Pierce (film)
| Pierce | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Traditional Chinese | 刺心切骨 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Cì xīn qiè gŭ |
| Directed by | Nelicia Low |
| Written by | Nelicia Low |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Michal Dymek |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Piotr Kurek |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Pilot Film |
Release date |
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Running time | 109 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Mandarin |
Pierce (Chinese: 刺心切骨) is a 2024 psychological thriller film directed by Nelicia Low, in her debut feature. It delves into themes of familial bonds.[1][2] The Singapore-Taiwan-Poland co-production film had its premiere at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it received the Best Director Award.[3]
Synopsis
[edit]The film follows the tale of a high school fencer, who decides to trust and assist his dangerous older brother after his release from prison, defying their mother's efforts to conceal their traumatic past.[4]
Cast
[edit]- Liu Hsiu-Fu as Zijie
- Tsao Yu-ning as Zihan
- Ding Ning as Ai Ling, a glamorous widow and nightclub singer
- Lin Tsu-heng as Zhuang
- Rosen Tsai
Production
[edit]The film was produced by Sam Chua Weishi and Jeremy Chua from Singapore's Potocol, John M Lo from Singapore's Elysiüm Ciné, Patrick Mao Huang from Taiwan's Flash Forward Entertainment, and Izabela Igel from Poland’s Harine Films. It was co-produced by Evril Kuo and Hsu Kuo-Lun, with Andrzej Lucjanek contributing from Poland's Fixafilm. International sales are managed by the US-based company Magnify, the International sales arm of Magnolia Pictures.[5]
The film is filmed in a precise 1:66:1 aspect ratio, often utilizing symmetry and color palettes that vividly convey the mood of different scenes. It also features two moments where the camera circles around the characters to heighten the tension.[6]
Release
[edit]Pierce premiered at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 3 July 2024.[7] It was selected in Taiwan Transcendent section at the 23rd New York Asian Film Festival and had its North American premiere on 13 July 2024.[8] It was showcased at the 2024 Atlantic International Film Festival on 16 September 2024 in Narrative New Waves section, and on 21 September at the Helsinki International Film Festival [9] The film was also invited at the 29th Busan International Film Festival in 'A Window on Asian Cinema' section and was screened on 6 October 2024.[10]
In November it will compete for the Golden Peacock Award at the 55th International Film Festival of India in International competition section.[11]
In May 2024, Magnify, the International sales arm of Magnolia Pictures acquired the sales rights.[12]
Reception
[edit]John Berra reviewing for ScreenDaily at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival gave positive review writing, the film is an elegant package with significant art-house appeal... Its main strength lies in Low's narratively swift yet psychologically nuanced screenplay, which elevates Pierce into a sophisticated genre film.[13]
Vladan Petkovic reviewing for Cineuropa praised the director Nelicia Low writing, "In her psychological thriller, Nelicia Low showcases admirable control of cinematic language and storytelling."[6]
Jessica Kiang giving positive review for Variety wrote that the film, like many thrillers, uses some predictable narrative techniques to build suspense. However, Pierce is crafted with such finesse that the mechanics are mostly hidden from view.[14]
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | 6 July 2024 | Crystal Globe: Best Director | Nelicia Low | Won | [15] |
| La Roche-sur-Yon International Film Festival | 20 October 2024 | Grand Jury Prize | Pierce | Won | [16] |
| International Film Festival of India | 28 November 2024 | Golden Peacock | Pierce | Nominated | [11] |
References
[edit]- ^ "'Pierce' director thanks Taiwan's during speech". Taipei Times. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Low, Nelicia (28 May 2024). "Pierce". Cineuropa. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Chakraborty, Drima (11 July 2024). "'Does the truth really matter when it comes to love?' Ex-national fencer Nelicia Low gets personal with 1st feature film, wins Best Director at Czech festival". AsiaOne. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Leo Barraclough (28 May 2024). "Karlovy Vary Film Festival Lineup Includes 15 Directorial Debuts, Plus Films by Established Filmmakers". Variety. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Exclusive: Poster and first clips for Karlovy Vary entry Pierce". Cineuropa. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ a b Petkovic, Vladan (8 July 2024). "Review: Pierce". Cineuropa. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Kudláč, Martin (28 May 2024). "The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival reveals its competition titles". Cineuropa. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "23rd New York Asian Film Festival". NYAFF. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "Pierce". Helsinki International Film Festival. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ "The 29th BIFF 'Pierce'". Busan International Film Festival. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ a b Shemin Joy (13 November 2024). "15 films including three from India to compete for prestigious Golden Peacock at IFFI 2024 in Goa". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (1 May 2024). "Magnify Acquires Taiwanese Fencing Thriller 'Pierce,' Releases Teaser Ahead of Cannes Market Launch (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Berra, John (3 July 2024). "'Pierce': Karlovy Vary Review". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Jessica Kiang (10 July 2024). "'Pierce' Review: A Saber-Sharp Sociopathy Thriller in Which Brotherly Love Duels With Suspicion". Variety. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Wise, Damon (6 July 2024). "Karlovy Vary Reveals Award Winners: Mark Cousins' Doc 'A Sudden Glimpse To Deeper Things' Takes The Crystal Globe". Deadline. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (21 October 2024). "Pierce crowned at La Roche-sur-Yon". Cineuropa. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
External links
[edit]- Pierce at IMDb
- Pierce at Rotten Tomatoes
