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Film Archive

The Missing Gun

Another View 2003 / Xun qiang / China 2002

An evening of boozing it up leaves village policeman Ma Shan with much to regret. He’s missing his service pistol and the loss of such a weapon in traditional China is no laughing matter.... 

The Missing Gun The Missing Gun

Synopsis

This morning, middle-aged village policeman Ma Shan has a splitting headache. He doesn’t remember what he drank last night, nor where nor with whom nor how much. He doesn’t even know how he got home. Upon closer examination of his things, he discovers something rather unpleasant: his service pistol, usually in a holster attached to his belt, is gone. In traditional China the loss of a weapon isn’t just a minor offence but a disgrace that will follow a policeman to his grave. Ma Shan has got to find out what actually happened the previous night. The first piece of evidence comes from the beautiful Li Xiaomeng. She tells him that they met the night before at Mao’s brother’s wedding, but she doesn’t know anything about a gun. In the meantime news of Ma Shan’s misfortune has made its way to his superior, who doesn’t intend to just let the matter go....

About the film

90 min / Color, 35 mm

Director Lu Chuan / Screenplay Lu Chuan podle námětu Fan Yipinga "The Search for a Missing Gun" / based on the novel "The Search for a Missing Gun" by Fan Yiping / Dir. of Photography Xie Zhengyu / Music Felling Band / Editor Zhang Yifan / Producer Jiang Wen, Cao Biao / Production Huayi Brothers & Taiha Film Investment / Cast Jiang Wen, Ning Jing, Liu Xiaoning, Wu Yujuan, Shi Liang, Wei Xiaoping, Pan Yong / Contact This is that, Huayi Brothers & Taiha Film Investment, Columbia TriStar Film Distribution

About the director

Lu Chuan

Lu Chuan was born in Xinjang province in western China but he moved to Beijing with his family at an early age. He went to university at the prestigious People’s Liberation Army Institute of International Affairs to study English literature. He worked for many years as an army translator during negotiations between top Chinese and American brass. His main interest, however, has always been film and he shot commercials while in the army. In 1996 he left the service and began studies at Beijing’s Film Academy. After graduating in 1998 he began writing the script for The Missing Gun, his feature debut. This low-budget film was shot in spring 2001 and became a popular favourite. 

Contacts

This is that
435 West 19th Street, NYC 10011, New York
United States of America
Phone: +1 212 994 8455 ext 220
Fax: +1 212 989 1917
E-mail: [email protected]

Huayi Brothers & Taiha Film Investment
No.18 Rm A908 Full Link Plaza, 10020, Beijing
China
Phone: +86 10 658 815 08
Fax: +86 10 645 912 99
E-mail: [email protected]

Columbia TriStar Film Distribution
948 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, 900 38, Los Angeles
United States of America
E-mail: [email protected]

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