Edit | Zhang Qingfeng
Analysis of the plot structure of "Let the Bullets Fly"
At the beginning of the movie, we see a money truck robbery that took place during the Republic of China, and the background story of the main character Zhang Mazi (also known as Boss Zhang) and his team, as well as Pastor Liu and others, is also shown in this section.
Killed and pretended: Zhang Mazi and his team encounter an accident on the way, causing Jia Si (the mayor of the city) to think that he is dead, so Zhang Mazi decides to pretend to be Jia Si and enters the "Hong Kong City" to protect himself.
Intrigue and Fighting Wisdom: In "Hong Kong City", a series of power and wisdom battles unfold between Zhang Mazi and Jia Si's aide Guo Ba (played by Wu Yanzu). Zhang Mazi led them through a series of operations against local officials under the name of Jia Si.
Social criticism and resistance: Zhang Mazi used his power and wisdom to begin social criticism and resistance against local officials. Some of their subordinates, including Yang Million, destroyed the local elite group in various ways.
Killing and Ending: Through a series of conspiracies and plans, the film shows the killing situation between Zhang Mazi, Jia Si and the local elite group. In the end, in an absurd and fierce showdown, the fate of the various characters is revealed.
The entire plot of the film is compact and suspenseful, through a series of actions by Zhang Mazi and the team, showing the themes of black humor and social criticism, while creating a tense and exaggerated atmosphere, which arouses the audience's thinking and resonance.
Characterization
Zhang Mazi (Boss Zhang): He is a witty, rebellious and shrewd character who applies his thief skills and wisdom to power and wisdom. He possessed charisma and leadership, and was able to express his critique of social injustice and corruption in a humorous and satirical way. His character creation is shown through actor Jiang Wen's own performance and lines, which is deeply impressive.
Jia Si (mayor of the city): A representative of a corrupt official who was later pretended to be Zhang Mazi. He is a cowardly and insidious character, but there is also some pathos and pathetic. His character creation conveys his inner confusion and struggle through the performance of actor Chow Yun-fat.
Guoba: He is Jia Si's staff member and an indispensable villain. He is smart and alert, but also a despicable villain, using his position for personal gain. His characterization is unfolded through the performance of actor Wu Yanzu, presenting the image of a conspirator and a powerful man.
Red Two: He is Zhang Mazi's right-hand man, with the characteristics of bravery and daring to take risks. His character shaping is shown through the performance of actor Jiang Wu, leaving a cute and firm impression.
In addition to the above main roles, there are many secondary characters in the movie, such as Yang Million, Big Snake, etc., although they belong to supporting roles, but they also have distinctive characteristics and plump shaping, which add some unique colors to the movie.
Through the shaping of these characters, the film "Let the Bullets Fly" successfully shows the conflict, power struggle and social reality absurdity between different characters, making the whole story more vivid, rich and compelling.
Director's approach
The film "Let the Bullets Fly" is directed by director Jiang Wen, who uses a variety of unique directing techniques in the film to highlight the film's dark humor and social criticism, while creating an absurd and tense atmosphere.
Black humor: Director Jiang Wen shows social issues and the absurdity of human nature from a unique perspective, and expresses it through black humor. Throughout the film, many scenes and dialogues are full of irony, exaggeration and hilarious elements, making the audience think about social reality in laughter.
Absurd and exaggerated plot arrangement: The plot unfolding of the film is full of absurdity and exaggeration, adding many unexpected elements to ordinary scenes. Jiang Wen's ingenious arrangement and development of the plot creates a hilarious effect through exaggeration, while also enhancing the irony and criticism of social issues.
Use of dialogue and lines: Director Jiang Wen is good at using humorous and satirical dialogues and lines to express the relationship between characters and social phenomena. The dialogue in the film often has puns and metaphors, and through humor and witty dialogue, the character and emotions of the characters are more vividly presented.
