Cliff Walkers Explained

Cliff Walkers
Native Name:
Child:yes
Hide:no
Header:none
S:悬崖之上
T:懸崖之上
L:on the cliff
P:xuányá zhīshàng
Producer:Lin Liang
Pang Liwei
Director:Zhang Yimou
Music:Jo Yeong-wook
Cinematography:Zhao Xiaoding
Editing:Li Yongyi
Runtime:125 minutes[1]
Country:China
Language:Mandarin
Gross:US$185.2 million[2]

Cliff Walkers, previously titled Impasse in English,[3] is a 2021 Chinese historical spy thriller film directed by Zhang Yimou and written by Quan Yongxian. It is set in the Imperial Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s before World War II erupts. It was selected as the Chinese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.[4]

Plot

Set in the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo, the film follows four Chinese Communist Party agents who parachute back to Harbin[5] in Northeastern China in the early 1930s. Together, they embark on a secret operation code-named “Utrenya” (Russian: утреня) that intends to extract a former prisoner who could expose the unethical human experimentation and other crimes against humanity committed by Unit 731 of the Imperial Japanese Army in front of the international community. Upon landing, the team members split into two groups to avoid being captured and tortured to sell out their loved ones on the other group. They are also ready to sacrifice themselves by ingesting cyanide-equivalent pills contained in a match box. Soon after their separation, group 1 discover that their local contacts are actually enemies in disguise. They manage to escape the trap, but also realize they had been sold out by a traitor, who caved after being tortured and witnessing the execution of his fellow comrades.

Cast

Production

A conceptual poster was released in October 2019 during Pingyao International Film Festival.[7] On Dec 13, 2019, the cameras started rolling in Xuexiang National Forest Park.[8] The shooting wrapped on May 19, 2020.[9]

The original score was composed by Jo Yeong-wook, whereas the eponymous theme song is composed by the band RadioMars and performed by Zhou Shen.[10] [11]

Release

The movie was released on April 30, 2021 in both China and the United States. In China, it is released in IMAX, CINITY, Dolby Cinema, etc.[12] In the United States, it is distributed by China Media Capital.

Reception

Cliff Walkers received a 82% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 6.7/10.[13]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardsCategoryRecipientResultRef.
202115th Asian Film AwardsBest Supporting ActorYu Hewei[14] [15]
Best Supporting ActressQin Hailu
Best EditingLi Yongyi
Best CinematographyZhao Xiaoding
Best Costume DesignChen Minzheng
Best Original MusicJo Yeong-wook
Cliff Walkers [16] [17]
Best Cinematography
Yu Hewei
Best Art Direction Lin Mu
Best Sound Recording Yang Jiang and Zhao Nan

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cliff Walkers. live. May 1, 2021. AMC Theatres. https://web.archive.org/web/20210428144926/https://www.amctheatres.com/movies/cliff-walkers-66359 . 2021-04-28 .
  2. Web site: Xuan Ya Zhi Shang Box Office . The Numbers . 2 May 2021 . 7 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210807094405/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Xuan-Ya-Zhi-Shang-(2021-China)#tab=summary . live .
  3. News: Davis. Rebecca. 2021-03-24. Zhang Yimou's 'Impasse' Sets China Release Date, Ramping Up Labor Day Competition. en-US. Variety. 2021-06-11. 2021-06-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611021922/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/zhang-yimou-impasse-release-date-1234937563/. live.
  4. Web site: 张艺谋《悬崖之上》代表中国内地 竞逐第94届奥斯卡最佳国际影片奖 (Zhang Yimou's "Above the Cliff" represents Mainland China to compete for the 94th Oscar for Best International Film) . Sohu . 10 November 2021 . 10 November 2021 . 6 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220406034055/https://www.sohu.com/a/500275322_114941 . live .
  5. News: Kenny. Glenn. 2021-04-29. 'Cliff Walkers' Review: Double Crosses and Double Agents. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-05-02. 0362-4331. 2021-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502043412/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/movies/cliff-walkers-review.html. live.
  6. Web site: Cliff Walkers movie review: Zhang Yimou spy thriller, starring Liu Haocun, deceives with its labyrinthine narrative . scmp.com . April 30, 2021 . May 4, 2021 . May 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210505063244/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3131699/cliff-walkers-movie-review-zhang-yimou-spy-thriller . bot: unknown .
  7. Web site: 张艺谋谍战片《悬崖之上》曝概念海报 冰天雪地背景2020年上映 新作"坚如磐石"已送审 . Mtime.com . 2021-05-01 . 2020-09-11 . 2020-06-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200608070325/http://news.mtime.com/2019/10/11/1597942.html . dead .
  8. Web site: 张艺谋《悬崖之上》开机，首度挑战谍战题材 . The Beijing News . 2021-05-01 . 2019-12-14 . 2020-08-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200808051303/http://www.bjnews.com.cn/ent/2019/12/14/661909.html . live .
  9. Web site: 张艺谋首部谍战片《悬崖之上》杀青 编剧发文纪念 . Sina.com . 2021-05-01 . 2020-05-19 . 2020-06-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200603043005/https://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2020-05-19/doc-iircuyvi3971526.shtml . live .
  10. Web site: 周深献唱《悬崖之上》，无词哼唱片段曝光. mtime.com. 2021-05-01. zh-hans. 2021-04-22. 2021-04-22. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422104548/http://content.mtime.com/article/228645987. dead.
  11. Web site: Zhou Shen Sings The Theme Song of "Impasse". Youtube. 1 May 2021. 2 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210502034438/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYTVwEjsABg. live.
  12. Web site: 张艺谋《悬崖之上》五一档将登陆全国IMAX影院 . mtime.com . 2021-05-01 . zh-hans . 2021-04-01 . 2021-04-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422134146/http://content.mtime.com/article/228038442 . dead .
  13. Web site: Cliff Walkers (2021). Rotten Tomatoes. 2021-06-11. 2021-06-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210618104705/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cliff_walkers. live.
  14. Web site: 15th Asian Film Awards – Nominations 2021 . Asian Film Festivals . September 9, 2021 . September 10, 2021 . September 10, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210910084243/https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2021/09/09/asian-film-awards-nominations-2021/ . live .
  15. News: 15th Asian Film Awards – Winners 2021 . Sabastian Nadilo . Asian Film Festivals . October 8, 2021 . October 9, 2021 . en . October 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008162532/https://asianfilmfestivals.com/2021/10/08/asian-film-awards-winners-2021/ . live .
  16. News: https://new.qq.com/omn/20211129/20211129A09I4Z00.html . zh:第34届中国电影金鸡奖公布完整提名名单 . qq.com . 29 November 2021 . 31 December 2021 . zh . 31 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211231053357/https://new.qq.com/omn/20211129/20211129A09I4Z00.html . live .
  17. News: https://new.qq.com/omn/20211230/20211230A0CYFV00.html . zh:第34届中国电影金鸡奖完整名单 . qq.com . 30 December 2021 . 31 December 2021 . zh . 31 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211231054132/https://new.qq.com/omn/20211230/20211230A0CYFV00.html . live .

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