A Fool

In his first venture as a director, actor Chen Jianbin channels the spirit of films like A Touch of Sin, No Man’s Land, and Black Coal, Thin Ice, presenting a gritty mainland noir. This film explores the battle between kindness and cruelty, madness and logic, greed and humanity, with unexpected twists about who the real fool might be. The standout element is Chen’s remarkable portrayal of Latioazi, a straightforward and somewhat rough-around-the-edges goat farmer with a son in prison. When a young man with mental disabilities follows him home, it ignites a series of events that starkly reveal China’s class disparities. Latioazi’s hesitant act of kindness attracts a host of strangers and con artists, all eager to exploit him for whatever little he possesses.