Four people in different provinces are driven to violent ends: An angry miner is enraged by corruption in his village. A migrant discovers the possibilities of owning a firearm. A receptionist is pushed beyond her limits by an abusive client. A young factory worker goes from one job to the next.

Famed for his elegant portraits of modern China, Jia Zhangke made a sudden switch, combining arthouse neorealism and kung-fu vengeance into an angry political firebomb. This highly controversial look at unchecked power—which the Chinese government tried to suppress—won Best Screenplay at Cannes.