Sacrifice (Kaige Chen, 2010) China

Reviewed by Barbara Rowland. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2012.

Directed by Chen Kaige, Sacrifice is worth sacrificing some time for.  Kaige, who is claimed to be a leading figure of Chinese cinema, is also an Academy Award Nominated (Farewell my Concubine 1993) director of the West.  Writer Ningyu Zhao’s adaptation of Yuan Dynasty theatrical piece titled Orphan of Zhao is beautifully orchestrated and perfectly cast to create Sacrifice. Among the assemble of fantastic talent are famous Chinese actors Ge You, (1994 Cannes Film Festival Best Actor award winner) and Wang Xueqi (Body Guards and Assassins) who perform in an effortlessly compelling way.

The story begins with a the introduction of our key characters. Primarily we are met with the General Tu Angu (Xueqi) who plans for the execution of over 300 Imperial Zhao clansmen including the unborn baby of freshly married Zhao, Princess Zhuang (Fan Bingbing). This rage accumulated over time results in a massacre of the Zhao clan and in Tu Angu’s favor as he becomes the chosen ruler over all. During the massacre however, Princess Zhuang gives birth under the supervision of the Doctor Cheng Ying (You), who ultimately takes on responsibility for the Zhao child. As Princess Zhuang exits life to save the life of her child, Cheng Ying must conceal the desired Zhao child to comply with the Princesses’ dying wish. At the discovery of the Zhao child’s birth Tu Angu searches for the Zhao child to gain complete control of the throne. Cheng Ying, who’s wife has just recently given birth, designs a plan to save all the newborn children of the village as every infant’s life enters jepordary during the search of the Zhao child. Tu Angu’s determination finally paves a path to the Zhao child, but in the midst of hundreds of infants in the village, a chance of mistaken identity causes death to Cheng Ying’s wife and child. Left with the orphaned royal infant Ying is given opportunity for revenge. His adopted son then becomes the perfect vessel to seek Angu and get the job done.

 As the story of Sacrifice has yet to be determined as fact or fiction, it nonetheless epitomizes the cultural expectations of the era. The landscape is well selected, organized and reinvented to capture the ancient Chinese lifestyle. In one scene a noodle shop is perfected with strands of noodles hung precisely overlapping the characters face. The bits of animation within the film personifies Chinese story paintings which are informative and exciting to watch. The makeup was wonderful as Ying aged and the actors who portrayed his son Boer were believeable looking.

I would hate to say that I am biased to Chinese action films, but Sacrifice was wonderful. I randomly selected this film during the festival to avoid a crowded closing night ceremony and I left extremely pleased. The story was primarily linear and felt like I was watching a legend being filmed. I loved the attention to detail and commitment to the plot. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone whether they enjoy Chinese action films or not.