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IMDb > Dong gong xi gong (1996)

Dong gong xi gong (1996) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   502 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Wang Xiaobo (writer)
Yuan Zhang (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Behind the Forbidden City on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
24 July 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
In China, homosexuality isn't illegal, but homosexuals are routinely persecuted by police and arrested for "hooliganism"... more | add synopsis
Awards:
4 wins more
User Comments:
Powerful in meaning, gentle in tone more (10 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)
Si Han ... A Lan
Jun Hu ... Xiao Shi
Jing Ye

Wei Zhao
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Behind the Forbidden City (USA)
East Palace West Palace (International: English title)
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Runtime:
90 min | Canada:94 min | Netherlands:94 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In 1997 the Chinese government put director 'Zhang, Yuan' under house arrest and confiscated his passport. His friends smuggled this movie out of the country so it could be shown at the 1997 Cannes film festival. more

FAQ

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful.
Powerful in meaning, gentle in tone, 18 November 2006
9/10
Author: anderzzz-1 from Sweden

This film uses very simple means to tell its powerful story. I am very found of films which do exactly this, that composes a story with emotions in a condensed way that does not preach to you, that does not tell you in bad taste how to feel, but that still moves you, not only in the theater, but also later on.

I am sure that this film can evoke mixed emotions. Because as a viewer we may want one of the characters to be the victim, we may want him to be the one at the bottom which should fight, take the battle and overcome his oppressor. But that is not how the story is told. For those of you who know Genet and have read Genet's stories, you will know the ambiguity that can be given to the oppressor/victim relation. And how full of meaning and emotions a single object or moment can be.

So if you have read Genet and liked it, you will like this film. But be warned, if you are expecting a story which delivers a story about poor gay men in less fortunate countries, you will be challenged, not to think the other way around, however, rather to view the world in more than one dimension.

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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Drama section IMDb China section Add this title to MyMovies

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