Well GO USA
Digital Release: March 17, 2026
Home Video: April, 21, 2026 (available to pre-order here)
When filmmaker Gabriele Mainetti mixes high-octane gangster action with martial arts in modern-day Rome’s Chinatown, The Forbidden City becomes a clash of cultures that feels both unusual and ambitious. Whether the conflict comes through fists or gunfire, two very different worlds collide when Mei (Yaxi Liu) arrives searching for her missing sister. The reason for that search becomes clearer in the opening sequence. The siblings were secretly raised during China’s one-child policy era, and although the film never fully reveals when they were separated, the implication is that Mei has spent years searching.
Part of me still feels this story might have worked better as a period piece. That said, what Mainetti presents is effective in its own way. The film offers a glimpse of how Chinatowns exist beyond the usual cinematic settings of North America or Asia. In this case, the story unfolds in Rome. Without the occasional landmark or explicit mention, the location can be easy to miss, but the cinematography and production design give the city a textured, lived-in feel.
Where the film falters slightly is in its action choreography. It aims to stand out, and the marketing certainly leans into that promise. A large part of that appeal comes from Yaxi herself, who previously served as Liu Yifei’s stunt double in Disney’s Mulan.
Her transition from stunt performer to leading lady is one of the film’s most interesting aspects. This actress handles the physical side of the role with confidence, though there are moments where the drama feels a little uneven. Thankfully, the film’s strong cinematography and carefully crafted sets help carry the story through those bumps. The visual appeal is impressive, though spectacle alone can only carry a film so far.
When Mei begins forming a connection with Marcello (Enrico Borello), the story briefly leans toward romance, but the film wisely keeps that element restrained. At its core, this remains the story of a woman searching for her sister. The emotional tension comes from the obstacles Mei faces along the way, and from the difficult choices she must make about who to save first.
The eventual rescue target becomes fairly predictable, so it’s best left unspoiled. While the film delivers several entertaining action moments, it may not leave the same lasting impression as a classic Shaw Brothers production. The question lingering at the end is less about the film itself and more about its star. With this debut as a lead, does Yaxi Liu have the potential to follow a path similar to someone like Michelle Yeoh?
Time will tell, but The Forbidden City at least marks an intriguing first step.
3 Stars out of 5
The Forbidden City Trailer
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