Ballad of a Small Player

Oct 15, 2025

1h 41m

★ 5.8

Overview

Amid the glittering casinos of Macau, a gambler running from his past — and his debts — becomes fascinated by an enigmatic woman at the baccarat table.

Genres

Crime

Drama

Production Companies

Good Chaos

Stigma Films

Nine Hours

Ballad of a Small Player Trailers

Cast

Lord Doyle

Colin Farrell

Dao Ming

Fala Chen

Cynthia Blithe

Tilda Swinton

Grandma

Deanie Ip

Adrian Lippett

Alex Jennings

Mr. Huang

Jason Tobin

Casino Manager

Adrienne Lau

Alfred da Souza

Anthony Wong Chau-Sang

Royale Casino Receptionist

Jessica Lai

Royale Casino Assistant Manager

Margaret Cheung

Bellman Kai

Alan K. Chang

Rainbow Casino Croupier

Selena Fong

Although based on a novel by Georges Simenon, director (and songwriter) Serge Gainsbourg has superimposed several dark emotions and a subtle brutality over the weak plot about a man's trip to Africa and his unfortunate passion for a murderess whose amorality sends the disillusioned fellow back to Europe. Sometimes described as frustrating and self-centered, reactions to this film swing across a broad spectrum of complaints -- not the least might be whether or not Gainsbourg is using a clichéd and stereotypical view of "dark Africa" to convey what he sees in his characters.

7.4

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8.2

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8.0

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7.3

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8.6

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6.7

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8.3

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7.8

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