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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 06/29/2022
This cunning noir focuses on two ruthless coal miners who drift from one illegal mine to another, working the perfect scam... Go to Full Review Neil Norman London Evening Standard 01/11/2018
The twisted tale, told with black and bitter humour and robust language, reaches a conclusion of tortured and wholly satisfying irony. Go to Full Review John Hartl Seattle Times 03/26/2004
3.5/4
Fresh, stark and consistently uncompromising, Li Yang's Blind Shaft is an exceptional Chinese film noir. Go to Full Review David Walsh World Socialist Web Site 02/16/2021
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? Go to Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) 05/12/2010
4/5
As a thriller, it's a pretty solid affair -- and there's no getting away from how unsettling the tone is. Go to Full Review Maria Garcia Film Journal International 03/01/2007
An auspicious first feature; although relentlessly benighted, it is nevertheless beautifully filmed and well-acted. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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09/15/2018 outstanding realistic movie, telling a grisly money make story in developing China, which is my hometown. See more 03/16/2014 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." See more 06/23/2013 Part a jarring depiction of harsh realities of modern-day China, part a thriller, this movie is very effective in its minimalist style. See more 06/15/2013 This morality tale flows with good speed and characterizations leading to a conclusion that seems appropriate. Great story telling. See more 06/26/2012 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! See more razvan p @n1mr0d 05/11/2012 characters are underdeveloped , other than that its great See more 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) 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
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