The Fourth Wall Review (China, 2019)

"It takes the same amount of courage to kill a person as to save a person"

Directors: Zhang Chong, Zhang Bo
Screenplay by: Zhang Bo, Qi Hao
Cast: Liu Lu, Wang Ziyi

With great courage and bravery, the Chinese film industry produces thousands of films every year, films that represent different and daring proposals of very diverse genres that can be big or small productions… Some of them may even seem harmless, but all of them have a remarkable background and depth. 



Today, we would like to talk about one of the films that dare to deal with deep and complex themes, a film not afraid to capture issues that, although apparently universal, mean important obstacles when it comes to moving forward in our lives: The impalpable walls that separate us from the past, the present and the future. The walls that prevent us from finding our way, from seeing beyond or even from moving forward because we are scared of the unknown. The walls that separate us from old memories, memories that could harm our existence and, consequently, transform us in mere spectators of what we think our life could be.
Welcome to The Fourth Wall.

Firstly, let us explain that "The fourth wall" is a concept conceived in 1788 by the philosopher, critic and screenwriter Denis Diderot in his work Discours sur la poésie dramatique. “The fourth wall” means the barrier or invisible wall that exists between the audience and the actors in any fiction work, separating both realities. When actors interact with the 'real world', it is called “breaking the fourth wall”.

Using this concept, the exquisite directors Zhang Chong and Zhang Bo tell a very human and slow-paced story which walks elegantly through the fantastic and even the cinema noir, all coated with that costumbrist essence so popular in the independent Chinese cinema. After their interesting and surprising Super Me, the duo plunge us in the fascinating human mind and its secrets. But, above all, they tell the story of an unhappy woman who is frightened of breaking the walls of her reality, something that, as it is shown in the movie, can harm her present self.

Liu Lu leads a sad and seemingly mundane life, working on a deer farm. Her friend Ma Hai tries in vain to gain her affection, but it is as if she was isolating herself and pulling away any kind of warmth or human love. One day, Ma Hai confesses that he is able to see parallel realities where their lives are totally different. The more Liu Lu learns about her other 'she', the more she discovers about the long-repressed memories of her past.

Thanks to Liu Lu character, the film shows that natural, human fear to move forward, the fact of anchoring ourselves in the past or wandering about our future without paying attention to improve our present, always thinking “what if…?”. It exposes the moment when we become mere spectators of our own life, never being able to break this fourth wall, never getting to directly participate in the plot of our existence, as it happens to Liu Lu.

The Fourth Wall counts on an excellent photography and ability with the cameras. There are many fascinating scenes on the film, but we would like to highlight one in particular: The vast forest with thick and long trees that have dozens of branches in their tops, a clear reference to life, which has a central axis and hundreds of ramifications, some of them good, some of them bad, depending on our decisions or that what happens to us.

Liu Lu and Wang Ziyi prove that they are brilliant actors, solidly performing two roles with a very heavy dramatic burden. Curiously, we would like to point out that the real name of the actress playing the role of Liu Lu is also Liu Lu, a clear reference to the concept of “The fourth wall”.

In short, with The Fourth Wall, the directors Zhang Chong and Zhang Bo once again set out universal moral dilemmas to the audience, making an in-depth study of the human psyche. A spectacular film with an astonishing acting and a great execution. A very pleasant surprise.

What’s best: Both actors in the leading roles.
The topic, interesting and deep.

What’s worse: It could be a bit confusing sometimes.

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