CHINA SEA Review (from PÖFF 29)

(This review originally appeared in its entirety on scenethatreviews.com)

Hey there! Welcome to another review from 29th PÖFF | Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. This time I turn to the "Critics Picks' Competition" category for a film that just had its world premiere at the festival... China Sea (2025).

Osvald (Marius Repšys) was a championship fighter who was nearly unstoppable in the ring. Though the television highlights we see of him winning a tournament in Japan is also the last time that Osvald ever fights professionally.

While he was on top of the fighting world, Osvald got into a bar fight. During the altercation, an errant punch from him winds up striking a woman in the bar. The incident blows Osvald’s career apart. The fighting community rejects him, his support network crumbles, and he loses the only thing he knows how to do, fight

He has moved back to Lithuania and lives in a Taiwanese restaurant that is owned by the family of his best friend, Ju-Long (Jag Huang). Over time, he gets back in contact with his old trainer who reluctantly agrees to bring Osvald in to teach some of the younger fighters. Through his anger management group, Osvald also manages to meet Skaistė (Severija Janušauskaitė). Right away he feels inexplicably drawn to her.

Now that he's back home, attempting to rebuild his life, can Osvald find the path to redemption?

---

At first, China Sea (2025) may have you thinking that it is setting up a Rocky-style comeback for the ages. However, director Jurgis Matulevičius chooses to carve his own path with the story of Osvald.

No matter what he does, Osvald can't seem to get ahead. Ju-Long has a hefty debt owed to the mob and they come to visit the China Sea restaurant on more than one occasion. Though through it all, Osvald resists the urge to give into his violent tendencies. In part because he is focused and engaged during his anger management classes. He tries to take as much away from each session as possible.

Yet, despite the best of intentions, there never seems to be a path forwards for Osvald. Yes, he's back with his old trainer. And while he isn't the one fighting, you can tell that just being around the gym again is having a positive impact on him. But he knows that it can all be taken away again in the blink of an eye.

Marius Repšys does an amazing job as Osvald. Through mainly facial expressions and his actions, he's able to portray the whirlwind of emotions that consume Osvald. He makes it incredibly easy to root for Osvald as he resists the temptations of his past life. There's also raw emotion on display as we watch Osvald take all the right steps to better himself, only for life to beat him back down.

Another thing I appreciated about China Sea (2025) is the lighting. Osvald is a man with a dark past and plenty of his own demons. This is reflected as we see him navigate through the dimly lit restaurant and gym. Even the anger management class scenes appear to try and use as much natural lighting as possible, while still avoiding things being too bright and optimistic.

If I have a nitpick with the film, it's that the Ju-Long storyline felt a bit underdeveloped. I like the inclusion of it but felt that we needed a bit more meat on the bone for it to fit naturally into the story.

If you've read any of my reviews before, you know I don't like to end on a down note. This time is no different. Although violence is a major theme and constantly hinted at, keeping it offscreen was a smart choice. We don't need the graphic images, just show us some spatter or give us the sounds and let our minds fill in the blanks.

China Sea (2025) isn't going to be for everyone. Though, if you find yourself to be a fan of bleak dramas, definitely be sure to give it at least one viewing.

🍿 SCORE = 83 / 100