The Forbidden City
Directed by Gabriele MainettiThe son of an indebted restaurant owner joins a foreign girl. He looks for his father, she's in search of her sister. Together, they'll have to fight side by side against the most ruthless members of the Roman criminal underworld.
- jackmeatMay 4, 2026My quick rating - 7.0/10. The Forbidden City looked like one of those “this could either slap or completely fall apart” watchlist gambles. Basically, it more "punches and kicks" in a way that kept me entertained enough not to complain. Right out of the gate, you’re dropped into a scenic martial arts training sequence that screams important backstory incoming…except the movie forgets to translate the text explaining it. So unless you’re fluent, you’re just nodding along like, “Yep, mountains…training…this will definitely matter later.” It’s a bold strategy. Confuse first, explain maybe never, but thankfully, the film quickly pivots into something universally understood. People getting absolutely wrecked. Enter Mei (Yaxi Liu), who wastes no time establishing herself as the human equivalent of a wrecking ball. The opening fight alone is worth the price of admission, featuring tight choreography and one of the more creative uses of a compact disc you’ll ever see. Seriously, somewhere out there, DVDs just got nervous. Mei doesn’t just fight, she improvises, turning anything within arm’s reach into a weapon. It’s chaotic, fast, and a clear nod to some of Jackie Chan's best. Then we meet Marcello (Enrico Borello), who spends a good portion of the film getting physically and verbally bullied by Mei while trying to figure out what she’s yelling at him, in Chinese. The language barrier becomes an ongoing gag, and honestly, it works. Watching Mei aggressively demand answers while the Italians scramble for Google Translate energy is oddly hilarious. It adds a layer of charm you don’t usually get in revenge-driven action films. Of course, the tone shifts hard once Mei finds her sister. What starts as a rescue mission turns into a revenge story, and that’s where The Forbidden City kicks into a more emotional side. Director Gabriele Mainetti actually gives these quieter moments room to breathe, pairing them with strong visuals and a fitting score. It doesn’t feel like filler. It feels earned. The dynamic between Mei and Marcello also develops in a surprisingly natural way. Despite not sharing a language, they still manage to connect. And why not take a nice little scooter ride through Rome that’s equal parts awkward and genuinely sweet. It’s here that the film drops some heavier backstory about the sisters, and it lands better than expected. That said, the pacing does stumble. The shift from high-energy action to emotional drama can feel a bit like slamming on the brakes at full speed. I am thoroughly enjoying Mei dismantling entire rooms of criminals, and suddenly, I'm in a quiet, melancholic reflection scene. It works individually, but the transitions aren’t always smooth. But when it comes to the important stuff, The Forbidden City nails it. Innovative action sequences, an unusual intercultural relationship, and just enough emotion to prevent it from becoming a mindless beatdown. And if you enjoy seeing a strong woman take control of a roomful of thugs who can’t even comprehend what she’s saying, this is the movie for you.
The Forbidden City Trivia
The Forbidden City was released on March 13, 2025.
The Forbidden City was directed by Gabriele Mainetti.
The Forbidden City has a runtime of 2h 18m.
The Forbidden City was produced by Mario Gianani, Lorenzo Gangarossa, Sonia Rovai.
The son of an indebted restaurant owner joins a foreign girl. He looks for his father, she's in search of her sister. Together, they'll have to fight side by side against the most ruthless members of the Roman criminal underworld.
The key characters in The Forbidden City are Mei (Liu Yaxi), Marcello (Enrico Borello), Annibale (Marco Giallini).
The Forbidden City is rated Not Rated.
The Forbidden City is an Action, Romance, Drama film.
The Forbidden City had a budget of $18.2M.
The Forbidden City has made $1.5M at the box office.