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Blind Shaft

Play trailer Poster for Blind Shaft 2004 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 40 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Song Jinming (Qiang Li) and Tang Zhaoyang (Wang Shuangbao) work for low wages in rural China's desolate and claustrophobic mines. They've concocted a scheme to make extra money, though: They pretend a fellow employee is their family member, murder him, then pass the death off as an accident and run away with the settlement. Their next target is green teenage boy Yuan Fengming (Wang Baoqiang), who is eager to tag along. However, Song becomes close with Yuan, and the operation is jeopardized.
Blind Shaft

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A taut, biting critique on the new economic conditions in China.

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Critics Reviews

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader This cunning noir focuses on two ruthless coal miners who drift from one illegal mine to another, working the perfect scam... Jun 29, 2022 Full Review Neil Norman London Evening Standard The twisted tale, told with black and bitter humour and robust language, reaches a conclusion of tortured and wholly satisfying irony. Jan 11, 2018 Full Review John Hartl Seattle Times Fresh, stark and consistently uncompromising, Li Yang's Blind Shaft is an exceptional Chinese film noir. Rated: 3.5/4 Mar 26, 2004 Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site Mang jing is not the end-all and be-all of filmmaking, but it is a sharp-eyed, truthful work done with compassion. Where is the European, North American, Japanese or Australian equivalent? Feb 16, 2021 Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) As a thriller, it's a pretty solid affair -- and there's no getting away from how unsettling the tone is. Rated: 4/5 May 12, 2010 Full Review Maria Garcia Film Journal International An auspicious first feature; although relentlessly benighted, it is nevertheless beautifully filmed and well-acted. Mar 1, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member outstanding realistic movie, telling a grisly money make story in developing China, which is my hometown. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/01/23 Full Review Audience Member The last great Chinese movie I saw. Very funny and realistic depiction of modern China, with that hilarious line, "Okay, we'll first get him laid, then we'll kill him." Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member Part a jarring depiction of harsh realities of modern-day China, part a thriller, this movie is very effective in its minimalist style. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member This morality tale flows with good speed and characterizations leading to a conclusion that seems appropriate. Great story telling. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Audience Member I thought this film was a very dramatic and shocking social drama! In Northwest China, there are many mining facilities and some of the most shocking things in the world occur there! What happened in the film was one of them! I enjoyed this film even though it had no soundtrack! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review razvan p characters are underdeveloped , other than that its great Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Blind Shaft

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Cast & Crew

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Yang Li

Director

Wang Shuangbao

Tang Zhaoyang

Baoqiang Wang

Yuan Fengming

Zhenjiang Bao

First boss

Qiang Li

Song Jinming

Jing Ai

Xiao Hong

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Blind Shaft

Blind Shaft (2003) Blind Shaft (2003) Blind Shaft (2003) Blind Shaft (2003) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Song Jinming (Qiang Li) and Tang Zhaoyang (Wang Shuangbao) work for low wages in rural China's desolate and claustrophobic mines. They've concocted a scheme to make extra money, though: They pretend a fellow employee is their family member, murder him, then pass the death off as an accident and run away with the settlement. Their next target is green teenage boy Yuan Fengming (Wang Baoqiang), who is eager to tag along. However, Song becomes close with Yuan, and the operation is jeopardized.
Director
Yang Li
Producer
Yang Li
Screenwriter
Yang Li
Distributor
Kino Pictures
Production Co
Tag Spledour and Films Limited
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 6, 2004, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 11, 2007
Box Office (Gross USA)
$33.3K
Runtime
1h 32m