The film tells a good story, however, it depends on how you define what is good story telling.
Wanyan Ying, whose prototype is a whore in Shanghai, was found dead in the suburb of Shanghai, with Ma's car upside down besides her, and Ma gone. Ma Zouri, a playboy, found himself stuck in an awkward situation - being accused as a murderer.
The most interesting moment is that Ma gets caught during a show of Shanghai opera depicting Ma's murder of Wanyan. He could not control himself since the show misrepresented and uglified Wanyan, in his opinion, though. And the best part just begins here.
Regardless of the fact that no evidence shows that Ma killed Wanyan, the detectors are already working on how to properly present the execution of Ma. As the show depicting the murder has been put up for thousands of times, everyone seems to believe that Ma actually killed Wanyan. So the only reasonable choice is to execute Ma and show it to the public.
This may confuse some Western audience. They may ask where is the trial and jury. Well, the film never brings that up.
These lines are perfect reason why a trail is missing: Wu Liu's Father: But has Ma really killed Wanyan or not? Wu Liu: Dad, is it matter that he did it or not? It matters that the public want him dead. You execute him, and you will win the public support.
Wanyan Ying, whose prototype is a whore in Shanghai, was found dead in the suburb of Shanghai, with Ma's car upside down besides her, and Ma gone. Ma Zouri, a playboy, found himself stuck in an awkward situation - being accused as a murderer.
The most interesting moment is that Ma gets caught during a show of Shanghai opera depicting Ma's murder of Wanyan. He could not control himself since the show misrepresented and uglified Wanyan, in his opinion, though. And the best part just begins here.
Regardless of the fact that no evidence shows that Ma killed Wanyan, the detectors are already working on how to properly present the execution of Ma. As the show depicting the murder has been put up for thousands of times, everyone seems to believe that Ma actually killed Wanyan. So the only reasonable choice is to execute Ma and show it to the public.
This may confuse some Western audience. They may ask where is the trial and jury. Well, the film never brings that up.
These lines are perfect reason why a trail is missing: Wu Liu's Father: But has Ma really killed Wanyan or not? Wu Liu: Dad, is it matter that he did it or not? It matters that the public want him dead. You execute him, and you will win the public support.