The Black Cannon Incident (1986)
The Black Cannon Incident (1986)
DVDRip | MKV | 696 x 428 | x264 @ 1950 Kbps | 95 min | 1,54 Gb
Audio: Mandarin AC3 5.1 @ 256 Kbps | Subs (embedded): English (+srt), Chinese
Genre: Comedy
DVDRip | MKV | 696 x 428 | x264 @ 1950 Kbps | 95 min | 1,54 Gb
Audio: Mandarin AC3 5.1 @ 256 Kbps | Subs (embedded): English (+srt), Chinese
Genre: Comedy
A key Fifth Generation work released during the second phase of Deng Xiaoping's social and economic reforms, this robust social satire delightfully depicts the clash between the rising class of rapid industrial modernizers and old Party cadres with a serious Cultural Revolution hangover. The film chronicles the Kafkaesque predicament of a bumbling factory translator who is suspected of industrial espionage after sending an innocent telegram that is intercepted by a militant snoop. (The "black cannon" of the title refers to the missing chess piece the hapless hero is trying to locate.) Placed under investigation and reassigned to a less sensitive department but never informed of the reason for his demotion, he petitions to get his job back, sparking an increasingly obtuse and hilarious series of Party meetings, set in a boardroom straight out of German Expressionism.
There's a lot to see and enjoy in "The Black Cannon Incident", but two things are particularly interesting: firstly, the political satire and symbolism, while somewhat guarded, is some of the most scathing ever to reach cinemas in mainland China - it may not always seem like much to Western viewers, but when viewed in the context of, for example, other "post-socialist" films like those of Eastern Europe, it is considerable.
The second aspect of the movie that makes it really worth seeing is its bizarre aesthetic qualities - in this film and "Dislocation", Huang Jianxin uses an industrial setting and discordant music to symbolize visually China's awkward transition into modern Western-style life and the clash of cultures that eventuate. In this and later movies, Huang picks up on seemingly minor details which, under his control, seem to develop much deeper meanings.
On the other hand, it should be stressed that this is a first film for Huang Jianxin - he later refined his film-making considerably. The performances are good, and the idea behind the film is excellent, but the basic storytelling lags behind a bit - the endless meetings and circular conversations may be historically and symbolically realistic, but they don't really excite an audience. If you're prepared to sit through a few dull parts, it's a very interesting viewing experience both for Chinese and foreigners. It's a pity that Huang's plans to collaborate further with German actors fell through.
(click to enlarge)
The Black Cannon Incident (1986)
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