The Message

2009 1h 58m ZH

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 121

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After a series of assassinations in Nanking, a Japanese spy master gathers a group of suspects in a mansion, then a tense cat-and-mouse game erupts as the Chinese agent tries to keep his or her identity a secret.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Zhou Xun
Gu Xiaomeng
Li Bingbing
Li Ningyu
Zhang Hanyu
Wu Zhiguo
Huang Xiaoming
Takeda / Wutian
Alec Su You-peng
Bai Xiaonian
Ying Da
Jin Shenghuo
Wang Zhiwen
Wang Daoxiang
Shi Zhaoqi
Commander Zhao

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Chen Kuofu
Writers: Chen Kuofu
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: China

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Chen Kuofu, shot by Jake Pollock. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Michiru Oshima. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Xiao Yang shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Zhou Xun and Li Bingbing and Zhang Hanyu carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt1434423 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Chen Kuofu directs. Jake Pollock behind the camera. Michiru Oshima scores. Xiao Yang cuts. Produced in China. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 17 years ago.
2Directed by Chen Kuofu, shot by Jake Pollock. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Michiru Oshima. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Xiao Yang shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Zhou Xun and Li Bingbing and Zhang Hanyu carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt1434423 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.