Liu Jie Movies
Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee adapts this Eileen Chang story set in World War II-era Shanghai that details the political intrigue surrounding a powerful political figure named Mr. Yee (Tony Leung) in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. Spanning the late '30s and early '40s, the movie introduces us to Hong Kong teen Wong Chia Chi (Tang Wei), a shy college freshman who finds her calling in a drama society devoted to patriotic plays. But the troupe's leader, Kuang Yu Min (Wang Leehom), isn't just a theater maven -- he's a revolutionary as well, and he's devoted to carrying out a bold plan to assassinate top Japanese collaborator Mr. Yee. Each student has an important role to play, and Wong puts herself in a dangerous position as Mrs. Mak; she befriends Mr. Yee's wife (Joan Chen), and slowly gains trust before tempting him into an affair. While at first the plan goes exactly as scripted, things suddenly take a deadly turn and Wong is emigrated from Hong Kong. Later, in 1941, the occupation shows no signs of ceasing and Wong is simply drifting through her days in Shanghai. Much to her surprise, the former actress finds Kuang requesting that she resume the role of Mrs. Mak. Now, as Wong again gains intimate access to her dangerous prey, she must struggle with her own identity in order to pull off the performance of a lifetime. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Tang Wei, (more)
- 2006
Young love gets a second chance in this romantic comedy-drama from China. Qi Qi (Pu Pu) and Xi (Tian Yuan) are two close friends who attend the same school in Beijing. Xi has a major crush on Yi Huan (Song Ning), the star of the school track team, but amateur astrologer Qi Qi warns her the stars say they'll never be together. Despite her friend's advice, Xi tries to interest Yi Huan in her, but their short-lived romance ends badly for both of them. Qi Qi, meanwhile, has little luck with the opposite sex, though nerdy Yong Liang (Wu Xiaoliang) is clearly infatuated with her. Years later, Qi Qi and Xi are still friends and still single when they head out after work to a nightclub to celebrate Xi's birthday. Xi is surprised to find that Yi Huan is working at the club as a disc jockey, while Qi Qi bumps into Yong Liang for the first time in years. Older and wiser, Xi and Yi Huan decide to give their relationship another try, while lovesick Yong Liang startles Qi Qi by asking her to marry him. Young and Clueless (aka Qing chun qi) was the first directorial project for established screenwriter Tang Danian. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
A young man from rural China struggles to make good in Beijing in this drama, which suggests an updated and relocated variation on the neorealist classic Ladri di Biciclette. Guei (Cui Lin) is a teenager who arrives in the big city looking for work; he and a handful of other youngsters are hired as bicycle messengers, with their employer giving them new mountain bikes under the condition that they're paid ten yuan for each message they deliver, and the bicycles are theirs once they've made 58 trips. Guei discovers the job is not an easy one, as he deals with the complexity of the huge city, confusion over who gets what message, and the condescending attitude Beijing residents often display toward the new arrivals. Guei is determined to make good and is close to owning his bike when it's stolen; Guei's boss tells him the only way he can keep is job is if he can find the bicycle, which, in a city the size of Beijing, is no easy task. Against all odds, Guei finds the bicycle, but it's now in the hands of Jian (Li Bin), who claims he got it at a second-hand shop and isn't about to give it up. Guei steals the bike back from Jian, but now has to deal with the teenaged tough and his roughneck friends. Shiqisuide Danche was produced as part of a series of films from young Chinese directors called "Tales of Three Cities," co-produced by French and Taiwanese companies. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Zhang Yang directed this $200,000 Chinese anthology film, opening on a yin-yang-decorated soup-pot shared by a Beijing couple. A soupcon of scenes with this couple serves to link several stories on the theme of love and marriage: a kid creates problems with parents and teachers by faking a recording; an elderly widow has her choice of men after she appears on a television dating show; a bored couple share a childish fascination for amusing toys; a boy discovers his parents have just divorced; and a romance is described via voiceovers. Cameo by Tiawanese singer-composer Li Tsung-sheng. Shown at the 1998 East West Film Festival (London). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pu Quanxin, Lu Liping, (more)
