The Case

Running time: 87 mins

US Premiere

Why is the case so heavy?

Frozen body parts, a milquetoast husband and his shrewish wife, and the serene scenery of Lijiang blend to sharp, entertaining effect in this fresh black comedy. He Dashang and his nagging wife run a riverside guesthouse in a well-known tourist spot. One morning, he wakes to find a suitcase floating down the river. To his surprise, inside are chopped up frozen body parts.

Hearing from his brother-in-law, the local police chief, that something serious has happened in town, Dashang hides the frozen body parts in his greenhouse. But when two suspicious guests arrive, events are set on an unpredictable course.

Winner of the Asian New Talent Award at the Shanghai International Film Festival, director Wang Fen brilliantly translates Cheng Zhang?s skillful script into an entertaining comedy inside the vast landscapes of Yun-nan. Along with captivating performances from the entire cast, The Case is an entertaining black farce that progressively develops into a comic nightmare.

Tamee Tanoor