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A Touch of Sin

2013 · Movie · 131 min · ★ 7.2 · 86% critics

CrimeDrama

In modern China, four people in different provinces reach violent breaking points as corruption, exploitation, and desperation take over their lives. An angry miner lashes out after injustice, a migrant explores dangerous possibilities, an abused receptionist goes to extreme lengths, and a young worker drifts from job to job.

Also known as Touch of Sin, A

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Watch free on Kanopy — also streaming on AMC+, Hoopla, SundanceNow Doc Club +2 more.

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Details
Original title
天注定
Years
2013
Release date
2013-10-04
Language
Chinese
Runtime
131 min
Critic score
86/100
TMDB rating
7.2/10 (384 votes)
About

You’ll likely like this bleak anthology if you’re drawn to hard-hitting crime stories about social injustice and pressure in modern China; Not for you if graphic violence or nihilistic vibes turn you off, or if you prefer steadier storytelling like Black Coal, Thin Ice or Better Days.

Pros: hard-hitting social themes; multiple engaging stories; gritty atmosphere | Cons: violence can feel excessive; bleak and depressing; structure can feel uneven

Themes

  • bureaucracy
  • china
  • based on true story
  • alienation
  • rifle
  • anthology
  • displacement
  • humiliation
  • modern china
  • decadence
  • embezzlement
  • return of son
  • +2 more

Cast & crew

Directed by Jia Zhangke