemberment case. The film won the Golden Bear for Best Film and the Silver Bear for Best Actor (Liao Fan) at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival, and has a Douban rating of 7.6.
Overview
Black Coal, Thin Ice is a 2014 Chinese crime drama film directed and written by Diao Yinan. It stars Liao Fan and Gwei Lun-mei, with Wang Xuebing in a supporting role. The film was produced by Xingfu Lanhai under Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation, has a runtime of 106 minutes, and holds a 7.6 rating on Douban. At the 64th Berlin International Film Festival, the film won both the Golden Bear (Best Film) and the Silver Bear for Best Actor (Liao Fan). It is another Chinese film to triumph in Berlin after Red Sorghum, The Women from the Lake of Scented Souls, and Peacock, and is the first Chinese film to win both the Golden Bear and the Best Actor award at the festival.
With an extremely cold and restrained style, Diao Yinan tells a crime-love story imbued with film noir qualities set against the icy landscapes of Northeast China. The film's visual style is bleak yet poetic, perfectly blending the desolation of a small northeastern town with the loneliness of its characters, creating a unique Eastern film noir aesthetic.
Plot
The story takes place in a small city in Northeast China. Five years prior, a dismemberment case shocked the local area; police investigation revealed the victim was a coal worker. Police officer Zhang Zili (played by Liao Fan), while investigating the case, develops subtle feelings for the suspect's wife, Wu Zhizhen (played by Gwei Lun-mei). However, the truth of the case is far more complex than it appears, and Zhang Zili suffers a major setback during the investigation, leading him to leave the police force.
Five years later, a similar dismemberment case occurs. Zhang Zili, now reduced to working as a factory security guard, re-engages with the investigation. He discovers a hidden connection between the two cases, with clues pointing to the same person—Wu Zhizhen. This outwardly cold and beautiful laundry worker exudes a fatal attraction; every man who gets close to her seems doomed to misfortune.
As Zhang Zili pursues the truth, he gradually enters Wu Zhizhen's life. Two lonely souls collide, sparking a faint warmth in the harsh northeastern winter, but the revelation of the truth also signifies the end of their connection. The film's conclusion is filled with tragic overtones. The imagery of "daylight fireworks" runs throughout the film—setting off the loneliest fireworks in the brightest place serves as the most precise metaphor for this doomed relationship.
Cast
| Actor | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Liao Fan | Zhang Zili | Former police officer, becomes a factory security guard after a setback in a case |
| Gwei Lun-mei | Wu Zhizhen | Cold and beautiful laundry worker, harboring secrets |
| Wang Xuebing | Liang Zhijun | Key character, closely linked to the case |
Cultural Impact
The tremendous success of Black Coal, Thin Ice at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival marked another highlight for Chinese cinema on the international stage. The Golden Bear is the highest honor at the Berlin Film Festival, and with this film, Diao Yinan joined the ranks of top-tier international directors. Liao Fan's Silver Bear for Best Actor was also the first time a Chinese actor received this honor at the Berlin festival.
The film's visual style has had a profound influence on Chinese crime genre films. Diao Yinan skillfully combined classic elements of Western film noir with the regional characteristics of Northeast China, creating a unique aesthetic that is both international and local. The icy small town of the northeast, the gloomy factory workshops, and the desolate night streets constitute a poetic noir world.
Gwei Lun-mei's performance in the film is stunning. She completely transformed her previous fresh and artistic image to portray a quiet, restrained northeastern woman harboring secrets, demonstrating immense acting power. Liao Fan's performance is textbook-level—he masterfully portrayed a frustrated and落魄 former policeman, with every gait and glance filled with the character's weariness and obsession, making the Silver Bear award well-deserved.
The film's title, Black Coal, Thin Ice (literally "Daylight Fireworks"), is itself an extremely poetic image. Fireworks typically belong to the night, while daylight fireworks are destined to be lonely and unnoticed, much like the ordinary people struggling in mundane lives within the film. Their joys and sorrows go unnoticed, yet they represent the most authentic human experience.
References
- Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/21941804/
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/白日焰火/1734199
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/白日焰火
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