The programme for the 2018 London Film Festival made 'Ash is Purest White' seem a bit like a chopsocky special - gangster's moll discovers a talent for crime and - my incorrect reading between the lines suggested - takes over the mob herself. But the film is actually a deeper drama than that.
When we first meet Qiao (Zhao Tao, who has a hint of Tilda Swinton about her) she is indeed a gangster's moll, providing loving arms to mobster Bin but not afraid to pull his underlings into line. Things go badly wrong for her, however, when, following her defence of Bin when he is attacked by a group of youths, she is sentenced to prison for possession of an illegal gun. Five years later she is released, a less exuberant character and disappointed to find Bin has not waited for her. The second part of the film deals with her search for him and what happens when she finds him.
This is a film of two halves - the first part, prior to Qiao's prison sentence, does view very much like a traditional gangster flick, with its criminals pretending they have 'honour', corrupt cops and a very bloody fight scene. The second half is quieter in tone, mirroring Qiao's more subdued (if determined) personality. But I did not find the change in tone jarring because by that time I was caught up in Qiao's story. Forgiving of criminals she may be, but it is hard not to be sympathetic as, having 'done time' for Bin, she has to travel across country to discover his betrayal and begin putting her life back together. Zhao Tao gives an engaging performance and Fan Liao, as Bin, is as charming as his character allows. I enjoyed this and will probably watch it again.
When we first meet Qiao (Zhao Tao, who has a hint of Tilda Swinton about her) she is indeed a gangster's moll, providing loving arms to mobster Bin but not afraid to pull his underlings into line. Things go badly wrong for her, however, when, following her defence of Bin when he is attacked by a group of youths, she is sentenced to prison for possession of an illegal gun. Five years later she is released, a less exuberant character and disappointed to find Bin has not waited for her. The second part of the film deals with her search for him and what happens when she finds him.
This is a film of two halves - the first part, prior to Qiao's prison sentence, does view very much like a traditional gangster flick, with its criminals pretending they have 'honour', corrupt cops and a very bloody fight scene. The second half is quieter in tone, mirroring Qiao's more subdued (if determined) personality. But I did not find the change in tone jarring because by that time I was caught up in Qiao's story. Forgiving of criminals she may be, but it is hard not to be sympathetic as, having 'done time' for Bin, she has to travel across country to discover his betrayal and begin putting her life back together. Zhao Tao gives an engaging performance and Fan Liao, as Bin, is as charming as his character allows. I enjoyed this and will probably watch it again.