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Cliff Walkers
悬崖之上
2021 120 min China, Hong Kong 16+
★7.0
Thriller, Crime, History, Drama
Director: Yimou Zhang
Trailers
Description
In the puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s, four Communist party special agents, after returning to China, embark on a secret mission. Sold out by a traitor, the team find themselves surrounded by threats on all sides.
US Gross:
$152,972
Worldwide:
$172.92M
Starring
Hewei Yu
Actor
Yi Zhang
Actor
Hailu Qin
Actor
Awards
Asian Film Academy 2021
— Best Film Editing
Asian Film Academy 2021
— Best Supporting Actor
Asian Film Academy 2021
— Best Cinematography
Asian Film Academy 2021
— Best Original Score
Asian Film Academy 2021
— Best Supporting Actress
Asian Film Academy 2021
— Best Costume Design
Key opinion
Cliff Walkers is recognized as a technically polished espionage thriller that excels in maintaining high-stakes tension through its meticulous depiction of intelligence operations. However, the film is frequently criticized for its repetitive narrative structure, a mid-film pacing slump, and a lack of deep emotional resonance between the protagonists.
| Screenplay | The film masterfully creates sustained suspense by focusing on the intricate mechanics of intelligence gathering and signal transmission. | |
| Production | The production design delivers an authentic and visually immersive recreation of 1930s Manchurian environments. | |
| Emotion | The character development is criticized for being overly detached, preventing the audience from forming meaningful emotional connections. | |
| Pacing | The narrative becomes repetitive and noticeably loses momentum during the second half. | |
| Acting | The ensemble cast provides performances that are technically adequate but ultimately lack the depth needed to elevate the material. |