Chinese Box (1997)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Wayne Wang

Writers:

Jean-Claude Carrière (screenplay)
Jean-Claude Carrière (story)

Release Date:

17 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

The story of Hong Kong, from New Year's Day to June 30th, 1997, when the British left their colony and turned it over to the People's Republic of China.

Plot Keywords:

Hong Kong | Video | Leukemia | Political | Prostitution

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Jeremy Irons	...	John
Li Gong	...	Vivian
Maggie Cheung	...	Jean
Michael Hui	...	Chang
Rubén Blades	...	Jim
Jared Harris	...	William
Chaplin Chang	...	Homeless Man
Noel Rands	...	John's Friend at New Year's Party
Emma Lucia	...	Amanda Everheart
Ken Bennett	...	Rick
Russell Cawthorne	...	New Year's Party MC
Emotion Cheung	...	William Wong
Harvey Stockwin	...	Weeks
Jonathan Midgley	...	Jonathan
Bruce Walker	...	Bruce

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

France | Japan | USA

Language:

English | Cantonese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:R(A)

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

Canal+

Quotes:

John: Just a week ago all I wanted was to tell Vivian how much I loved her. But now I see that's the one thing I mustn't do. I can't offload my illness onto her, or Jim, or Mary and the kids. I don't want the look in their eyes to remind me I'm dying. I wonder if I can hold out longer than the British. Not that I could be described as an empire.

Movie Connections:

Features A Foreign Affair (1948)

Mosaic mood piece

I don't know if Wayne Wang is into photography or painting as a hobby, but just like his last two films, SMOKE and BLUE IN THE FACE, this movie reminded me of a mosaic or a photo album. I can see how some people had problems with it, since it's not a plot-driven film, but rather one of mood and atmosphere. I was moved by the images I saw, not just of the city and the changes it went through, but also of the actors. Irons is so often celebrated for the way that he uses his voice (justly, I might add) that you forget how well he's able to act with his face, and he does a terrific job here, communicating his sadness, his will to live even as disease ravages him, his agony over his unrequited love for Gong Li, and his curiosity and attraction to Maggie Cheung.

I haven't seen much of Cheung that I remember, but I've seen a few of Li's films. Both of them are excellent, Li especially in a role that's a lot more complicated than it might first appear. You really do feel that deep down, if circumstances allowed, she'd love Irons back. Cheung's role is mostly a symbolic one, but she handles it well. Not an easy film to watch, but moving.