Turbulent waves – this is the first thing Nelicia Low shows us in her production. This image not only foreshadows a key event in the story, but also reflects the intense emotions that will accompany us for the next 2 hours of the screening. Pierce masterfully combines the conventions of a sports film with the dark world of a psychological thriller, treating the audience to a show full of tension, uncertainty and constant questioning of the true intentions of the characters. 

Jie’s (Liu Hsiu-Fu) life changes irrevocably when his older brother Han (Tsao Yu-Ning) is released from a juvenile prison after seven years. He ended up there for killing an opponent during a fencing competition, although he assures his brother that the fatal incident was an accident. The heroes gradually rebuild their brotherly bond, practicing fencing together behind the back of Han’s hostile mother. As Jie prepares to participate in the national championship, a series of ambiguous events takes place, bringing everything down to one simple question: is Han telling the truth? Can we actually believe that he is innocent? 

Jie’s difficulties in trusting his brother are the driving force behind this intricately constructed thriller. Viewers observe the situation from the younger brother’s perspective, thus identifying with his fears, doubts, but also a certain fascination with Han. As in Jie’s case, our starting point is previous perceptions about the brother formed largely based on the mother’s negative opinion. So, when we see the older brother with our own eyes, on the one hand we have a critical assessment in the back of our minds, but on the other hand we are confronted with a completely unfamiliar character. And figuring out the older sibling and his motives is quite a challenge with a huge number of mixed signals – one moment we get irrefutable proof of Han’s unpredictable and aggressive nature, and a moment later it turns out that we don’t know the circumstances in his favor. Thus, we are drawn into a game of appearances and non-obvious twists that keeps us in suspense until the end. 

As for the end precisely – in a review it is rather inappropriate to discuss the ending of the film, so as not to spoil the viewers from learning the story on their own. However, I believe that one simply cannot pass by this finale; just as in general Pierce offers us a solid narrative and a thrilling experience, the last 10 minutes bring this production to an even higher level. The perverse, theatrical ending, as if taken out of a Shakespearean drama, leaves us no illusions or choice – we must accept the final events like a blow dealt by an opponent during a fencing duel. 

The film is still worth praising for its amazing camera work, which is a credit to Polish cinematographer Michał Dymek. Revolving around the characters, sneaking behind them, stopping motion at crucial moments, arranging symmetrical frames – all these elements contribute to an atmospheric and phenomenal visual layer. As it happens in psychological thrillers, details also play an important role: in this case, the most striking is the deliberate concealment of Han’s face through a specific setting of frames or the protagonist’s donning of a protective fencing mask, so that we don’t get a glimpse of his reactions. 

The underlying theme of Pierce is relationships and the risks involved. The story of the brothers shows how, in dealing with others, especially loved ones, we are afraid of being judged by them, being mistrusted, or making the wrong decision. However, as Nelicia Low hints, most often our behavior goes beyond the “all or nothing” pattern, shimmering with various shades of gray, just like the face of a fencer, for whom concealing one’s intentions is the key to certain victory.

Upcoming screening:  

• 02/05/2025 | 17:45 | ASP Auditorium | Academy of Fine Arts  

Q&A with the filmmakers will take place during the film’s screening on May 2 at 17:45 at the Academy of Fine Arts.  
Q&A in English.  

The screening takes place in the ASP cinema, which is equipped with an induction loop for the hearing and hearing-impaired. 

Aleksandra Kubas