Lu Wei Movies

A reserved Mongolian bride diagnosed with a debilitating back injury enters into an unusual agreement with her disabled husband in Lunar Eclipse director Wang Quan'an's Golden Berlin Bear-winning entry into the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival. Peasant Tuya (Yu Nan) is a happily married mother of two whose husband Bater is permanently disabled. One day, after hard-working Tuya collapses in the fields while straining to perform her rigorous duties, the local doctor diagnoses her with a lumbar dislocation. Subsequently unable to care for her invalid husband, Tuya and Bater agree to divorce so that the ailing woman can wed a husband capable of caring for both of them. Though several suitors throw their hat into the ring upon hearing that Tuya is available, each is immediately put off upon learning that Bater is part of the deal as well. The only man who seems willing to consider caring for both is divorced oil tycoon Baolier, who, as a smitten young schoolboy, was once good friends with the kindly Tuya. When a sudden tragedy strikes, threatening Bater's life, however, Baolier's true intentions open the door for Tuya's cuckolded neighbor Sen'ge to step in and save the day. At first simply thankful for the benevolent intervention of the shy but likable Sen'ge, Tuya slowly begins to realize just how deep the lovelorn Sen'ge's feelings for her truly run. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Screenwriter Lu Wei turned director with this $1 million production shot in four months at the Gansu Province. During the 11th Century, nomadic horsemen raid a village, kidnapping 10 male babies for their emperor. Villager Ya (Badenma), on foot with her newborn baby, follows the horsemen, led by the inarticulate Ye (Ni Dahong), as they make the return journey. The procession zigzags to confuse hostile Khitans and Han Chinese, and Ya slowly wins over and finds acceptance by the earthy, brutish bunch. Shown at the 1997 Locarno Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Zhang Yimou, often regarded as China's leading contemporary filmmaker, directed this drama chronicling the ebb and flow of one family's fortunes, set against the backdrop of China's tumultuous history between the 1940s and the 1970s. Fugui (Ge You) is the father of a once-wealthy family whose addiction to gambling and chronic bad luck causes him to lose his home in a game of dice with Long'er (Ni Dabong). Fugui's wife Jiazhen (Gong Li) abandons him, and he finds himself working as a peddler, until the man who now owns his home gives him a pair of shadow puppets. Fugui learns the art of puppetry and travels as a performer; while on the road, he is arrested by Nationalist forces, until he is liberated by advancing Red Army factions, and he comes him home to his wife and children as they adapt to the nation's new leadership. While once a lazy spendthrift, Fugui vows to change his ways, and he struggles to become a better worker and citizen. But Fugui and his family soon realize that there is adversity waiting for them around every corner, and the onset of the Cultural Revolution makes it clear that China's new regime can be as corrupt and callous as the old order. While a Grand Prize winner at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and recipient of the Best Foreign Language Film award at the 1995 BAFTA Awards, Huozhe did not fare well in its homeland. Chinese censors objected to the film's commentary about political abuses in China's past, as well as Zhang Yimou's attempts to present the film at several international festivals. As punishment, he was forced to write a formal apology and was not allowed to make another film for two years. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

While transporting a girl to the village of the man she is to marry, Bitter Herb (Yu Lin), one of the young porters, and the girl fall in love. He ponders how to steal her away from the caravan and marry her, but before he can arrange this, the bandit Black Scalper beats him to it, and marries her. This incident adds fuel to the fire of their longstanding enmity. It does not help that Bitter Herb still loves his enemy's wife (and she him), nor does it help either man when she runs away from the oppressive man - but does not wind up in Bitter Herb's arms. Many conflicts and adventures mark the two men's lives, and when they meet as old men they have a rich, shared emotional history which adds spice to their encounter, even though their passions have cooled down considerably. This story takes place entirely in the legendary beautiful upper valleys of the great Yellow River of China. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide