Tian yu (1998)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Joan Chen

Writers:

Joan Chen (writer)
Geling Yan (novel)

Release Date:

29 April 1999 (Singapore)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Young teen girl Xiu Xiu is sent away to a remote corner of the Sichuan steppes for manual labor in 1975...

Plot Keywords:

Revolution | Girl | China | Directorial Debut | Teenage Girl

Awards:

12 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Xiaolu Li	...	Wenxiu (Xiu Xiu) (as Lu Lu)
Lopsang	...	Lao Jin
Zheng Qian	...	Li Chuanbei
Jie Gao	...	Mother
Qianqian Li	...	Sister
Yue Lü	...	Father
Qian Qiao	...	Chen Li
Cheng Jiang	...	Rider A
Xiaoyu Yang	...	Girl
Xuejun Gu	...	Rider B
Huri	...	Holligan
Zhizhung Lik	...	Headquarter's Chief
Kun Zhang	...	Assistant
Shijin Li	...	Jeep Driver
Dong Jia	...	Yak Herder A

Also Known As:

Xiu Xiu he ta de nan ren (China: Mandarin title) (bootleg title)
Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Hong Kong | USA | Taiwan

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | France:U | Hong Kong:IIB | Singapore:R(A) | USA:R

Company:

Good Machine

Trivia:

Although the U.S. distributor claimed the film was banned in China for sexual and political content, the script was actually approved by the Chinese government. The film was only banned after the filmmakers decided not to wait for permits before shooting in Tibet (such permits are required for a film to receive official approval).

A remarkable first feature from Joan Chen

Xiu Xiu is a beautifully made movie in which Joan Chen combines sumptuous visual imagery, a beautiful, delicate musical score, fine performances by her actors and a spare and intelligent script to produce a simple, moving story of two lost lives.

The movement of the story from the dark confines of the tent Xiu Xiu and Lao Jin share to the almost limitless prairies and big skys of the Tibetan highlands follows the emotional pulse of the film. Expert camera work creates perspectives that sweep from the touchingly intimate to the overwhelmingly vast, exploring the characters from inside and out.

Wonderful, economical performances from newcomer Lu Lu and Tibetan stage veteran Lopsang give profound and touching insight into the extraordinariness of two ordinary people. Chen saves the story from descent into melodrama by a precise and thoughtful restraint that respects, observes, and never intrudes to seek to "explain" or apologize.

A film worth going out of one's way to see.