Under the Light

Under the Light (Chinese: 坚如磐石) is a 2023 Chinese crime drama film directed by Zhang Yimou, and stars Lei Jiayin, Zhang Guoli, Yu Hewei, and Zhou Dongyu. It was released in theaters in China on September 28, 2023. The film tells the story of Su Jianming, an ordinary young policeman who works at the Municipal Bureau's Criminal Identification Center. In order to protect the safety of the people, he embarks on a thrilling investigative journey.

For the San Cisco album, see Under the Light (album).

Under the Light
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese	堅如磐石
Simplified Chinese	坚如磐石
Literal meaning	Solid as a rock
Hanyu Pinyin	Jiān rú pánshí
Directed by	Zhang Yimou
Written by	Chen Yu
Produced by	Pang Liwei
Starring	Lei Jiayin Zhang Guoli Yu Hewei Zhou Dongyu
Cinematography	Luo Pan
Production companies	Beijing Enlight Pictures Beijing Hanli Film Co., Ltd.
Release date	September 28, 2023 (2023-09-28)
Running time	127 minutes
Country	China
Language	Mandarin
Box office	$190 million[1]

Plot

To investigate the truth behind a bus explosion case, Su Jianming defies the warnings of his powerful and influential father, Zheng Gang, and rushes to attend a banquet hosted by wealthy businessman Li Zhitian. There, Su witnesses Li's brazen and cruel display of power, which includes humiliating others and plunging his hand into a boiling hotpot. As the night unfolds, shocking clues gradually surface: a corpse hidden in a wall, a deadly assault with a wrench, and the under-the-table transfer of nearly ten billion yuan. Beneath these intertwining secrets, an undercurrent of danger suggests that a grand scheme is being meticulously plotted.

Cast

• Lei Jiayin as Su Jianming
• Zhang Guoli as Zheng Gang
• Yu Hewei as Li Zhitian
• Zhou Dongyu as Li Huilin
• Sun Yizhou as David
• Li Naiwen as Liu Feng
• Xu Yajun as Liu Bo
• Tian Yu as Tang Danian
• Xu Zili as Sun Heyang
• He Zhengjun as Wen Hui
• Chen Daoming as Chen Weimin
• Joan Chen as He Xiuli
• Wang Xun

Production

Development

As a criminal procedural blockbuster set in the city, the film is different from the image style of Zhang Yimou's previous films. This is something Zhang Yimou has never tried before, an urban and modern shooting style that replaces the classical composition. From the early stages of creation, Zhang set the tone of the film: "Don't write about simple sympathy, but write about the understanding of human nature".^[2]

In order to pursue a sense of reality, director Zhang asked all members of the crew to show up without makeup. Actor Chen Daoming stated this is his first time doing so during his acting career.^[3]

The film also marked the second collaboration between Zhang Yimou and Zhou Dongyu since her breakthrough film Under the Hawthorn Tree ten years ago.^[4]

Filming

Principal photography began in Chongqing on May 2019, and ended on September 13.^[5]

Release

The film released the first trailer on December 27, 2022. On the same day, it also announced that the film was scheduled for release on January 22, 2023. On December 29, 2022, the film released the list of full cast.