Harpoon
When a boat breaks down at sea, a triangular relationship becomes a nerve-wracking struggle to survive, sparing no one’s secrets – or blood.
82'
Canada
IFFR 2019
The king of Pei can barely cope with losing the city of Ying, but he knows his limitations. So his fury is enormous when his greatest general challenges the military leader of the enemy to a duel. What he doesn’t know is that this is a doppelgänger. The real general is wounded but plays his 'shadow' like a puppeteer. In turn, he cannot prevent his wife falling for his virile double. The friction long remains under the surface, but in the third act of this Shakespearean drama, it comes to a bloody climax.
With Hero (2002), Zhang Yimou blew new life into the wuxia genre. Then he went on to make The House of the Flying Daggers (2004) and Curse of the Golden Flower (2006). The historical martial-arts drama Shadow is a new high point. The battle for power and deceit are drenched in constant rain and a colour-palette that makes even the blood look grey.
Also see Masterclass Samson Wong.
IFFR 2019
Programme IFFR 2019
Rotterdam goes hardcore genre with an eclectic mix of films that brashly bend, blend or respect conventions each in their own distinctive way.
Read more about this programmeWhen a boat breaks down at sea, a triangular relationship becomes a nerve-wracking struggle to survive, sparing no one’s secrets – or blood.
82'
Canada
IFFR 2019
The grey colour palette, razor-sharp camerawork and pulsating synthesiser soundtrack set the tone of this bloody, nihilistic samurai film.
80'
Japan
IFFR 2019
Nothing is what it seems when a group of students show up as interns in a drab, isolated hotel.
108'
Poland
IFFR 2019