Both films focus on the same theme of morally-grey undercover cops infiltrating crime organisations and their uneasy friendship/relationship with gangsters they were supposed to infiltrate. Both productions are heavy in the violence department

Both films were directed by Lou Ye and star Qin Hao as a very imporant character who gets involved in a relationship based around cheating

Both films were directed by Lou Ye and star Qin Hao as a main character who gets involved in a relationship based around cheating

Both MLs are very similar; they fall in love with a woman who changes their outlook forever and they end up following the same path. Both dramas feature scenes where MLs visit brothels or engage in adult activities with women

Both films are set in Tibet and touch upon resolving relationship issues while focusing on themes of motherhood/family

Traditional Tibetan opera is central to both of these films; Atak Lhamo for Lhamo and Skalbe; Drimé Kunden for The Search.

The same director (Lou Ye), Qin Hao as main cast; similar way of setting up the plot and using incomplete/unreliable POVs to fool the viewer.

Same director; the same way of storytelling with nonlinear narrative where reality mixes with dreams and memories

Both films are romance films that focus on stigmatised characters and their way of trying to blend in with the society.

One film features a Japanese assassin stuck in Taiwan; while the other features a Taiwanese assassin stuck in Japan. Both MLs get involved with a prostitute and land themselves in a situation when they have to care for a little boy

Both films were directed by Takeshi Kitano; and he's also the ML in both of them. Both feature a burnt out ML who burnedened by his worries begin a downward spiral

Both films feature a japanese gangster/contract killer that gets betrayed and has to hide on a beach. Both productions have a similar slow pace and vibe to them