Luxure (film)

Luxure
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Chen Xiaowen
Written by	Hou Shuchun
Screenplay by	Hou Shuchun Chen Xiaowen Li Huiqing
Produced by	Shao Shirong Wei Mengyao
Starring	Lin Nuying Zhou Renshu Liu Jianguo
Cinematography	Bai Xue
Edited by	Kang Qingshan
Music by	Zhao Yingjie Yan Juan
Production companies	Gaowen Studio and Arts
Distributed by	Jinhua Films
Release dates	20 March 2020 (2020-03-20)
Running time	118 Minutes
Country	Xiaodong
Language	Xiaodongese
Budget	€16 million
Box office	€92 million

Luxure (Xiaodongese: 欲望, Yùwàng; Estmerish: Lust) is a Xiaodongese romantic gangster film released in 2020. The fifth film by director Chen Xiaowen it stars Lin Nuying, Zhou Renshu and Liu Jianguo. Set in 1930's Baiqiao following the conclusion of the Great War, the film tells the story of a women who marries a member of an infamous yuanminghui organisation and the effects of being pushed into a world of violence, sex and moral ambiguity. The story was by Hou Shuchun whilst the score was composed by Zhao Yingjie with singer Yan Juan providing music for songs included in the film.

Released in Xiaodong on the 20 March 2020 it became a critical and commercial success grossing €92 million with praise given to the performances, direction and period design although the story garnered a more mixed response. It was the third highest grossest Xiaodongese film of 2020 and won several awards including the Baiqiao Festival's Best Film, best performance by a lead actress and best performance by a supporting actor.

Plot

Opening in the aftermath of the Great War in wartorn Baiqiao Zeng Xingjun, a dancer who works for the Gaullican-style nightclub in the heart of the city frequented by powerful local elites and foreign dignitaries, meets Gao Qi, an enigmatic but wealthy and handsome young man. The two become enamoured with each other with Gao eventually asking for Zeng's hand in marriage; Zeng is eager to accept but her older brother and police officer, Deng Zihao, who as head of the family must accept the marriage suspects Gao is a criminal. Zeng dismisses his concerns leading to him to reluctantly accept the marriagebut warning her that she cannot consider herself part of her family anymore.

Gao's connections to the criminal underworld soon become clear; his boss, Sun Peizhi, is known as a member of the notorious Jiangzhi Gang which runs a series of brothels, nightclubs and casinos around the city with Gao being one of his chief enforcers. Zeng soon embraces fully the lifestyle that Gao offers her, despite his continual absence and infidelity with his younger concubine Cao. Gao becomes increasingly withdrawn as Sun's weak health is leading to an increasingly violent confrontation between his likely successors; Gao's cousin, Jia Chuanli and Luo Bingwen. Zeng increasingly advocates for her lover to move assertive in regards to the brewing gang war as Gao becomes increasingly abusive towards Cao. Shortly afterwards Sun dies of heart disease with Jia acclaimed as the new boss; however his leadership is weak with Luo and his supporters already planning to take over the gang.

During a hit on suspected police informant Gao is apprehended by Deng - Deng is killed in the shootout. When confronted with her brother's death Zeng confronts Gao surrounding the death; Gao denies it was him and hits Zeng before refusing to sleep with her. Zeng isolated from the social events Gao took her to subsequently slips into opium abuse and depression.

The seizure of Baiqiao by Lu Keqian's forces in 1940 leads to a more rigorous enforcement of law in the city with the police becoming more emboldened to target the Jiangzhi gang. The war within the gang itself is now openly violent with Luo's supporters being more brazen in their attacks on Jia's, leading to increasing pressure on Gao. Although Gao and Zeng, now heavily addicted to opium, continue to attend social functions they can barely disguise their apathy towards each other. One night Zeng is forced to meet Luo, who informs her Gao murdered her brother and that she must killed Gao or face grave consequences. Zeng at a dance confronts Gao who confirms that he did it but feels no regret, stating that as a drug-addicted women no one would believe her and threatening to rape her. Later that night Zeng stabs Gao, before running away from Gao's siheyuan terrified of what's to come.

Cast

Lin Nuying plays the lead role of Zeng Xingjuan.

• Lin Nuying as Zeng Xingjuan
• Zhou Renshu as Gao Qi
• Liu Jianguo as Luo Bingwen
• Qin Jian as Sun Peizhi
• Shao Xiaotong as Cao
• Wan Mingyu as Jia Chuanli
• Li Rong as Deng Zihao