The magnificence
of Diao Yinan’s abilities as a filmmaker lie in his ability to keep a film
absolutely riveting, even in the moments where it is difficult to follow the
narrative. Black Coal, Thin Ice is
not a perfect film, but I wouldn’t change a thing about Yinan’s approach to the
material. Every scene kept me engaged, and even if the screenplay demands more
attentiveness from the audience than your typical neo-noir, this is only
further reason for repeat viewings. And Black
Coal, Thin Ice is a film I would not mind watching more than once.
Black Coal, Thin Ice begins as many
other noirs do, with an unsolved murder. Body parts are showing up in coal
shipments all over a wide area, and cops are baffled at their origins and any
clue who may have committed the murder. Detective Zili Zhang (Liao Fan) fails
to solve the crime and eventually allows his career to slip away with
alcoholism and depression, but when an identical crime occurs it provides him
the opportunity for redemption. Discovering a connection between the murders
lies with a somber young woman working at a dry cleaning shop, Zhang begins
following her to find answers. Despite no longer working as a cop, and perhaps
partly because of this distance from procedure, Zhang’s dedication to the truth
behind the murders proves to be the greatest weapon.
The violence in
the film is sporadic and unexpected. This is not a film with superhuman cops,
however crafty some of the criminals are. In a crucial early shootout sequence,
our protagonist stumbles for his gun, wearing an expression that suggests even
he was unprepared for the moment he would have to use it. On the other side of
the coin, this also isn’t a movie filled with deep dialogue. Often we are left
to wonder what the characters are even thinking, while the visual style of the
filmmaking helps to fill in the gaps. It has the restraint of Nicolas Winding
Refn’s Drive or David Fincher’s Zodiac paired with a narrative similar
to Sea of Love. And even with these
similarities to other films, Black Coal,
Thin Ice is a tremendously original experience, showing Yinan to be a
filmmaker worth watching out for in the future.
Entertainment Value:
8.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 9/10
Historical
Significance: 6.5/10
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