A Murder Beside Yanhe River

| Release: 2014.12.01

| Cast: Wang Kai | Cheng Taishen

"Everyone is equal in law"

Captain Huang Kegong was deeply in love with a student he only knew for two months, Liu Qian. However, she refuses to marry him. Few days later, her body was found on the edge of Yanhe river. 

The case quickly gains public attention. Led by President Judge Lei, the investigation reveals more than Huang Kegong’s admit. He was the one the trigger. However, Huang Kegong is a great soldier, decorated general, and skilled warrior. If he’s given capital punishment, it means the great loss for the party. They need every fuel in this anti-Japanese war.

This leaves juror to a dilemma. What kind of verdict should they give to Huang Kegong?

A great man falls because of a woman. I must add, she’s not a good woman, either.  How could she spares time alone with him and naively thinks it’s just a friendship? Any man would mistake it as love. So, I think she’s not fair to refuse his proposal. 

On the other hand, how can an adult shoot a woman just because she runs for him? Well, they're obviously made for each other.

Another lesson highlighted from this story is how the jurors come to the conclusion. I think it's relatable to our daily life where we experience people with a high connection, much money, and somebody's children are easily escaped from punishment. We still think that people's value is based on what they have, whether its money or connection. This is what burns people. How come law has double standards? 

The movie is made based on the murder case of Huang Kegong, who was a general of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. Unlike some Chinese movies I watched recently, it doesn't show beautiful cinematography. But, hey, I'm watching it for kk.

I watched this on youtube (with English sub).