
Devils on the Doorstep
During the Japanese occupation of China, two prisoners are dumped in a peasant's home in a small town. The owner is bullied into keeping the prisoners until the next New Year, at which time they will be collected. The village leaders convene to interrogate the prisoners. The townspeople then struggle to accommodate the prisoners. One is a bellicose Japanese nationalist, the other a nervous translator. Will the townspeople manage to keep the prisoners until the New Year?During the Japanese occupation of China, two prisoners are dumped in a peasant's home in a small town. The owner is bullied into keeping the prisoners until the next New Year, at which time they will be collected. The village leaders convene...
October 26, 2001 · Directed by Jiang Wen
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A simple estimate based mostly on pace, with small nudges for flow, payoff speed, and how much keeps happening. Rounded to the nearest 5 minutes.
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How it's told
- Pace. Slow burn or propulsive. How much patience the film asks of you.
- Complexity. Straightforward or demanding. Whether you can sink in, or have to keep up.
What it feels like
- Tone. Light or heavy. Whether it plays for fun or for weight.
- Emotionality. Restrained or openly emotional. How much it reaches for your feelings.
- Outlook. Bleak or hopeful. What it believes about people when it counts.
- Intensity. Gentle or provocative. How far it is willing to push you.
What it's grounded in
- Realism. Stylized or grounded. Whether it feels larger than life or plausibly real.
- Substance. Pure entertainment or ideas. Whether you want a ride or something to chew on.
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