Chinese filmmaker Jia Zhangke confronts his country’s extreme social changes with a daring aesthetic in A Touch of Sin. The film unveils the tragic destiny of four sinners from four different provinces: a miner who takes revenge on a corrupt village chief; a gun-loving migrant worker who shoots his way to easy money; a modest sauna receptionist who turns into a dagger-wielding goddess; and an abused youth who endures all manner of psychological violence. Drawing inspiration from real life events, this film is a fascinating mix of social realism and contemporary kung fu.