Trending Topic Review: Zhou Dongyu Is An Ice-Cold Truth Seeker In Social Media Cautionary Tale

Trending Topic (PG13)

Starring Zhou Dongyu, Song Yang, Yuan Hong

Directed by Xin Yukun

An aggressive online editor, Chen Miao (Zhou Dongyu), posts an unverified video apparently showing one schoolgirl push another down a staircase. The post goes viral and the pusher, harassed by netizens as a hated villain, jumps off a building. But as Chen discovers a darker side to the story, she regrets her initial blitzkrieg to pump up viewership, jeopardising her fast-rising career to go against even her vital investor to put things right.  

This Mainland Chinese film exposing the sinister truth about somebody powerful and untouchable through the media is bound to be dicey in view of the state’s control of info.

The trick is to push the blame to the Wild West — or is it East — of social media where hysterical cyberbullying carries severe consequences.

Here’s the culturally different thing. Over here, we already know this. Audiences weaned on sensational Hollywood fare about unshackled reporters uncovering mind-blowing truths to nail evil corporations, government cover-ups and shady leaders would probably not be too impressed by this drama. Except for its setting, there’s basically nothing new.

It’s a sex thing? Well, okay. The big bad is a filthy rich tycoon preying on female students plucked from the school which he funds.

A letdown, despite this pic — China's equivalent of She Said with a Harvey Weinstein-style predator — being a hit in the mainland. 

At first, Trending Topic, directed by Xin Yukun (The Coffin In The Mountain), looks gripping with little Davids banging their heads against the corporate might of Goliath.

The more the small team of determined truth-seekers led by Chen gathers witnesses and evidence, the more the nasty, well-heeled henchman, company president Yue Peng (Send Me To The Clouds’ Yuan Hong), thwarts their every move with money, dirty tricks and a sneering overconfidence that’s begging for a big-time payback. The man buys everyone over to kill the truth. From Chen’s publishing partner, a complicit school principal, to even the victim’s mother.     

Then you realise that unlike ang moh reporters digging out a smoking gun, the Chinese way is to absorb the blows as an outmatched, sympathetic underdog. Before staging a Gotcha-moment that’s Asian wrap-up contrived and predictable as the show pivots from a cautionary tale about the dangers of the internet to a don't-censor one about crushing the immoral rich.

Luckily, this flick has steely-hard porcelain crusader, Zhou, fave everywhere-girl, driving up public opinion to swing to her side. FYI: China’s netizens are more numerous than the populations of entire countries.

She’s captivating to see as being unapologetically ice cold for every occasion as she confronts the big heavy and even the small softie.

“Xiaosui (the victim) felt desperate because she has a mother like you,” she berates the helpless mum for accepting blood money.

It’s a shocking scolding.

But it’s Zhou Dongyu-terrific. (3/5 stars)

Photos: GV Pictures/Clover Films