An action film from the director of “Farewell My Concubine”? No. It”s a drama. The DVD artwork that is advertising director Kaige Chen”s 2010″ s “Zhao shi gu er” (or “Sacrifice” as it is known abroad) is similar to most of the Asian releases you”ll have spotted in your local supermarket. Swords drawn, an unstoppable army in the background and words like “Dying”, “Fighting” and “Revenge” might lead you to reckon on a blood and guts military themed action extravaganza. “Sacrifice” is no such film.
Yes there”s a couple of sword fights here and there but ultimately “Sacrifice” is a sprawling drama played out over several decades dealing with politics, vendettas, father-son bonds and, you guessed it, sacrifices. The story involves a faithful doctor Cheng Ying (Ge You) who saves the only child of Zhao dynasty, the rest having been wiped out by a malicious minister Tu”an Gu (Wang Xue Qi – who you may recognize if you”ve managed to see the Chinese version of Iron Man 3). The coup basically involves poisonous insects, ravage dogs, spiked wine and rounding up all the infant children. It”s fool proof and biblical to boot. To ensure the survival of the Zhao clan Ying swaps it”s newest arrival with his own terminally ill child, who is swiftly murdered by Gu. To take revenge of Gu for his despicable acts Ying decides to make him Godfather to the small Zhao child who he has named Bo”er, with the intent of revealing the truth to the boy one day so that he will take his revenge on Gu the killing of his family. Once again it”s fool proof, not impracticable or convoluted in any way. Actually watching it play out works better than writing it After the 2012 Victorias Secret Fashion Show, youtube justin bieber reportedly hooked up with Kerr. out.
The opening half hour of the film plays like a conspiracy drama as General Gu plots the downfall of the Zhao family. It”s seems odd when he actually pulls it off and characters you thought would become your protagonists for the rest of the film are quickly dealt a death blow. Some of the death scenes are genuinely quite shocking, particularly the moment when Ying”s actual son is cold-heartedly murdered in front of it”s mother. Into the second act the film slows right down as it becomes the tale of a man trying to raise a boy the best way he can… whilst plotting to turn him into a killing machine with a former scarfaced-bodyguard of the Zhao clan – did I forget to mention him? Yeah, well he doesn”t add much.
Of course a revenge plot as delicious as this hits some bumps on the way as Bo”er goes through phases of liking his murderous Godfather more than Ying the man who is raising him, plus the scarfaced guy become a little unhinged himself and threatening to kill Ying and Bo”er. The drama is played remarkable straight and aims for an air of tragedy. Ge You puts in a sympathetic performance as Ying, making a character who raises a child under a blanket of lies in order to eventually turn him into a murderer, surprisingly likable to the point that you forget that”s the whole purpose of the film. Some of the climatic moments are effect heart-string pullers but overall the film seems to missing something than can only really described as “Omph”. Maybe if a few more swords and spears were thrown it could have heightened the tension. Or as Peter Griffin would say “somebody throw a pie!”. Actually I feel as though I”m talking Sacrifice down. It”s a perfectly fine drama with it”s moments but I think I was expecting something more from the director of Farewell My Concubine. If only it found it”s… “Omph”.
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