The Robbers (2009)

This film demonstrates the war happening in a muddy environment by fast cuttings and tells a cruel story in an ancient village in a profound way. In the Tang Dynasty, two robbers come to Bitter Bamboo Village. One of them, Xue Shisan, is handsome and alert, who is an excellent shooter; the other one, Chen Liu, is ugly and stupid, and he uses a sword. Xue and Chen have been robbers for a long time and have committed many cases. In Bitter Bamboo Village, they come to a girl's house, whose name is Luo Niang. Unfortunately, they come across several soldiers when they are about to loot. To protect themselves, they kill all the soldiers, but finally they are surrounded by the villagers, who want no trouble with the government. The leader of village catches them at the spot, but they tell jokes to the villagers and escape successfully. The soldiers chase them for revenge. Obsessed with Luo's beauty, Chen runs back to the village with Xue despite the danger. Seeing the soldiers molesting Luo, angrily Chen attacks the soldiers with Xue and runs away once again. They are trapped by the village head who plans to kill them after they are drunk. However, with their stunning Kungfu, the two robbers hang the village head on a tree. Xue is supposed to leave, but Chen persuades him into stay because Chen cannot live without Luo and Xue also cannot live without his good brother--Chen. So they live in the village, helping Luo harvest and mend her house. The village head has been hung in the tree for three days and almost loses his life. After being put down from the tree, the village head is found to be mad. Xue and Chen arm the villagers in case the soldiers may attack. The soldiers do come led by the village head who pretends to be mad. Not until the soldiers are to burn the village down does the village head realize that he has made a mistake. Xue and Chen lead the villagers to fight against the soldiers. After fighting the whole night, nearly all the villagers are killed. With Xue's dead body on his shoulder, Chen runs away with Luo. They come to a remote place where Chen has hidden his treasure from robbery in a big jar in the ground. Chen opens the jar and finds all his treasure gone. Weeping loudly, Chen buries Xue's dead body in the jar and leaves with Luo. Decades later, Chen returns to Bitter Bamboo Village with Luo and their retarded son. In a rain lasting for two years, Chen tells the whole story, and he gradually falls asleep and never wakes up.