A Long Shot is a murky, gritty thriller set in China’s northeastern industrial wasteland. The film explores themes of corruption, crime, and the impact of economic downturn on the lives of individuals. Directed by Gao Peng, this feature debut takes place in the Fenglin Ferroalloy Factory, a massive rust-covered facility that employs over 8,000 people and is almost like a city onto itself. However, the factory is facing a major economic crisis, with unpaid wages and a wave of robberies.
Gu Xuebing, a former sharpshooter turned security guard, is tasked with protecting the factory. However, Gu’s career took a downward turn when he partially lost his hearing, forcing him to take on a day job as a security guard. Alongside Chief Tian and a group of other guards, Gu forms an ersatz police force that operates under its own rules. Suspects are often beaten and rarely transferred to the regular police. The guards have access to guns, a rarity in China at the time, but they only use them in emergencies.
Despite his role as a security guard, Gu secretly pursues his passion for shooting by crafting his own gun. He is a loner who keeps to himself, maintaining a distant relationship with his neighbor, Jin Yujia, and her teenage son, Geng Xiaojun, who is involved in petty crimes. The plot of A Long Shot kicks in when Gu catches Geng stealing scrap metal from the factory. Instead of turning him in, Gu decides to mentor Geng and teach him the ropes of his job, hoping to keep him away from a life of crime. However, the lure of criminal activities remains strong, even coming from within the factory’s management.
The screenplay, credited to four writers including director Gao Peng, portrays a crumbling industrial world marked by theft and misery. The film sheds light on the desperate circumstances of workers who risk their lives for stolen copper wires or broken machine parts. These depictions reveal the dire straits China was facing at the time, with privatized state companies going bankrupt. Although set in the mid-90s, A Long Shot also alludes to China’s current economic slump and an authoritarian system that crushes responsible working individuals like Gu.
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As the film progresses, the narrative collides with a heist story, leading to a climactic shootout during the factory’s 40th-anniversary celebration. Director Peng skillfully handles these closing scenes, with bursts of gunfire hidden by the constant explosion of firecrackers. Gu’s homemade pistol finally comes into play, resulting in a bloody and intense confrontation. This solid ending helps compensate for the film’s somewhat opaque plotting and languid drama. The performances, particularly by Zu Feng as Gu, are commendable and add depth to the story.
However, what truly stands out in A Long Shot is the setting itself. Cinematographer Florian Zinke captures the Fenglin facility in shades of gray and brown, resembling a small city devastated by some dystopian catastrophe. The factory’s looming presence serves as a warning of what China once was and what it could become if corruption continues to prevail and morally upright individuals like Gu become scarce.
In conclusion, A Long Shot is a thought-provoking film that examines the impact of corruption and economic crisis on individuals within a vast industrial setting. Director Gao Peng’s feature debut showcases strong performances and a visually striking portrayal of the factory’s bleak environment. While the film’s plotting may seem murky at times, the solid ending and powerful themes make it a worthwhile watch. Through its exploration of crime, corruption, and the struggle for integrity, A Long Shot offers a glimpse into a world where the line between morality and survival becomes blurred.
