in my opinion, most award-winning chinese films at international film events are likely to be indie or artistic ones, instead of genre films. in the case of black coal, thin ice, the golden bear prizewinner at the berlin international film festival in february, my guess was right.

在我看來，能夠在國際電影節上獲獎的中國電影大都是些獨立電影或者文藝片，而非傳統的類型片。這部于2月柏林國際電影節上斬獲金熊獎的《白日焰火》正好驗證了我的猜測。

set in the time period from 1999 to 2004, the film tells the story of ex-cop zhang zili (liao fan), now an alcoholic security guard, and his ex-partner. when a series of familiar-looking murders begins, they decide to follow up on a previous investigation of similar murders that ended their careers and shamed them.

該片將時間背景設定在1999至2004年之間，故事圍繞從警局煺役后，終日以酒度日的保安張自力(廖凡飾)和他昔日的同事展開。在一系列熟悉的連環謀殺案發生之后，二人決定重新調查之前斷送他們警察生涯，令他們蒙羞的一個類似案件。

the unadorned, unflattering and raw portrait of a mid-size town in winter in north china, all frozen and covered in thick layers of snow, is what i like most about the film. it provides a perfect setting for such a mystery story.

該片深得我心的一點是：影片樸實無華且準確無誤地描述了那座冬日里銀裝素裹的中國北方中等城市，為這樣一個懸疑推理故事搭建了完美的場景。

liao, the first chinese to win the best actor award at the berlin film festival for his role in the movie, plays zhang in the classic mold of the sleep-deprived, unshaven, tough detective. his mellow face may lend itself to comedy, but the film also gives him a chance to show a human side, interpreting big themes like love and betrayal.

作為首位獲封柏林影帝的華人演員，廖凡在片中完美詮釋了張自力這個無精打采，不修邊幅的落魄警察形象，堪稱經典。盡管他老成的臉龐可能很適合演喜劇，但該片還讓他有機會展現人性的一面，詮釋了愛情與背叛等重大主題。

another acting highlight falls on gwei lun-mei(桂綸鎂), who plays a strange, dark lady. she gives the character more depth by blurring the lines between good and evil.

全片的另一大亮點是桂綸鎂的精彩演出，片中她飾演了一位舉止奇怪、內心憂郁的女人。她亦正亦邪的演技令該角色更加耐人尋味。

as a salute to the classic hollywood film noir, black coal, thin ice combines bleakness and pessimism with just the right amount of wry humor. and throughout, director-writer diao yinan maintains an impressive mood of unease and approaching danger, which carries the film forward.

作為一部向經典好萊塢黑色電影致敬的作品，《白日焰火》將陰郁、悲情與恰到好處的黑色幽默相互融合。而令人稱贊的是，在導演兼編劇刁亦男的鏡頭下，那種不安情緒與險象環生的情節貫穿了整個影片，推動著故事情節的發展。

although it is a less overtly political film than jia zhangke’s recent controversial project a touch of sin, black coal, thin ice does offer a similarly dark and direct portrait of one of the less fashionable corners of china, at a less attractive time of year.

盡管與賈樟柯頗具爭議的新片《天注定》相比，《白日焰火》沒有前者那樣明顯的政治色彩。但后者在類似的黑色基調中直接講述了在那樣一個平凡年代，發生在中國一個不起眼角落里的故事。

while the realistic social commentary implied in the film may be something that appealed to the judges in berlin, it may also drive away a large number of audiences. then again, if you’re tired of romantic flicks and no-brainer visual stunts, black coal, thin ice offers some welcome change.

影片對現實社會的詮釋獲得柏林電影節評審們的青睞，但這也可能令一大部分觀眾無法買賬。如果你對愛情電影或者無需動腦的視覺特效產生審美疲勞，那么《白日焰火》可以給你換個口味。

in my opinion, most award-winning chinese films at international film events are likely to be indie or artistic ones, instead of genre films. in the case of black coal, thin ice, the golden bear prizewinner at the berlin international film festival in february, my guess was right.

在我看來，能夠在國際電影節上獲獎的中國電影大都是些獨立電影或者文藝片，而非傳統的類型片。這部于2月柏林國際電影節上斬獲金熊獎的《白日焰火》正好驗證了我的猜測。

set in the time period from 1999 to 2004, the film tells the story of ex-cop zhang zili (liao fan), now an alcoholic security guard, and his ex-partner. when a series of familiar-looking murders begins, they decide to follow up on a previous investigation of similar murders that ended their careers and shamed them.

該片將時間背景設定在1999至2004年之間，故事圍繞從警局煺役后，終日以酒度日的保安張自力(廖凡飾)和他昔日的同事展開。在一系列熟悉的連環謀殺案發生之后，二人決定重新調查之前斷送他們警察生涯，令他們蒙羞的一個類似案件。

the unadorned, unflattering and raw portrait of a mid-size town in winter in north china, all frozen and covered in thick layers of snow, is what i like most about the film. it provides a perfect setting for such a mystery story.

該片深得我心的一點是：影片樸實無華且準確無誤地描述了那座冬日里銀裝素裹的中國北方中等城市，為這樣一個懸疑推理故事搭建了完美的場景。

liao, the first chinese to win the best actor award at the berlin film festival for his role in the movie, plays zhang in the classic mold of the sleep-deprived, unshaven, tough detective. his mellow face may lend itself to comedy, but the film also gives him a chance to show a human side, interpreting big themes like love and betrayal.

作為首位獲封柏林影帝的華人演員，廖凡在片中完美詮釋了張自力這個無精打采，不修邊幅的落魄警察形象，堪稱經典。盡管他老成的臉龐可能很適合演喜劇，但該片還讓他有機會展現人性的一面，詮釋了愛情與背叛等重大主題。

another acting highlight falls on gwei lun-mei(桂綸鎂), who plays a strange, dark lady. she gives the character more depth by blurring the lines between good and evil.

全片的另一大亮點是桂綸鎂的精彩演出，片中她飾演了一位舉止奇怪、內心憂郁的女人。她亦正亦邪的演技令該角色更加耐人尋味。

as a salute to the classic hollywood film noir, black coal, thin ice combines bleakness and pessimism with just the right amount of wry humor. and throughout, director-writer diao yinan maintains an impressive mood of unease and approaching danger, which carries the film forward.

作為一部向經典好萊塢黑色電影致敬的作品，《白日焰火》將陰郁、悲情與恰到好處的黑色幽默相互融合。而令人稱贊的是，在導演兼編劇刁亦男的鏡頭下，那種不安情緒與險象環生的情節貫穿了整個影片，推動著故事情節的發展。

although it is a less overtly political film than jia zhangke’s recent controversial project a touch of sin, black coal, thin ice does offer a similarly dark and direct portrait of one of the less fashionable corners of china, at a less attractive time of year.

盡管與賈樟柯頗具爭議的新片《天注定》相比，《白日焰火》沒有前者那樣明顯的政治色彩。但后者在類似的黑色基調中直接講述了在那樣一個平凡年代，發生在中國一個不起眼角落里的故事。

while the realistic social commentary implied in the film may be something that appealed to the judges in berlin, it may also drive away a large number of audiences. then again, if you’re tired of romantic flicks and no-brainer visual stunts, black coal, thin ice offers some welcome change.

影片對現實社會的詮釋獲得柏林電影節評審們的青睞，但這也可能令一大部分觀眾無法買賬。如果你對愛情電影或者無需動腦的視覺特效產生審美疲勞，那么《白日焰火》可以給你換個口味。