Black Coal, Thin Ice

2014's BLACK COAL, THIN ICE is an odd mix of detective drama, romance, and surreality.  I'm not sure if writer/director Diao Yinan ultimately successfully blends these elements, though for much of the film you forget such a question. A surefooted balancing act is achieved for about three quarters of the running time, but the last act does fall apart a bit, even if those final individual scenes are likewise small masterpieces of Theater of the Bizarre.  It's strange though, how Yinan more or less abandons his story near the end after spending a great deal of time building it.

Zheng (Liao Fan) is a detective in China who cracks after the traumatic events of a grisly murder case.  One in which the body parts of a murdered man are scattered in coal shipments in several cities.  Zheng gets shot during a interview with some suspects. He recovers and falls into a downward spiral of alcoholism, quitting the force and becoming a security guard.  In one scene he is in a stupor, asleep in a roadside snowdrift, and has his motorcycle stolen.

Time goes by and he happens upon his old partner, who informs him that other, similar murders have occurred over the past five years.  The victims were all were romantically involved with a laundry service worker named Wu (Gewi Lun-mei).  Zheng is intrigued and decides to take up his own investigation.  Naturally, he becomes attracted to his suspect.  Wu may not be the femme fatale you predicted.  The story does not follow any expected path.

Scene by scene, we get a vivid sketch of characters we never really get to know.  They are sad, defeated individuals. Zheng suffered a crushing divorce.  Wu is sexually harassed by her longtime boss.  Neither says much, but how they are fleshed out somehow gives us what we need to know.  The storyline is also quite involving and engrossing, with constant flourishes of mystery that make you question what you just saw.  Everyday events edge into the Unusual.  Ice skaters take unusual paths. Women fall into empty bathtubs in hysteria.  Even a sit down with a bowl of noodles takes a weird turn.

But BLACK COAL, THIN ICE is really distinguished by its visuals.  Truly arresting.  DP Jingsong Dong captures green washes of streetlight contrasted in the foreground with harsh yellows.  Neon signs reflect wet surfaces.  Impossible not be reminded of the BLADE RUNNER films at times.  The harsh whiteness of snow creates many stunning shots.  If you enjoy films set during powdery winters, look no further.

The movie is hard to describe, really.  The tone is mostly grim, yet there are numerous laughs.  BLACK COAL, THIN ICE is admirably unique, and Yinan directs skillfully and artfully. He likes wide shots, and uses them for the right moments.  I just wish Zheng had a different final scene.  As amusing and perhaps truthful to his character as it was, it felt like a cheat (maybe that was the idea).  Then there's the final sequence, where fireworks are set off in broad daylight.  Frustrating and brilliant in equal measure? I'm still not sure.