Film Festival

[Anonymous]

"Raise the Red Lantern" directed by Zhang Yimou illustrates the plight of a young woman who has lost her protective father and can no longer go to the university. Instead, she is forced to marry and become fourth wife to a rich man. Soon, Songlian learns that keeping the master's interest is everything and makes her life better. A red lantern is placed outside the wife's house and this signifies where the master will spend the night. The lucky wife gets a foot massage and gets to decide what will be eaten the next day.

The wives are bitter rivals and are determined to keep the interest of a man that the audience never sees. We witness these women willing to fight and outsmart one another, just for a little bit of attention. It seems that this is the only way these ladies can validate their identity. Showing women as victims who accept their fate, this movie shows that they will stop at nothing to be on top.

This movie provides the audience with a lively discussion about if women are willing to destroy others to be in a man's favor. My husband thought the movie provided of insight into the female mind. He said that he learned a lot. Needless to say, we had quite a lively debate.

I didn't really enjoy how the movie became a cat fight between the wives. I began to lose sympathy for Songlian as she became ruthless and lashed out at anyone who stepped in her way. She seemed determined to be top wife to a man that she didn't even love. I kept thinking that her life just didn't seem better when she was top wife. She hurt a lot of people, and it just didn't seem to be worth it.

I'm not sure I would show this movie to my students. I left with the message that a victim must destroy others to better their lives. It does show the inhumane treatment of women in China in the 1920's and was stunningly beautiful to watch. It just didn't send the "right" message.

[Anonymous]

I watched this movie at home and found the cinematography stunningly beautiful. The protagonist as well. I was really interested in clues as to when this was intended to take place (the 1920's sounds right) and the interplay between modern (she was allowed to go to university) vs. tradition (the whole set up was constantly reminding us what was the tradition). The viewer does not get enough dialog to really understand why the protagonist decides to act in the way she does. This leaves it to the watcher to try to understand the motivations. Did she really only give up the "third" mistress because she was drunk? Did she have no other way to get rid of the maid who was plotting against her? How did she use her university smarts to do things differently?

Raise the Red Lanternwas the movie I was referring to.[Edit by="rmansdorf on Aug 11, 9:37:40 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
starring Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi
directed by Ang Lee

I first saw this film when it came out in the theaters in 2000. I was amazed and inspired by the beauty of the cinematography. The landscape shots are unbelieveable. I was also amazed at the martial arts in the movie as everyone else was. But, to say that this is a martial arts movie is a huge mistake. There are two warriors named Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai who are trying to reclaim the Green Destiny sword owned by Mu Bai. It was stolen by an young girl who was set to marry, but once she saw the sword knew she must have it herself. The film follows the characters as they fight each other to retrieve the sword. The underlying theme through out the entire film is love though. The warriors are in love with each other but neither are willing to share their true feelings with each other beyond a devoted friendship. The young aristocrat also has her true feelings revealed when she encounters a nomad with whom she falls in love with. Each character struggles with love through the movie and I always loved the relationship between the two warriors. They have such powerful scenes together, but are often times saying very little.

As I watched this film again it really takes on a whole new meaning for me. The themes we discuss in class and the literature we have read come up often in the movie. For instance, the issue of arranged marriages is a major part of the beginning. The young aristocrat is very abrasive and shows no resistence in expressing her own feelings. When she is approached with the subject of her upcoming marriage she tells her attendant how unhappy she is about it. She feels that she can't go where she pleases like Shu Lien, the warrior can. She thinks she would be so free to be a warrior.

Another theme that comes up a lot in the movie are the characters and their families. Shu Lien is working in her father's company delivering goods to people. One businessman is so pleased with her work that he says she brings great credit to her father memory. Another scene shows the young aristocrat being warned to not be so opinionated about things or it will invite danger into her father's house.

Such an amazing film, it is truly not to be missed. If you have seen it before it is a completely different movie seeing again after taking the Asian Families course. You pick up on so many knew things, even the set design of the villages and the clothing. I can't say enough about it. There's a reason why it is a winner of 4 academy awards!

[clay dube]

First -- thanks to everyone who has posted film reviews and questions about films to this thread. It makes everyone's browsing easier if all the film items are here.

Second -- please help even more by including the name of the film you are writing about in the subject line. Just hit the "post reply" button and then delete the re:.... movie subject and replace it with your own. For example, if you'd like to say something about Zhou Yu's Train, please type Zhou Yu's Train or Review: Zhou Yu's Train in the subject line.

On the other hand, if you are commenting on someone else's post, it is best to leave the RE:... alone.

