Deng Gang

A serial murder case rocks a small town in China's semi-rural Hebei province. The film explores the case from the viewpoint of a teenage schoolgirl, Jing (Su Xiaotong), who becomes entangled with the case while struggling with her own burgeoning sexuality. In the face of police ineptitude and authoritarianism, and the restrictive, conservative mentality of the town's locals, Jing begins to develop her own theory about the case.

Working as a secretary for a legal office, Xiaofen records clients detailing the sordid aspects of their lives: divorce cases, medical malpractice suits, financial corruption and old-fashioned personal revenge. Xiaofen starts to question her own relationship with her boyfriend (Deng Gang), fresh out of prison and looking to get into trouble again with his gambling habit. While Xiaofen deals with the overwhelming social malaise surrounding her, rumors spread of a disaster at the local chemical plant, threatening to poison the entire city.

Ma Shan, flic dans une bourgade chinoise, vit un réveil difficile. Surmontant sa gueule de bois, il finit tant bien que mal par retrouver la position verticale et se rend compte, en tâtonnant son étui en cuir que son arme de service a disparu. La panique s'empare de Ma Shan qui se lance alors dans une course contre la montre pour retrouver cette arme avant qu'elle n'ait servi. Pour ce faire, il remonte avec minutie les vingt dernières heures. Son enquête l'amène à arpenter les places publiques, les commerces de ses amis, des ruelles toujours plus étroites et labyrinthiques… Pour découvrir que son petit village est plus mouvementé qu'il n'y paraît.

Zhang Guimei, a middle school teacher in China's western mountains, was determined to help girls escape the cycle of poverty after seeing many drop out due to financial struggles. She founded a free high school for girls, providing them with the opportunity for education and a better future. Despite ongoing challenges, her efforts continue to bring hope to girls from the mountains.