China

Quote:
Ruan Lingyu, one of the most famous stars of early Chinese cinema, gives a devastating performance as an unnamed goddess an ironic euphemism for a prostitute in this profoundly moving but rarely seen classic of world cinema. A tragic tale of shame and maternal sacrifice, Ruan stars as a mother desperate to provide for her young son and forced to take brutal vengeance on her pimp. It is a profoundly moving drama, all the poignant by the fact that its star committed suicide at the age of 24, a year after the film’s release.Read More »

Synopsis:
The young mother, who had been abandoned by her husband, had to support her son named Dongdong, and had a terrible epilepsy when he was six years old, causing brain damage, and the 13-year-old son had no improvement. Perseverably believe that Dongdong can cure, and try to use a variety of ways to wake up his son’s memory of childhood. Her efforts made her fall into great feelings of contradiction and the pressure of life, not only to her colleagues caused trouble, but also to her suitors and ex-husband caused trouble.Liang Dan in the work and care of the mentally handicapped son between Dongdong feel physically and mentally exhausted. Someday, Dongdong disappeared and epilepsy occurs, then he was wrapped in cloth and accidentally died.Read More »

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Little pocket thief Wu never got away from the streets like his friends did. He realises that he is alone, as his old buddy doesn’t invite him for his wedding. When he falls in love with a hooker he is forced to think about his future. Can he break with his criminal past?Read More »

Synopsis
What does subtitle translation mean in my eyes? I have devoted my youth and effort of 4 years of campus life and 2 years of work life. When I have given up translating subtitle, I want to look back to and remember such a bygone by documentary.
Subtitle is equal to public: By this documentary I want to show how a cinephile makes a link with film and makes effect to more cinephile in such a special situation in China. This documentary also displays a tip of the iceberg of the cinephile cultural history in China.
Subtitle is equal to privacy: I hope to experience the progress of subtitle translation again, in order to cast my ambition and burden in the old days. I want to say goodbye to that ego with subtitle translation and move forwards to that ego with indie-documentary direction. I want to search more possibilities to the films. Read More »

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The life of Tao, and those close to her, is explored in three different time periods: 1999, 2014, and 2025.Read More »

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Night Awake is an experimental noise film provoking 3rd eye (seeing what is inside beyond the limit of symbols) opening with image and sound. By transferring camera into a spiritual medium, the lunar god has taught messages in the gap of time. The film is from the graveyard, and it is a textile of death(final transformation), which made the lucid light shines in the depth of many dimensions. To call the third eye awakening, we should not agitate the surface of the mind and physical eye, but soothes and provokes the third eye to awaken. In the gap of time, the flame of images that rise and become eternity is forming the rhythm and the speech. The teachings received in green crystals and had been translated into this film. In distanced mysteries and the half rotten emulsion is the art of metaphysical connection and awakening.Read More »

Quote:
In the late 1980’s Shanghai, a 16 year-old boy, Xiaoli, comes of age surrounded by his neighbors and grandfather. His best friend is a girl named Lanmi, a couple years older than him. But Lanmi slowly drifts away from him, lured by the new opportunities which come as China opens up to foreign goods and businessmen. At the same time, the 1989 events force Xiaoli to grow up and to let go of his teenage dreams. A film that poignantly depicts the struggle of a country confronted with a new order. It is also a personal and touching view of a world that no longer exist.Read More »

Synopsis:
Set in 221 BC, The Emperor and the Assassin tells of Ying Zheng (Li Xuejian) and his obsession to unite seven Chinese kingdoms and become the first Emperor of China. The film mixes spectacular battle scenes with court intrigue, counterpointed by the King’s complex relationship with the only woman he has truly loved, the Lady Zhao (Gong Li). From protocol-ridden palaces to wide open grasslands, this is a visually striking film, both beautiful and at the same time burdened with the horrors of the period.Read More »

Synopsis:
Army volunteers train for places in China’s 1984 National Day parade, where they are expected to be a perfect marching unit.

Review:
Walter Goodman, NYT wrote:
From the impressive overhead shots of troops assembling for a march-past in Beijing’s huge central square on the 35th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, in October 1984, to the final slow-motion close-ups of them parading, the camera of Zhang Yimou commands ”The Big Parade.” The Chinese movie, directed by Chen Kaige and on view tonight at 6 o’clock and tomorrow at 8:30 P.M. as part of the New Directors/New Films festival, holds you by its photography even as you may be getting a bit restless at the Chinese version of the good old American boot-camp movie.Read More »