The Missing Gun

The Missing Gun
Promotional poster for The Missing Gun
Directed by	Lu Chuan
Produced by	Wang Zhonglei
Written by	Lu Chuan based on a novelette by Fan Yiping
Starring	Jiang Wen Ning Jing Wu Yujuan
Release date	8 May 2002
Running time	87 min.
Country	China
Language	Guizhou dialect

The Missing Gun (Chinese: 寻枪; pinyin: Xún Qiāng) is a 2002 Chinese black comedy film directed by Lu Chuan and starring Jiang Wen, Ning Jing and Wu Yujuan. A directorial debut of Lu, the film premiered during the 9th Beijing College Student Film Festival on 21 April 2002. A pioneer digital screening was subsequently held in Shanghai on 28 April, making The Missing Gun the first film screened in China with digital cinema technology. The film was officially released on 8 May in Beijing.

Adapted from a novelette by Fan Yiping, the film revolves around a small-town policeman who embarks on a search for his missing gun. The film also explores the themes of self-identity and self-respect, as well as addresses a number of pertinent social issues, such as counterfeits, in China.

War veteran turned small-town policeman Ma Shan (played by Jiang Wen) wakes up after a drunken night at his sister's wedding banquet to find his issued gun missing. After making sure his wife Han Xiaoyun (Wu Yujuan) and third-grader son have not taken it, Ma embarks on a search around the town. He questions his sister and brother-in-law, as well as two ex-comrades in an attempt to connect the dots. He finds out that he was sent home the previous night in a car by Zhou Xiaogang (Shi Liang). Ma knocks on Zhou's door but is greeted by Li Xiaomeng (Ning Jing), Ma's former lover who married and moved to Guangzhou, but has since returned. Li claims that Zhou is not home. Ma leaves but manages to run into Zhou a moment later. After searching Zhou's car, he ascertains that Zhou has not taken his gun either.