WATCH CLIFF WALKERS TRAILER ONE AND TRAILER TWO
Here at 360 Magazine, we had the opportunity to screen Cliff Walkers. The film was without a doubt wonderfully written. From the very beginning of the movie, you could see that it would be an action-packed film. The storyline will keep viewers in suspense on what happens next along with questions that do not get answered until the very ending. The acting was impeccable! Each actor played their character perfectly – from the villains to the spies leading towards two very well written plot twists. This film will appeal to anyone wanting to watch an action filled and, at times, emotional movie.
Based on the script by Quan Yongxian, CLIFF WALKERS, is director Zhang Yimou’s first foray into the spy genre. Set the puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s, the film follows four Communist party special agents who return to China after receiving training in the Soviet Union. Together, they embark on a secret mission code-named “Utrennya.” After being sold out by a traitor, the team find themselves surrounded by threats on all sides from the moment they parachute into the mission. Will the agents break the impasse and complete their mission? On the snowy grounds of Manchukuo, the team will be tested to their limit.
- CLIFF WALKERS is Zhang Yimou’s first spy thriller in his over 40-year career.
- Zhang Yimou is a master of using cinematography and color to support the themes, emotions and plots of his films, and audiences can easily identify key colors in each of his films. CLIFF WALKERS presents a visual feast of beautiful snow-white scenes, presented in different ways to support the twists and turns of the storyline. For example, snowy moments include an avalanche during a gunfight, falling snow as danger approached, snow on the ground and covering the entire street during a car chase, snow shaking down from the tree during an explosion, etc.
- CLIFF WALKERS showcases Zhang Yimou’s trademark artistic cinematography and vivid color as well as a stellar cast of actors who are well known and highly acclaimed in China.
- The film was shot on location in Harbin, in -40 degrees Celsius snowy weather. Historical locations in Harbin were 100% rebuilt just for the film, such as the city’s central street, Asia Cinema and Martyr Hotel which were completely recreated in 1930s style.
- Lead actor Zhang Yi grew up in Harbin and in fact lived on a street that was one of the rebuilt filming locations. During filming, he was able to find his parents’ old house there and video chatted them to show them how accurately recreated it was!
- The film has already had very positive pre-screening responses in China, including strong ticket presales leading into their Labor Day weekend (this weekend – a major holiday when many tentpole titles are released)
Actor/character credits:
Zhang Xianchen played by Zhang Yi
Zhou Yi played by Yu Hewei
Wang Chuliang played by Zhu Yawen
Wang Yu played by Qin Hailu
Gao Bin played by Ni Dahong
Zhang Lan played by Liu Haocun
Lu Ming played by Li Naiwen
CLIFF WALKERS Official Channels
