Devils on the Doorstep DVD: Review By Dodd

Devils on the Doorstep, the 2000 effort from director/writer Jiang Wen, is about the conflict between China and Japan following World War II. Even though the film originated in China, it doesn't exactly glorify the country. In fact, the film has been banned from theater screens in China. While this is quite a pity for Chinese audiences, it is not for Americans. After all, we will release anything! Devils on the Doorstep may be hard to track down in its home country, but it is easily available on American shores. In fact, the Eastern film is currently available on DVD.

Shot in a crisp black and white coloration, Devils is an epic war film about the Chinese suffering under the control of their enemies in a Japanese occupation after the war. But guess what? It is also a comedy! While this may sound hard to believe, just remember that Hogan's Heroes made POW camps humorous.

Ma Dasan (played by director Jiang Wen) is a Chinese peasant in the Japanese occupation that is carrying on a passionate love affair with his beautiful sister-in-law. One night while trying to have some intimate time with his lady friend, a mysterious man known as "me" knocks on his door. The faceless man puts a gun to Ma Dasan's head and leaves him two prisoners. Ma Dasan is ordered to guard and interrogate the prisoners until he returns to fetch them.

After gathering some of his local pals to investigate the situation, Ma Dasan finds that one of the prisoners is a Japanese soldier that provokes his captors nonstop and begs to be killed. The other prisoner is a Chinese interpreter for the furious Japanese man. Unlike the other prisoner, the interpreter wishes to stay alive and be set free. Ma Dasan observes his predicament of babysitting an enemy and someone on his side, and finds the situation strange. Who has captured men from both sides, and why did they do it? Better yet, why have they chosen Ma Dasan to take on this task?

While the mysterious man told Ma Dasan that he would return in a few days, many months pass and there is still no one to claim the prisoners. As this begins to affect Ma Dasan and the lives of those around him, he faces the difficult decision of staying true to the unknown person's wishes, or executing the men to make everyone's lives much easier.

As I mentioned, Devils on the Doorstep is a war drama and comedy, and it successfully finds a perfect balance between the two genres. Most of the film tends to emphasize Ma Dasan's confusion and the brutality of the Japanese soldiers. Though, there are impeccably timed moments of comic relief that give the audience just the right amount of breathing space without overdoing it.

Wen proves to be a remarkable talent both in front of and behind the camera. While I have to admit that his writing does not amount to the best story ever told, the film itself is quite a marvel. It is unfortunate that black and white filmmaking is frowned on today. In this particular project, the lack of color really brings out the miserable, war-torn sensation of a peasant village. This is definitely a setting without glowing colors, and Wen captures this shadowy world with great precision.

Introduction by Stephen Soderbergh

I really admire Soderbergh. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that I took a course on the director's entire filmography during my undergraduate career. With favoritism aside, Soderbergh does this introduction properly. Clocking in at only three and a half minutes, the director gives us an idea of what the film is about, and talks of his encounters with director Jiang Wen at the Cannes Film Festival. He also mentions that while Devils was shut down by the censors in China, it is very possible that Wen will get the chance to direct once again in his home country. Considering that this is the only real extra on the DVD, I say watch it! If you are not familiar with Soderbergh, his words are still quite interesting.

Original Theatrical Trailer

Widescreen (1.85:1 Aspect Ratio). The black and white shots are directed with great care by director Jiang Wen. With the intended vintage look of the film, I am not going to complain about the film's appearance. The lack of color really adds to the project.

Dolby Digital 5.1. Mandarin and Japanese with English subtitles. The surround system will amplify a lot of arguing and screaming. Other than that, flipping on the surround system will not make for much of a thrill ride.

Standard DVD keep case

Stephen Soderbergh says it perfectly in his introduction. This is a picture that begins as shocking comedy and turns into something just plain shocking. It is very rare that a film can be so funny, yet so brutal, and still pull off some amazing shots. Devils on the Doorstep is a picture that tells a powerful, poetic story in collaboration with fine direction. While this is a film I enjoy, it is not a film I wish to watch over and over like reruns of Family Guy. Therefore, I highly recommend a rental before determining a purchase. This disturbing, humorous look at World War II and its effects on China is undoubtedly memorable.

Questions? Comments? Drop me a line at dodd@movieweb.com