A Touch of Sin

A Touch of Sin is a 2013 Chinese anthology thriller film written and directed by Jia Zhangke and starring Jiang Wu, Wang Baoqiang, Luo Lanshan, and Zhao Tao, Jia's wife and longtime collaborator. The film consists of four loosely interconnected tableaus set in vastly different geographical and social milieus across modern-day China, based on recent events while also drawing from wuxia stories and Chinese opera. The English title references A Touch of Zen. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, with Jia winning the award for Best Screenplay. Plot The film consists of four loosely interconnected vignettes that are depicted chronologically, each set in a different location in China and based on then newsworthy events and incidents in China. Prologue San'er travels on a motorbike across rural Shanxi. He is accosted by three thugs who attempt to rob him. Unfazed, San'er pulls out a pistol and kills them all. Dahai (Shanxi) Dahai is the de facto workers' representative at a privatized coal mine. Angered that the village remains poor while local officials grow rich through alleged lying, bribery, and embezzlement of funds from the mine's operation, Dahai confronts the village chief, who dismisses his grievances. He goes about the village making his intentions to report the officials to the Central Committee in Beijing known, and is alternatingly met with quiet support, indifference, and annoyance.