Broody film a box-office winner

The noir thriller Black Coal, Thin Ice has attracted audiences previously unheard of for an art-house film. Liu Wei chats to director Diao Yinan about balancing artistic vision with commercial realities.

For many years, Chinese films that enjoyed success at European film festivals have struggled at the box office, but Diao Yinan's Golden Bear winner Black Coal, Thin Ice is bucking that trend.

Released on March 21, the art-house film has taken 80 million yuan ($13 million), an impressive opening for a film without an A-list director or actors.