Liao Fan Movies
- 2008
A shameless blackmailer meets a stubborn waitress whose refuses to be controlled, thus setting into motion a tragic cycle that will ultimately define both of their lives. When Wong Yiu met Ni Chen, he thought she would bend to his every demand. What Wong Yiu failed to realize, however, was that Ni Chen was a fiery, independent spirit who always lived by her own set of rules. After losing their ways in life, they both lose themselves as well. When Wong Yiu begins to perceive that he has lost his freedom, something inside of him snaps. Eight years later, Wong Yiu has finished serving time for the murder of Ni Chen. After procuring a gun, he sets out in search of Ni Chen's mother and prepares to fulfill his own will. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liao Fan, Monica Mok, (more)
A veteran of China's Civil War rails against modern bureaucracy in hopes of finally receiving recognition for his bravery and to honor the memory of his fallen comrades in director Feng Xiaogang's big-budget war drama. The year was 1948, and the fighting between the Nationalist KMT and the Communist PLA is raging. In a small, northeast China town, Captain Gu Zidi (Zhang Hanyu) leads the Ninth Company in a fierce skirmish against the a rapidly weakening KMT unit. His blood boiling over the death of a political officer in battle, Captain Gu vengefully kills a KMT soldier despite the fact that the leader and his unit have just surrendered. Imprisoned for a few short days as a sort-of token gesture, Captain Gu makes the acquaintance of imprisoned political officer Wang Juncun (Yuan Wenkang, who has just been accused of cowardice and will likely receive the death penalty. Later, when Captain Gu is ordered to take the Ninth out on a dangerous mission, he requests that Wang join the brigade in battle. Unfortunately for the majority of the squad, the KMT forces are much more substantial this time around, and though a few men claim to have heard the signal for retreat, Captain Gu commands them to stand their ground: In the aftermath of the slaughter, Captain Gu is the last man standing. Still, the valiant soldier stages a remarkable recovery, and goes on to save the life of North Korean Er Dou (Deng Chao) during a battle against the Americans and South Koreans. A few years later, Captain Gu enlists the aid of Er Dou and Wang's widow in regaining his honor, and ensuring that his fellow soldiers didn't die in vain. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Zhang Hanyu, Yuan Wenkang, (more)
- 2006
A strange story of adultery, jealousy, voyeurism and revenge is told in chapters by three of the characters involved in this ambitious drama from director Zhang Yibai. Momo (Lin Yuan) is a photographer who has a less-than-healthy obsession with the lives of other people, especially the folks who live in the apartment complex near her studio. As she share a story with us, John Zheng (Hu Jun) is one of the tenants at the complex -- a successful businessman, John has a beautiful wife named Rose Feng (Carina Lau) and a child. However, while keeping tabs on John, Momo discovers he also has a mistress, Sharon Liang (Song Jia), who runs a nail salon. As Momo tries to uncover more about John's dalliances, she gets to know Rose, and discovers she's long been unhappy with John. As Rose becomes the victim of a persistent vandal who dumps red paint on her car and her home, John takes over telling the story and explains how he and Sharon met and became lovers. As the story returns to where it left off, Liu Fendou (Liao Fan), the doorman at the apartment block, becomes the new narrator as John and Rose's child is kidnapped and a murder throws the other characters into disarray. Curiosity Kills The Cat (aka Haoqi Haisi Mao) was written for the screen by Huo Xin, one of China's leading screenwriters. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carina Lau, Hu Jun, (more)
- 2004
A woman who lives apart from the world around her invites a troubled man to join her in this visually striking fantasy. Liu Zhi (Huang Jue) is a man stuck in a loveless marriage who has come to despair of his life in a confining modern apartment building. When he's alone, Liu records virtual diary entries on his camcorder, talking about his need to be loved and how out-of-place he feels in modern society. Liu's messages somehow find their way to Baober (Zhou Xun), a woman who lives in a strange but beautifully stylized world of her own. Baober meets Liu and encourages him to leave behind his old life to join her. Initially wary, Liu decides to leave his wife and join Baober in her apartment where he begins to merge with the eccentric patterns of her life and learns to appreciate a beauty that exists apart from the increasingly Westernized culture of China. The first theatrical feature in five years from filmmaker Li Shaohong, Lian'aizhongde Baobei (aka Baober in Love) was screened as part of the 2004 Berlin Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2002
An unknown poet seeks inspiration in this character-driven drama from director Meng Jinghui. Facing an uncertain future and unable to fuel his creative fire, Yun Fei (Jyanbin Chen) heads for the Bejing suburbs in order to seek the advice of his old college buddy. Further discouraged after finding out that his friend is currently finding success as a breeder of black chickens, Yun Fei subsequently meets a colorblind girl who encourages him to keep at his writing. Though inspiration continues to elude him, Yun Fei finds sudden and unexpected success after purchasing a pirated record with seemingly magical powers. Though he has finally found the success he longed for, Yun Fei still can't help but feeling that something is missing from his life. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chen Jianbin, Qin Hailu, (more)
