Writing this here because it's still fresh in my mind and it's worth a try.

There are movies with plots that don't require real attention, you're able to forsee the expected actions and development. Then, there are the award winning movies, they have something more to tell to the audience, even their silence is speaking.

To have a smooth watch, some knowledge about '20s in Eastern Asia is required, I'd say comprehension of politics and international situation plus cultural traits specific to the timeframe. I can't say I know nothing but also not much, so the session definitely made me more analytical (might not be the case for everyone, it's subjective here!). Though at the end the dots do connect, I still have at least one scene "the ribs order scene "that I cannot connect to anything and I feel I am missing a cultural background, because you don't add a scene for the sake of it in this type of movies.

I liked the cinematography a lot! It's enjoyable. You get glimpses of scenes that only get explained towards the end. I can't recall something similar elsewhere, only an anime series comes to mind. And then these complete 2-3 seconds of black screen!

About the silence, there are a handful of scenes- I find this trick wholesome, you don't just fill in the audience with content, you also let them wonder (here comes the knowledge in hand!), question, maybe digest even? You might face some gaps with no vivid coherency, but it's there if both details and bigger picture are understood.

I didn't pay much attention to the music tbh but one scene I remember well because music was too loud, unnecessarily so.

I am not familiar with this genre, especially in the asian cinematography so it's hard for me to compare it to anything. Acting is solid, solider than I expected. I watched it because of Wang Yibo and the fact that both him and the movie are nominated for AFA.

I do plan to rewatch it for a better comprehension, if I do I will come back to update.