"Night Train" tells the story of Hongyan, a 35 year-old female executioner who works at a regional court in Shanxi Province. The number of female criminals executed by Wu Hongyan has amounted to 123 in the past five years. To have a bailiff of the same sex for the execution is the only humane treatment for women on the death row. Wu Hongyan still remembers how she broke into tears when she first started. Now she can look into the dying women's eyes with sympathy and gentleness, for she believes this will bring consolation to a lost soul. Despite her grim job, every Friday night Hongyan rides the night train into the big city and attends a dance party organized by the Good Luck Matchmaking Agency, until she meets the mysterious Jun. For the first time she feels attracted to someone.
50'000 CHF for production fiction
Cannes 2007: Un certain regard, official selection
Warsaw 2007: Best Movie Award
Buenos Aires 2008: Best Actress Award (Liu Dan), Special Mention