Gangster Zhou Zenong is in hiding after accidentally killing a cop. There’s a price on his head and both the police and his fellow criminals are hunting him. A mysterious woman arrives, claiming she’s been sent to help him escape. Despite their inability to trust each other, an attraction develops between the two. Director Diao Yinan’s ultra-stylish noir follows their journey through the seedy underbelly of modern China: into hotel basements where gangland conferences occur, run-down apartment complexes where every nook and cranny conceals a potential threat and, in a slightly surreal turn, a zoo at night where the wildlife looks on as a gunfight ensues. While the plot of The Wild Goose Lake may sound familiar, the execution is anything but. It’s a brilliant showcase of technique, full of colorful and highly expressive lighting, surprising set pieces, inventively staged action and a creative chronology that ensures the film always feels fresh and exciting.