Yimou Zhang	...	(Director)
Yongxian Quan	...	(Writer)
Naiwen Li	...
Haocun Liu	...
Hailu Qin	...
Ailei Yu	...
Hewei Yu	...
Hanyu Zhang	...
Yi Zhang	...
Yawen Zhu	...
Xiaoding Zhao	...	Cinematographer

Comments: This hit my sweet spot , and it was because of the female characters. If this "spy thriller" would have been all dudes, it's a 3/5.

I'm surprised no one else has mentioned them. Smart tough and good looking. I have no idea if women like them would have played a role in this kind of caper in real life history or if they are Zhang Yimou revisionist inclusions. There's a little cringe when struck by how the youngest one looks exactly like Zhang Ziyi (not to mention she looks and sounds about 12), but then she hits it. She has specialties and never caves to being a little girl. The bad guy girl is actually the "New Mou Girl" (google it) but Ziyi v2.0 is the total hoot. She's representin'

Following the triple agent "spy thriller" shenanigans is a little labor intensive but it's fascinating how well thought out, prepared, and accomplished they all are. The pivotal "whose side are you on" dude is wonderfully icy and in control

Car chases and gun fights are stupid no matter how well they are filmed. Deduct a half star. But the film and everyone in it looks great

spoilery tidbit:
This film would have been a whole lot different if one of the said women would have been tortured like the dudes were


Summary: In the puppet state of Manchukuo in the 1930s, four Communist party special agents, afterreturning to China, embark on a secret mission. Sold out by a traitor, the team find themselves surrounded by threats on all sides.