Compact plot and suspense setting: The plot of the movie is compact and tense, through a series of suspense and twists, to maintain the audience's attention and curiosity.
Jiang Wen uses a variety of directing techniques such as black humor, absurd plot, interesting dialogue and tight plot arrangement in "Let the Bullets Fly", showing the criticism and discussion of social issues with a unique perspective and style, while bringing joy and thinking to the audience.
Themes and symbolism
The theme and symbolism of the movie "Let the Bullets Fly" are multi-layered and rich. Here are some of the main themes and symbolic interpretations:
Power and Corruption: The film shows injustice and corruption in society by revealing the relationship between power and corruption. The corrupt behavior of Jia Si and other officials becomes the main negative image in the film, revealing how the corruption of power destroys society and individuals.
Social class and confrontation: The film explores the inequality and confrontation of social classes by depicting the struggle between landlords and chaebols and people at the bottom. Zhang Mazi and his team represent the resistance of the people at the bottom, and they have confronted the elite in unconventional ways, showing a critique of social injustice.
The Absurdity of Human Nature and the Boundaries of Desire: The film uses black humor to reveal the absurdity of human nature and the endless limits of desire. The desires and selfish actions of the various characters make the plot more chaotic and absurd, revealing how the endless pursuit of wealth and power leads to the ruin of the individual and society.
Suffering and Hope: The film shows the suffering of the people at the bottom and the pursuit of hope for the future. Despite the oppression of the powerful and the cruelty of social reality, the people at the bottom still maintain the spirit of tenacity, optimism and struggle, hoping to change their destiny.
These themes and symbolisms together constitute the deep connotation of the film "Let the Bullets Fly", stimulating the audience's thinking and reflection on social issues and human dilemmas.
Impact and evaluation
The film has a positive impact on the audience. After its release, the audience spoke highly of its black humor, absurd plot and expression of social criticism. "Let the Bullets Fly" reveals social issues and human absurdities from a unique perspective, and resonates and thinks with the audience through exaggeration and humor.
The film caused widespread social discussion. Let the Bullets Fly explores themes such as power and corruption, social class and confrontation, the absurdity and desire of human nature, and sparks lively discussions about these issues. The film presents social issues in a humorous and satirical way, making the audience aware of the injustice and immorality that exist in society.
Let the Bullets Fly has also gained significant international impact. Its dark humor and unique storyline have attracted a global audience and demonstrated to the world the innovative ability and international competitiveness of Chinese films.
Director Jiang Wen's reputation has also been enhanced. Director Jiang Wen has achieved great success in "Let the Bullets Fly" with his unique directing techniques and artistic achievements.
"Let the Bullets Fly" received widespread acclaim after its release. The film is considered a classic among black humor films, and its unique storyline, humorous dialogue and exaggerated performance have praised the audience.
The film's script, actors and director Jiang Wen's directing skills were also praised. The script cleverly uses puns and metaphors to express the relationships between the characters and social phenomena, bringing the audience many intriguing lines and plots. The actors' excellent acting skills give the characters vivid personalities and deep emotions, making the film more convincing.
epilogue
"Let the Bullets Fly" has had a wide impact and positive reviews with its unique storyline, dark humor, and critical expression of social issues.
bibliography
Zhang, Yingjin. "Taking the Law into One's Own Hands: Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly (2010)." The Chinese Cinema Book, edited by Song Hwee Lim and Julian Ward, British Film Institute, 2011, pp. 249-252.
Zhang, Rui. "Plotting Against Patriarchal Power: Let the Bullets Fly as a Political Allegory." Asian Cinema, vol. 22, no. 1, 2011, pp. 163-184.
Pang, Laikwan. "Let the Bullets Fly: Jiang Wen's Inaugural Comedy." Asian Popular Culture: New, Hybrid, and Alternate Media, edited by John A. Lent and Lorna Fitzsimmons, Lexington Books, 2013, pp. 97-112.