Written and directed by Jean Liu, in search of her missing father, a desperate teenager strikes a deal with a stranger to go fishing for corpses. Starring Harmonie He and Jizhong Zhang.
For any film fan, it’s also a fun bonus when a film and its title have such hilariously different tones. Seeing the title Corpse Fishing might immediately lead you to assume you’re headed into some form of gross or comedic horror when actually what you’re getting is a heartfelt story of acceptance and loss. That contrast is the first hint at the clever choices from Jean Liu because it sets the tone for something which is self-aware and not going to take itself too seriously.
Before digging into some of those other choices, first there’s the heart of the film which is brought to life by the beautiful companionship between Harmonie He’s Yan and Jizhong Zhang’s Bo. Mismatched friendships are always a satisfying thing to watch and this one is no exception, the chemistry and empathy that they have for one another is exceptional. Especially when it starts off on such rocky terrain, with them testing one another with some fun banter before finding their common ground. The performances are both excellent, these are two characters you could happily watch for a full feature.
A part of that is how Liu brings comedy into the script, it is arguably a very dark story and yet it holds a lightness and hope, among its dead bodies. It’s compelling and surprisingly sweet, as well as having a strong tension. Its emotional impact is definitely anchored by its firm grasp on reality. It never becomes saccharine, Liu keeps hold of the grim aspects to life, without letting them drag down the atmosphere. The directorial choices equally reflect that, they’re pensive and compassionate, they perfectly match the tone of the story.
Corpse Fishing is an unexpected delight, giving us two characters who we sadly only get to spend less than twenty minutes with, which is not enough. To a certain extent that’s because the story can feel slightly unfinished but it’s very much a minority versus purely enjoying watching them onscreen. In no small part due to the strong, charismatic and compassionate performances from Harmonie He and Jizhong Zhang. Jean Liu’s direction moves in a very thoughtful manner, and it’s a dark story yet it highlights the goodness in people.
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