“The Message” is one of the best contemporary mainland films to date. At first glance, this espionage film set in World War II seems just like “The Founding of a Republic.” Both have an all-star cast, a big budget, and are meant to celebrate the 60th National Day this month. However, while “The Founding” is an embarrassing mess, “The Message” is a sophisticated, entertaining, well-crafted piece of cinematic art that will certainly win over moviegoers, especially those normally prejudiced against films from mainland China.

The storyline is simple. During the Japanese occupation, the Chinese puppet government in Nanjing finds out that there is a mole called Old Ghost within its ranks. The mole has enabled the assassination of several high-ranking officials in both the puppet government and the Japanese army. In response, the Japanese secret service chief Takeda (Huang Xiao-ming) picks out five suspects, locks them in a remote mansion, and tries to break them physically and psychologically in order to find out who it is. In classic closed-door mystery style, the suspects first stick together, then slowly begin to suspect one another, and then openly start pointing fingers at one other.

Taiwanese director Chen Kuo-fu, who wrote the screenplay based on a popular novel in China, has worked his magic again, as he first did in the Taiwanese thriller “Double Vision.” We’re immediately drawn into the story, feeling what the characters are feeling, and soon we’re trying to solve the central puzzle ourselves. Credit is also due to the impeccable art direction of Oscar-winning Hongkonger Tim Yip, particularly with respect to the antiques in the mansion and the perfectly tailored army uniforms and cheongsams.

And then there’s the star-studded cast. Award-winning actors Zhang Hanyu and Zhou Xun perform up to expectations, but also impressive are the three pop idols, Huang, Li Bingbing and Alec Su. Li swaps her usual expressions for the timid, emotionally drained face of a military codebreaker. The torture scene in which she is stripped of her clothes by Huang is the most affecting scene of the entire film. Seeing “The Message” makes one realize just how strong mainland cinema has become in recent years, and also makes you worry about whether Hong Kong cinema can keep up.

4/5 Stars by Winnie Yeung.

China. Directed by Gao Qun Shu and Chen Kuo-fu. Starring Huang Xiaoming, Zhou Xun, Li Bingbing, Zhang Hanyu. Category IIB, 120 minutes. Opens Oct 15.