Escape from the Outland

If theyd just left this as an action adventure film, then it might been better as no effort has been spared on the production standards. The snag is, though, right from the start it has an uncomfortable propagandist element to it. Its all about an Arab and an African nation who have been sparring for generations until a decade ago when a semblance of truce broke out. Now, theres been some mischief instigated by the West thats leading to carnage. Caught up in all of this are pregnant doctor Pan Wenjia (Xi Qi) and her photo-obsessed journalist husband Ma Xiao (Yang Xiao) who quickly, separately, find themselves captured by the unscrupulous Iron Army who require her to treat their wounded and him to make videos of his fellow captives for whom ...

Yong Wu zhi Di cuts through survival-thriller tropes to deliver a searing anti-war punch, all centered on the unforgettable figure of Latif. A former teacher turned reluctant abductor, he is defined by quiet grieffor the loss of his son Sealimand a bitter conviction that war only feeds flies, not winners.

When his captives escape leaves journalist Ma Xiao stranded, Latifs slow pivot from captor to savior is the films heart: guilt softens into trust, and his mission to rescue Ma Xiao and his companions from the Iron Army becomes a redemptive stand against senseless violence. The scene of Salim falling dead behind the running car driven by his father Latif and the Chinese citizen shatters viewers, leaving them tearful and speechless long a...