NYFF 2019: THE WILD GOOSE LAKE

There are films that immediately ensnare an audience, crafting them into their web of intrigue and tension. Films that refuse to let go until the final moments, giving satisfaction in both the predictable and the unpredictable. The Wild Goose Lake is the latest to join these ranks, its story of desperation, and trying to make the best out of the worst kind of situation, promising to entertain each audience it has the chance to showcase for.

A Captivating Story

There is an immediate sense of intruding danger and mystery as two figures quietly meet up, neither sure that trust can ever be shared between them. There is a smell of death, life gone before and a potential end for each other if the pieces are not played correctly. As viewers settle into the film, they are whisked away to the events that have led each of them to this moment.

The head of a motorbike theft underground syndicate, Zenong Zhou (Ge Hu) is the equivalent of The Godfather, his superiority to the group gifting him with the most profitable of territories. From the moment he walks into the basement housing the secret meeting, there is a sense of David Fincher’s Fight Club emulating from the screen, the relateablility only drawing audience further into the story, anticipation for action heightened.

And action is delivered. There is a challenge to the head of the group, a questioning of why he should be given the best while the others receive the less profitable streets. What starts as a rumble turns into shooting and revenge – a challenge presented in retribution for the outburst resulting in death and running from the law.

In the confusion and desperation to survive, accidentally mistaking police for his assailants, Zenong finds himself on the run questioning who he can trust. With a sizable bounty on his head, he becomes the target of not only police and revenge, but the prize his greedy “coworkers” devise to obtain for themselves. Yet, while everyone is formulating plans of their own,  Zenong struggles to find away to have his wife turn him in so she can claim the money. But as time starts to run out, so too are the people he trust.

Crafting Intrigue

One of the things you immediately notice within The Wild Goose Lake is the exquisite camera work executed to elevate the feeling and experience of the film. The pans and angles elevated every scene and vibe of the film. While more abundantly seen in the beginning as the intensity of the bikers is reaching its height, is shifts and molds with each scene, setting and vibe that follows.

While the title gives an air of peacefulness, the film itself is far from. There is angst, anguish, fear and hostility. Audiences themselves will find as much confusion as the main character, questioning if they can believe what they see on screen. The tranquility the title illuminates to is quickly ripped away with some of the best kill scenes I have seen for quite sometime. Yet, while they are memorable they do not overshadow the film, still allowing the core story to remain in focus and take hold after the audience reactions die down.

The film also takes a moment to go beyond the camera work and murderous displays to find a comparison between the illegal and the legal. It was intriguing the brief comparison to the police and the motorbike crime organization – each compared to show how they are as similar as they are different. In the beginning, the motor bike thieves are assigned streets they are to “run”, stealing the bikes that come into their designated areas. When the police are looking for Zenong, they too follow a similar system, assigning streets to officers in the hopes that he will be spotted and apprehended in their designated areas. It is a brief but important comparison. Each utilize a similar system, yet each looking for different results.

Conclusion: The Wild Goose Lake

I do not have the opportunity often to see and experience films coming out of China to often, and I have to say more of an effort on my part is definitely necessary. The exposition and storylines are enthralling, holding your attention until the very last moment. Will he or won’t he find success in his plan to utilize his downfall to aid the wife and children he will be leaving behind? The Wild Goose Lake is a ride you want to be on, holding on to you until the very end.

Watch The Wild Goose Lake