In May, Jia Zhangke’s A Touch of Sin (天注定) won the prize for best screenplay at the Cannes International Film Festival. The martial-arts film, described as being “based on true events,” is inspired by steadily occurring incidents of violence in China over the past few years—acts which often reflect despair created by the country’s widening socio-economic gulf. In an interview with The Guardian in June (via CDT), Jia mentioned hopes that his film would inspire a national conversation on the roots of violence in Chinese society. In a recent discussion at the Asia Society in New York, Jia speaks at length about the artistic and social vision behind his newest film:
Also see a recent review of the film from the Village Voice. For more on Jia Zhangke or violence in China, see prior CDT coverage.
Jia Zhangke on “A Touch of Sin”