Please remember that if you wish to see which posts are linked, click on the view -- threaded view option at the upper left. The default is flat view which puts the posts up in chronological order.

Finally, the August 20 issue of Asia Pacific Arts http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu will have a review of Zhang Yimou's Zhou Yu's Train.

[Anonymous]

Last May I posted a review of Asoka in another forum. I have re-posted it here so you will be able to read it. Please keep in mind that you can show clips from a film, and send home parent permission slips to do so. One teacher in my most recent seminar suggested that you make up a list of films and film clips you will be showing throughout the year, and send the permission slip home for all the films at the beginning of the school year, and/or whenever a student checks into your class. I have a new student folder, and the first day of school, I assign one cooperative learning group to keep the folder updated. I speak of it as though it is one folder, when in reality it is a folder for each student entering my class. I make up fifty folders initially for each class. That first day it includes a parent questionnaire, a student questionnaire, textbook sign out cards, the book report and reading criteria for the class, the two class rules (students later develop procedures for implementing the rules), a syllabus letter to go home to the parent, explaining what the child is expected to learn, and now I will add the film list. As more handouts are given to the students during the first five weeks of school, up to norm day, a copy is put in each individual folder, including those being held for new students.

So here is the review:
Film: Asokaa Santosh Sivan picture, Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor
The only concious reading I did about Asoka up to this point, was the few paragraphs in the 6th Grade Social Studies book. The film is set in the 3rd Century B.C. when Asoka "raged one of the bloodiest wars in history." The film makers are the first to admit that the film is based on legend. I'm just sorry that it is rated "R" and can not be shown in school. Legends credit Asoka with the spread of Buddhism outside the borders of India. It is said that he was so disgusted with all needless taking of life during the war that he waged against Kalinga, that he decided to dedicate his life to the spread of non-violence and Buddhism. Which raises a question for Clay. Was Ghandi's non-violence against the British occupation of India a result of Buddhist traditions or Hindu traditions or both? How does your answer impact Dr. King's following of non-violence and the Ghandi tradition of passive resistance? Or was it really passive?

So, jmaddox, there's your answer. The film is rated R. But you may want to look at it yourself, simply to add to your own knowledge.
[Edit by="lshifflett on Aug 15, 1:20:38 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Film: Tampopo: written and directed by Juzo Itami, starring Tsutomu Yamazaki and Nobuki Miiyamoto

This film is not rated, but take out the sex scenes and the fighting scenes, and there are still some very funny scenes that can be used to simulate conversation in your classroom on culturally relevant topics. You might have your students do a research paper on polite eating habits in different cultures, sort of a do's and don'ts at the table, depending on where you are and in terms of world history, what time period. You might use the scene where the young ladies are being taught to eat noodles and what happens after they watch the westerner eat noodles. Have students demonstrate their research. Nothing makes a 6th grader happier than belching in front of the whole class, and then being able to explain why it's okay in the country and/or time period where he/she is eating.

The on-going plot of the film is the finding of the perfect noodle soup. And then the film is a series of vignettes that move the viewer ever closer to the perfect noodle. From the moment the film opens with food in the theatre, there are laughs and chuckles. It is certainly a way to liven up history and to introduce a little critical thinking about some of the societal norms we take for granted.

This film has been on the New York Times, Time Magazine and Los Angeles Times top ten film lists and was given four stars by film critic, Roger Ebert.

[Anonymous]

Film: To Live
By: Zhang Yimou
Starring:
Ge You - Fugui (husband)
Gong Li - Jiazhen (wife)

"To Live" is a heart wrenching film that deeply touches the core of all your emotions.
The film has a remarkable resemblance to the writings of Leo Tolstoy in that it makes the viewer feel as though they are entrenched in the characters daily lives. Zhang Yimou has the ability to reveal the sensitivity and honesty that each character portrays.

The film centers around life through the eyes of a Chinese family from the 1940's to the 1960's. Early on in the film, the husband, Fugui loses the family home to pay off his gambling debt. In disgust, his pregnant wife Jiazhen wants nothing more to do with him and she takes her daughter and leaves him.

Fugui makes a living by entertaining people with a set of shadow puppets that he acquired from the man who won his home. He becomes a prisoner of the Nationalist army and in order to survive he entertains the troops with his puppets. After a night of drinking he awakens to find the army has retreated and not far away the Red army is advancing. Fugui tries to surrender but the soldiers in the army walk past him. He adapts ever so nicely by joining them, and as time goes by, he eventually returns home to his wife, daughter and son.

