Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Jonathan Hensleigh, ‘Ice Road: Vengeance’ is the direct sequel to ‘The Ice Road‘ and continues the story of Mike McCann, a veteran truck driver who wishes to fulfill his brother Gurty’s final wishes. The previous film ends with tragedy, as Gurty sacrifices his life for a greater cause. In the present, Mike has a mission: scatter his brother’s ashes atop Mount Everest. However, the path to the top is not easy, and the protagonist, whose hands are trained to traverse icy roads, is not prepared for the challenges put forth by the unforgiving Himalayas. That is not the only hurdle he has to face, as a group of mercenaries with a nefarious agenda target the people he meets on his journey. Mike refuses to stay put in the face of injustice, and in the process returns to the life of violence he is desperate to run away from. This action thriller movie brings a wide array of characters into the equation, with Dhani Yangchen standing out as a formidable presence. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Dhani Yangchen is an Everest Guide Who Becomes Mike’s Most Valuable Ally
Although ‘Ice Road: Vengeance’ is primarily about Mike McCann and his adventures through the hairpin bends of the Himalayas, the story is incomplete without a guide who shapes the narrative both from the inside and outside. Dhani Yangchen, a professional Everest guide, fills that role, introducing the protagonist to the new terrain along with a new set of challenges. Initially, Mike expects a man to be his guide, and is hardly able to hide his surprise when Dhani turns out to be a woman. However, all his doubts are quickly dispelled when he learns that she has scaled the highest peak on Earth a grand total of ten times already, which makes her one of the most competent guides in the game. Dhani is a practicing Buddhist, which plays another part in strengthening her sense of self. When one of the passengers on the bus to Everest, Starr, carelessly kicks Mike’s bag, Dhani is the first person to confront the teenager, unintentionally kick-starting an unlikely dynamic between the two.
When the tour bus is eventually hijacked by Yash’s goons, we come to learn about a completely different side of Dhani, one that is used to violence and bloodshed. She explains that kidnappers in the region have a tendency to leave no proof, which turns the situation into a battle for survival. Here, we see her martial arts expertise at play as she manages to hold her own against trained combatants, eventually fleeing with Mike and his gang. Later in the story, Dhani is the one to save Starr’s life by coldly murdering the assailant who is after her. Instead of making the guide a more threatening figure, it instead invites a sense of companionship, as Starr gets curious about the martial arts techniques that were used and wishes to learn them. This creates a bonding moment between her and Dhani, and the moves that she learns play a key role in ultimately defeating Yash’s forces. As such, with the help of the deuteragonist, Starr undergoes a transformative arc of her own.
Dhani’s dynamic with Mike becomes one of the driving forces of the story, as it is their care for each other that leads to their survival in the long run. When Mike gets shot and nearly loses his life, it is Dhani who extracts the bullets from his body and gives him the treatment he needs. Mike is not one to forget this act, and over time, their relationship takes a special turn. While the ending suggests a potential happy ending for the two of them, the actual point of the story lies in reflecting the journey they went on, which took a dramatic turn entirely by chance. However, the fact that Dhani manages to pull through and directly contribute to the protagonist’s victory makes her his equal. As such, the two go from being a guide and a tourist to allies whose bond is forged in trust and blood. The romantic elements of the pair only strengthen this connection, opening the door to a healthier future.
Chinese Actor Fan Bingbing Channels the Essence of Dhani’s Character
Dhani Yangchen’s role involves several dimensions within, as she can go from a patient, clever tour guide to a fighter ready to make the choices at the drop of a hat. Although this can be a difficult job for any actor, Fan Bingbing aces the role by adding the perfect blend of wit, charm, and action to it. The Chinese actor is an international sensation, having featured in Chinese and English-language films, as well as a number of other film industries. The actor’s debut performance as Jin Suo on the television show ‘My Fair Princess’ made her a household name in China, following which she bagged roles in internationally renowned titles such as ‘The Proud Twins’ and ‘Empress of China.’ Alongside being one of the most successful actors in China, she also has a number of international credits to her name, having acted in ‘X-Men: Days of the Future Past,’ ‘Iron Man 3,’ and ‘355,’ where she essays Blink, Wu Jiaqi, and Lin Mi Sheng, respectively.
Fan Bingbing’s popularity goes beyond the realm of television and cinema, as in 2017, she appeared on Time Magazine’s list of the hundred most influential people of the year. Additionally, the actor has also dipped her feet in the Korean and Hong Kong art and television industry, having featured in titles such as ‘Insider’ and ‘Green Night,’ respectively. As such, her artistic palette includes not just blockbuster roles, but also niche artistic ones, which gives her the range required to pull off a character such as Dhani Yangchen. Moreover, Bingbing’s experience with martial arts movies also played a part in her bringing the complex action sequences of the film to life.
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