| Universally acclaimed after Kekexili: Mountain Patrol, writer/director Lu Chuan's debut feature The Missing Gun is a decidedly different beast, yet the equivalent of a talent making unique imprints on the cinema scene. Directed partially with a hyperactive sense, both in the visual- and audio field, as we follow cop Ma Shan's (Jiang Wen) quest for his missing gun, we're treated to a genre mish-mash. The rural community has its share of dopey and seedy characters and Ma Shan along the way unearths much about himself in the various confrontations. Past and current demons manifest themselves, heading towards a boiling point where the film takes a step down to reveal it's really a quiet journey for the lost man. However hard that sounds to take seriously, Lu Chuan gets fine affection out of the story after the welcome assaults. Ning Jing (Divergence, Set To Kill) appears briefly. |
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