A satirical Eastern Western exploding with revolutionary fervor and absurdist humor. Amidst steam trains drawn by horses and bloody bowls of jelly, a bandit king challenges a corrupt tyrant in a dance of bullets and lies, serving as a chaotic metaphor for power, truth, and the cyclical nature of history.
Let the Bullets Fly
讓子彈飛
"A comic western legend."
Director:
Jiang Wen
Cast:
Jiang Wen, Chow Yun-Fat, Ge You, Carina Lau, Shao Bing
Action
Comedy
Box Office:
$104,731,450
Let the Bullets Fly - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
The 'Ma-Lie' Pun
The opening visual of horses (Ma) pulling a train (Lie) is a homophone for Ma-Lie (Marxism-Leninism). This visual gag sets the stage for the film's allegorical critique of Chinese socialism.
Shanghai vs. Pudong
At the end, the bandits say they are going to "Shanghai," and one mentions "Pudong." In 1920, Pudong was a swamp, but today it is the symbol of China's hyper-capitalist financial power. This anachronism signals that the revolutionaries are heading toward capitalism.
The 9-Barrelled Mask
The bandits wear tiles from the game Mahjong as masks (specifically the 'Disk' suit). Zhang Mazi is 'Nine Dots' (Pocky), symbolizing his name but also perhaps the highest value, or the 'Nine' of power.