The Post-Truth World (Zui hou zhen xiang) or 罪後真相 is a Taiwanese language thriller film that revolves around a convicted baseball player who breaks out of prison to prove his innocence, nearly after seven years of the crime. In the process, he is assisted by a desperate journalist Liu Li-min, played by Joseph Chang.
The film is directed by Chen I-fu and features a complete cast of Edward Chen as Chang Cheng-Yi, Caitlin Fang, Aviis Zhong, Amber An, Shih Chih-tian and Chan Tzu-hsuan. Moreover, the flick has a total runtime of 120 minutes.
-The Post-Truth World Review Does Not Contain Spoilers-
The thrilling story originates with a baseball match attended by soon-to-be American MVP Chang Cheng-Yi (played by Edward Chen) and his protective girlfriend cum partner. Notably, both of them, get into a small fight about the future of their relationship and family differences, while buying snacks from the food counter.
Also, present in the audience row for the match is a set of moralistic journalist couples, Liu Li-min (Joseph Chang), his wife and his daughter. Furthermore, the events that transpire next, find Chang Cheng-Yi covered in the blood of his deceased girlfriend, followed by sensational media coverage that not only puts him behind the bar but also ends a promising career once and for all. The shocking outcome is so quick and enigmatic, that nobody gets the time to figure out the minute pieces of the puzzle, and labels the story as another “Teenage angst gone horribly wrong”.
The sharp plot of this Taiwanese flick gains momentum after seven years of the crime. When Liu Li-min is having a second thoughts about the high grounds of his profession and gets kidnapped by the convicted prisoner turned fugitive Chang Cheng-Yi, in a dramatic change of events. What follows next, is a redeeming story that has more pros, than cons.
Initially, the film appears like a rapid approach that aims to hit all the conventional corners of the genre. Alongside some usual social media transitions floating around on the screen (a growing trend in movies, that finds them in the vicinity of a Youtube Video). However, the next few segments, make all the effort to bring it closer to the perception of a film and thereby rally against the shortcomings.
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The plot of the film is so slick (like all Taiwanese thrillers) that it keeps you interested in the chaotic world. At some point, the emotions run so high, that it feels like you are watching an entirely different film. Even though this might appear like a lack of balance in the elements, the execution itself prevents it from siding with the cons.
The slightly ambiguous finale pays off, and the entire flick holds the ground with some strong performances. Maybe it won’t be the perfect thriller that you anticipated in the first place, but it will surely not leave you regretting the time investment.
The Post-Truth World Final Thoughts
If you are in the mood for some slick thriller binge, with a generous outcome, then this might be your go-to option. Moreover, there is plenty of bad fish in the sea of the thriller genre, which makes this one appear as a versatile salmon.
You can stream The Post-Truth World on Netflix. Let us know your thoughts about it in the comment section below.
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