Hao Qi Hai Shi Mao
2006 / 93m - China
Mystery, Crime
3.5*/5.0*
Curiosity Kills the Cat poster

Watches

January 22, 2007

4.0*/5.0*

June 21, 2023

3.5*/5.0*

A fine Yibai Zhang film, that illustrates the rise of Chinese cinema in the 00s pretty well. A film in a more urban setting, integrating stronger genre elements, but not without abandoning or overlooking its cinematic history. Nearly two decades later the quality is still present, it's just not quite as refreshing as it used to be.

Five people's lives get entangled when a man takes on a mistress and starts cheating on his wife. The setting is a huge apartment complex where the couple lives, thrown in the mix are a security guard, a nail artist, and a wandering girl who loves to take pictures with her cellphone. A. Simple marital issue quickly spirals out of control.

The urban setting is a nice change of pace, the performances are strong and the structure of the plot is quite fun (each character gets a chapter that deepens the understanding of the events). The styling could've used a little extra polish and none of the twists are too exciting, but overall, a very fun and worthy film.