Keswick Film Club - Reviews - Sheep Without A Shepherd

You are viewing the old version of our website.

Please visit our current website for all the latest information.

Reviews - Sheep Without A Shepherd

Sheep Without A Shepherd

Reviewed By Carol Rennie

Sheep Without A Shepherd
Sheep Without A Shepherd
This romp of a mainstream Chinese blockbuster was the highest grossing film in China on its opening weekend, and ranked tenth overall in terms of box office 2019. It certainly pleased the Alhambra audience: "More like this!" was heard from more than one.

Just as Nordic Noir adds a bit of je ne sais quoi to crime dramas on our television screens these days, so the Thai setting of this film, entitled ‘Manslaughter’ in the original, adds a bit of local colour in the form of orange-garbed monks, colourful markets, Thai boxing, and a smattering of foreign language. More importantly, the fact they are Thai and not Chinese allows the Chinese audience to enjoy the spectacle of a wicked police chief commissioner, her venal politician husband and their spoiled, criminal son, who assaults our protagonist's daughter and is then killed in self-defence, without any risk of implied subversion/anti-state sentiment.

Movie-mad Li Weiji, a poor Chinese immigrant with little education, covers up his wife and daughter's manslaughter using the knowledge he has acquired watching endless police dramas. He creates and takes his family through an elaborate alibi weekend. Twisting time, jumping through various hoops, and consistently outwitting the police, he surprises both his family and the audience with the final denouement, with the resolution providing confessions, acceptance, and a sense of natural justice restored.

Back To Film Page

Find A Film

Search over 1375 films in the Keswick Film Club archive.


Film Festival

Festival Logo

27 Feb - 1 Mar 2020


Friends

KFC is friends with Caldbeck Area Film Society and Brampton Film Club and members share benefits across all organisations


Awards

Keswick Film Club won the Best New Film Society at the British Federation Of Film Societies awards in 2000.

Since then, the club has won Film Society Of The Year and awards for Best Programme four times and Best Website twice.

We have also received numerous Distinctions and Commendations in categories including marketing, programming and website.

Talking Pictures Talking Pictures The KFC Newsletter
Links Explore the internet with Keswick Film Club
Find Us On Facebook