SYNOPSIS
An angry miner revolts against the corruption of his village leaders. A migrant worker at home for the New Year discovers the infinite possibilities a firearm can offer. A pretty receptionist at a sauna is pushed to the limit when a rich client assaults her. A young factory worker goes from job to job trying to improve his lot in life. Four people, four different provinces. A reflection on contemporary China: that of an economic giant slowly being eroded by violence.
Awards
Best Screenplay | Cannes FF, France, 2013
CAST & CREW
Jia Zhangke
Director
Producer(s)
Shozo Ichiyama
Script
Jia Zhangke
Director of Photography
Yu Likwai
Production designer
Weixin Liu
Music by
Lim Giong
Sound
Yang Zhang
Edit
Matthieu Laclau, Xudong Lin
Cast
Jiang Wu, Meng LI, Lanshan Luo, Baoqiang Wang, Jiayi Zhang, Zhao Tao
Production company(ies)
Xstream Pictures, Shanghai Film Group Office Kitano
Jia Zhangke
Born 1970, Fengyang, China. Zhangke studied painting, developed an interest in fiction, and in 1995 founded the Youth Experimental Film Group, for which he directed two award-winning videos. He graduated in 1997 from the Beijing Film Academy, and his first feature, Xiao Wu (1998) was very successful at the Berlin, Nantes and Vancouver festivals. The following films Zhantai (Platform, 2000), and Ren xiao yao (Unknown Pleasures, 2002) were selected in competition respectively at Venice and Cannes. He established Xstream Pictures in 2003 in order to promote young talented directors from all over China. He directed Shijie (The World) in 2004 and his latest film Sanxia haoren (Still Life) received the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival 2006.
Filmography
Xiaoshan huijia (1995), Pickpocket (1997), Platform (2000), In Public (2001, short), Unknown Pleasures (2002), The World (2004), Dong (2006, doc.), Still Life (2006), Our Ten Years (2007, short), Wuyong (2007, doc.), Stories on Human Rights (2008), 24 City (2008), I Wish I Knew (2010, doc.), Yulu (2011, doc.), A Touch of Sin (2013),
