From director Gabriele Mainetti (They Call Me Jeeg Robot, Freaks Out) comes The Forbidden City, an ambitious action-revenge drama that blends martial arts spectacle with emotional storytelling.
Set against the backdrop of Rome’s shadowy underworld, the film follows Mei (Liu Yaxi), who arrives in Italy searching for her missing sister, Yun (Miki Yeung Oi-Gan). The two were born in China during the one-child policy era (1979–2015), forcing their parents to keep Mei’s existence secret while raising both girls in the disciplined world of martial arts. That shared past becomes crucial when Mei embarks on her relentless quest for answers.
In present-day Rome, Mei’s search leads her to the Esquilino Chinatown district and the restaurant “La città proibita,” run by the powerful Wang (Chunyu Shanshan), a front for criminal dealings and exploitation. Believing her sister may have been held there, Mei tears through Wang’s men in a series of fierce confrontations, only to uncover a possible connection between Yun and Alfredo, the missing owner of a nearby trattoria.
This discovery brings her face-to-face with Marcello (Enrico Borello), Alfredo’s son, who insists he knows nothing about his father’s disappearance. What begins as suspicion evolves into an uneasy alliance, as Mei and Marcello navigate secrets, betrayal, and danger lurking within Rome’s criminal networks.
Mainetti delivers high-energy martial arts choreography that stands out as the film’s greatest strength. The action sequences are inventive and tightly staged, easily the highlight of the experience. Visually, the use of Rome’s iconic landmarks adds atmosphere, while the Italian-Asian cultural crossover gives the story a unique texture rarely seen in action cinema.
That said, The Forbidden City sometimes struggles under the weight of its ambitions. At 2 hours and 18 minutes, the runtime feels stretched, with multiple subplots pulling focus away from the central revenge narrative. While the film balances roughly 40% action, 30% drama, and 30% romance, not all elements land equally. The love story feels predictable, and some of the villains feel underdeveloped, which softens the dramatic impact.
Still, Liu Yaxi and Enrico Borello bring compelling energy to their roles, anchoring the film with emotional weight and on-screen chemistry. Though uneven at times, The Forbidden City remains a visually dynamic and culturally distinctive action epic worth watching for its fight choreography alone.
Look for The Forbidden City arriving on digital platforms March 17.
