Dying to Survive
Chinese Crime Thrillers
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1h 56m
Directed by Wen Muye • 2018 • China
Starring Xu Zheng, Zhou Yiwei, Wang Chuanjun
Based on the true story of a Robin Hood–esque people’s hero who took on big pharma, this rousing blend of comedy and social drama was a box-office smash in China that actually effected change in government policy regarding drug prices. Our unlikely protagonist is Cheng Yong (Xu Zheng), a middle-aged, deadbeat Shanghai shopkeeper who sees a chance to make a quick buck by smuggling a cheap, generic drug used to treat leukemia from India into China. But what begins as a purely selfish act gradually changes Cheng into a crusader for the greater good as he realizes his enterprise has the power to save lives.
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