Upon returning home, Fugui discovers that his daughter is deaf due to an infection caused a high fever. Despite the fact that times are hard the family survives under the new communist regime. Pictures of Mao Tse Tung appear in courtyards and are hanging in all of the homes. However, just when things seem to be looking up tragedy strikes. Fugui's youngest son is killed when a truck runs over him. The family is heart broken but they somehow find strength in each other to endure the hardship.

As life continues, an array of happiness surrounds the family when the daughter marries a factory supervisor for the Red Guard. The family rejoices when the daughter becomes pregnant. Once again, just when life takes a turn for the better, tragedy strikes. The country is in a state of turmoil when workers are arrested and accused of being capitalists. The Red Guards have arrested most of the doctors and young medical students are staffing hospitals. The daughter gives birth to a baby boy but complications arise and the medical students are not equipped to handle the situation. Consequently, the daughter loses her life.

The film depicts hard times following the Cultural Revolution but Jiazhen's character portrays an inner strength that enables the family to go on. Zhang has an incredible ability to see life in China from the 1940's to the 1960's through the eyes of ordinary people.

Janice Harrington

[Edit by="jharrington on Aug 16, 4:28:15 AM"][/Edit]
[Edit by="jharrington on Aug 17, 12:49:43 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Film Review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

For Western viewers who are unfamiliar with Asian films, this does not go outside the norm of Asian cinema. Like many Asian films, this one fits the mold of "examining reality" while many Western films have a tendency to "escape reality."

Simply out, Asian films have a tendency to "examine reality." That does not necessarily mean that these films are necessarily social commentaries nor do they attempt to give a prescription of what life should be. On the contrary, Asian films tend to be descriptions of reality even though the main characters can fly 50 feet in the air. The main character cannot escape certain fateor destiny which is usually tragic. There are no happy ending here not will there be part 2 with Chow You Fat magically coming back.

Where this film tends to reflect the gender shifts (as we spoke in the seminar) in modern culture is the good/bad character plays between the old witch (Cheng Pei Pei) and the young girl (played by Zhang ZiYi). Pei Pei plays the evil old vilain (a bit shammanisitic) element of society that should be gotten rid of. While Chow Yun Fat, the noble master, wishes to bestow this great sword to a successor, the successor happens to be a girl instead of a boy. This type of a plot has obvious implications toward heroines and matrilineal heritage.

If the viewer is not overly carried away with the choreography, this film can give a meaningful insight into the world of changing gender roles and accepting a bitter fate

dave

[Anonymous]

I think this film has, on the surface, many things to say about women such as women's role as sex objects, limited opportunities, giving birth to sons and having to fight for power domestically against other women.

As I watched this film, I could not help but continue referring to similar stories in the biblical account in the story of Abraham and his two wives, Sarai and Hagar. Sarai was Jewish and Hagar was Egyptian. Sarai could not have a child so Abraham is allowed to have a child with the mistress Hagar who gives birth to Ishmael, the half Egyptian. Similarly, we have in Raise the Red Lantern Songlian (the fourth mistress) fighting mostly against (Cai Fei) the third mistress.

I think, in a way, films portraying women as martyrs or victims is not that new. Many religious and literary histories across cultures can vouch for that. I think what was unique about this film was that in the biblical story of Abraham, the reason for Abraham having sex was out of his wife being unable to have children. In that case we will justify Abraham's situation as POLYGYNY (or simply having many wives due usually to ensure the survival of species). But the reason why the master has four wives in Raise the Red Lantern is POLYGAMY (many sex partners). We know that because the master's first wife had a son. In that way, Raise the Red Lantern makes the female view of male and social norms as even more fractured and negative.

dave

[Anonymous]

This film is about a man (living in the city) going back to the countryside because his school teacher father had passed away. He tells the romance story of his mother and father. His mother played by Zhang Ziyi (from Crouching Tiger) was the "typical" chinese dedicated woman/wife. She was taken with the school teacher when he first came to her village to teach. I thought it was really sweet that Zhang Ziyi's character did things to be close to him. She cooked everyday using the same bowl (hoping he would notice and use her bowl), went to the water well near his school and watched him whenever he walked the children home. She "sacrificed" by waiting for him by the road for him to come back to her village. Basically she was sick waiting for him in the snowy winter days...but she continues to wait for him anyway. In a way, the film shows what a typical chinese woman should do for her man...should be dedicated, self-sacrificing, devoted to one man, can cook...etc... It shows what a great woman should do to become a good wife. Throughout the film, she showed her perspective and her "sacrifices" but it doesn't show the guy doing anything to initate the romance or giving up anything for her. This film shows what a man's role is (dedication to his country--in this case his school) and the woman's role (dedication to her man/family). I did like the film though. It has a sad ending but touching at the same time. The woman was determined to have her husband's body carried home (a tradition in their village). The ending reflects what the father had done for his community. His students showed their appreciation by traveling from numerous different places to carry his body on the long road home.

