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A Touch of Sin
天注定
2013 131 min China 18+
★7.6
Crime, Drama
Director: Jia Zhang-ke
Trailers
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EN
Description
Four people in different provinces are driven to violent ends: An angry miner is enraged by corruption in his village. A migrant discovers the possibilities of owning a firearm. A receptionist is pushed beyond her limits by an abusive client. A young factory worker goes from one job to the next.
Budget:
$4M
US Gross:
$154,120
Worldwide:
$154,120
Starring
Wu Jiang
Actor
Baoqiang Wang
Actor
Tao Zhao
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2013
— Best Screenplay
Cannes Film Festival 2013
— Palme d'Or
Key opinion
A Touch of Sin is widely recognized as a powerful, unflinching critique of modern China, using real-world criminal cases to explore the devastating intersection of capitalist excess and systemic corruption. While critics praise its sharp thematic focus and raw realism, some viewers find its deliberate pacing and loose narrative structure challenging or exhausting.
| Theme | The film delivers a devastatingly clear portrait of contemporary Chinese societal decay driven by economic inequality and corruption. | |
| Acting | The performances and directorial choices successfully ground the narrative in cinematic realism, making the acts of violence feel both visceral and inevitable. | |
| Screenplay | The film functions as a compelling anthology of four distinct stories, effectively linked by the recurring themes of frustration and the desperate search for justice. | |
| Pacing | The slow-burn, contemplative pace rewards patient viewers, though it alienates those seeking a more traditional or fast-paced narrative structure. |