A deadbeat cop, a mysterious and beautiful woman, a string of unresolved murders... All the ingredients for an interesting Chinese take on noir cinema. It takes place in northeast China in winter, which you rarely see on screen, and makes great use of this environment. I really enjoyed the moody atmosphere, the melancholic and romantic mood, and the creative flashes of cinematography and direction (a shot of a woman screaming or of a man losing a bet, a quirky dance scene), which were delightful and caught you by surprise.