Accidental Legend

Splendidly anarchic first feature from a well-known TV director/screenwriter, this is a prime mix of adventure, comedy, satire and fantasy shot on spectacular locations in NW China and inspired by the long history of peasant revolts in the late-imperial era. At least three strands of storyline are intertwined, the main one centred on two boy thieves from a village of outcasts who unwittingly bring the wrath of the regional authorities down on their community. It all revolves around the authenticity (or otherwise) of gold, superstitions, good government and redeemer myths; sorting the real from the fake, Wang concludes, is not always as easy as it seems.