STREETWISE

A bracingly bleak neo-noir soaked in sinister atmosphere, Na's feature debut focuses on Dong Zi (Li Jiuxiao), a 21-year-old debt collector making a dishonest living in the bustling criminal economy in the Sichuan Province city of Zhenwu, all while aspiring to a better life than that which his ailing, ex-gangster father (an excellent Qi Zhi) has lived. Boasting a crack ensemble cast, brooding nocturnal cinematography courtesy of DP LI Jianeng, and an insider's understanding of small-town claustrophobia, Na's sleek neo-noir established him as one of Mainland China's undeniable emerging talents during it's lauded festival run.