【电影简介】

小有名气但利欲熏心的律师潘肖（徐峥 饰），凭借扎实的法律知识和巧舌如簧的庭辩技巧，成功帮盗捕国家珍禽阿拉泰隼并残忍杀害一名警察的西北盗猎团伙老大（多布杰 饰）洗脱罪名。老大承诺十天后付清余款，潘肖则要求对方用一辆红色轿车抵押。在此之后，他驾驶着新车踏上从西北荒漠返回大都会的路程。谁知路上险情不断，先是和一对开卡车拉茅草的哥俩（王双宝 & 巴多 饰）发生摩擦，导致人伤车损，接着又不慎撞飞一个似乎拦车求助的男子（黄渤 饰）。自知摊上人命的潘肖辗转来到一家专事不法勾当的黑店，并在此结识了受困于此的妓女（余男 饰）。与此同时，盗猎老大尾随其后，似乎另有凶险计划。 此时潘肖还没真正意识到，他前方是怎样一条充满凶险的旅途。

【音频文本】

Sometimes development is made through compromise.

About four years ago, director Ning Hao's black comedy "No Man's Land" was denied release in Chinese cinemas due to its allegedly exaggerated and unrealistic depiction of the dark side of human nature. Now, afterfour years of repeated alterations, it is finally being shown in cinemas across China.

It is difficult to tell whether the release is a victory for the film industry or its watchdog.

On the one hand, the movie watchdog rejected the film based on ideals which are deeply-rooted in Chinese culture. Confucianism does not advocate discussing extraordinary things, feats of strength, disorder or spiritual beings. Likewise, traditional-minded Chinese people also tend to shy away from films that center onsheer malevolence or unpunished crimes. So pictures like "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" which jest about crime and violence are rarities in the Chinese movie industry.

On the other hand, despite being repeatedly rejected by the authority, the black comedy was eventually released. While most viewers will be laughing their heads off at the film's storyline, I believe that deep down, some will also be able to identify with Ning Hao in his efforts to capture the unwelcome part of humannature. Considering the serious thoughts "No Man's Land" may evoke, the fact that it has been released signifies a kind of development in China's movie industry.

The film's storyline is a major strong point, despite some incoherency. However, the biggest setback is the ending, which is set in a completely different tone from the rest of the film and strays far away from the main ideas. In fact, many viewers suspect that this particularly warm ending was added solely for the purpose of ensuring the film's approval for release.

The actors and actresses are to be commended for living up to the excellent screenplay, particularly Xu Zheng, who was little known four years ago, but now holds the record as the director of China's best-sellin comedy film.

Lastly, I'd like to underscore the music. With a black comedy such as this one, director Ning Hao could easily have shaped it like "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrel" with light-hearted music. Yet his decision was to create tension and challenge the viewer's nerves. This way, the viewers may have less of a good time, but they will be inspired to contemplate human nature.

"No Man's Land" topped China's box office on its first day of release and grossed 140 million yuan in its first week.

On a scale from one to ten, it gets an eight.

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