He chased the dream and caught a nightmare — capitalism bites back hard.
An ambitious young man, Geng Jie, ventures to Xicheng, achieves success through daring enterprise, but finds himself entangled in a difficult struggle for survival and drawn into a dangerous vortex after meeting a flight attendant and pursuing a stable life.
Acting
Zhu Yilong's descent from optimist to hollowed survivor.
Direction
Han Yan tightens the noose visually, frame by frame.
Production
Xicheng's alienating urban sprawl as silent antagonist.
Director
Han Yan
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Reflects China's 'lying flat' generation anxieties — young strivers hitting systemic walls despite relentless hustle.
The title's double meaning: literal weapon and hollow promise of meritocracy. Han Yan reportedly researched actual Xicheng entrepreneur collapses.
CN