[Anonymous]

A woman in the turn of the century China had to impersonate the male heir to the family fireworks factory. She was fine with this arrangement until she met a man. I don't want to ruin the ending but it is a sad ending. The woman has an obiligation to the family and has to sacrifice love for the good of the family and her people. I was angry with some of the men in the sorry because they didn't care about her feelings. The film isn't as entertaining or fast pace. At times, it seems quite boring because it moves at such a slow pace. I wouldn't recommend this movie for the classroom because it does show some sexual activity and it isn't that entertaining. However, I would recommend this to teachers so they can see the dedication and obiligation people have to their family.

[Anonymous]

For those of us who can't quite understand what life might have been like under taliban rule in Afghanistan, "Osama" is the film equivalent of "required reading." The cast of amature actors amazed me with their portrayals. I intuited that much of it wasn't acting. These people apparently lived through this and the fear I saw in their eyes may not have been a planned reaction, but a reaction to ghosts of the past.
The title character, an Afghani girl, is dressed up as a boy by her mother and her grandmother so that she can go out into the world and earn money for the family. I find it interesting that we never find out what her name is. We are only given her pseudonym, Osama. After her transformation, she is threatened by a local "street rat." After this encounter, the boy, Espandi, begins to sympathize and takes it upon himself to protect Osama. He becomes her ally and their friendship is touching.
The ending is an unhappy one, subtly revealed by the director. This reminds us of the harsh realities of life under taliban rule. Although the movie gives us glimpses of friendship and happiness, the overarching theme is one of persecution and misery. The director never lets us forget that life under taliban rule was no picnic. I doubt that the Afghan people will ever forget.

[Anonymous]

'The Way Home' Review
I just saw this movie at the Korean Cultural Center on Saturday. That was interesting to me since I didn?t know about the center until going to the movie.
I?m giving this movie a rating of 2 thumbs up. I found both the subject and the cinematography great.
It deals with the culture class of a poor woman, the grandmother, living in a very remote village and her grandson from Seoul. The movie shows the humanity of the village life. You don't feel sorry, as so many movies do for the people in the village.
I went to the movie with a friend whose family if from a small village in Mexico. She could totally relate to the movie. She hated the kid at first because of the lack of respect he showed. Then she was mad at the mother for not teaching the kid better.
I think this would be a good movie to show in the classroom because some of the kids definitely could relate their own lives to the lives on the film. I think it would thus show the similarities between the lives of the families of the different nationalities in my classes.
Also on a side note, my friend and I were discussing after the movie, that you didn?t really need the English subtitles to understand the movie. The fact that the grandmother was mute let this happen.
The view of the Korean countryside was great. The times when there was no music so you could hear the countryside was spectacular.
Melody

[Anonymous]

I recently saw "Zhou Yu's Train" at the Laemmle Playhouse in Pasadena. This is Gong Li's, the famous Chinese actress, latest film. The story is about a beautiful woman artist. A passionate fiery woman, she falls in love with a quiet shy poet and then proceeds to visit him by train twice a week. On the train, she meets another man, a more worldly veterinarian, and a love triangle ensues. This is a tale of obsessive love. Cinematically speaking, I particularly enjoyed the views of the Chinese countryside from the train. A lingering question that remains is, why do independent minded and rebellious heroines always come to no good end in Chinese cinema?
Catherine

[Anonymous]

Film Review: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
This film is directed by the very talented Ang Lee (among his many films are "Eat Drink Man Woman" and "Sense and Sensibility").
I watched this film approximately one year ago, however after taking the Asian Families Seminar, I chose to watch it again and apply the insight and information I learned in the Seminar to my understanding of the film. I must say that the second time I watched it I was able to notice things I hadn't before; I particularly was looking at dress, furniture, behavior between men and women, family, and behavior between the different classes.
I also appreciated the film much more the second time around. What a masterpeice! There wasn't a dull moment throughout the film! You didn't even have to read the English subtitles to appreciate this film. It speaks for itself.
This film takes place in China several hundred years ago, during the Qing dynasty. The story begins with the legendary martial artist, Li Mu Bai giving his amazing sword "The Green Destiny" to his friend as a gift. He sends his long time friend (and also his love, however they have never openly acknowledged their love), Shu Lien to present the sword. Before long, the sword is stolen. Thus begins the quest to find the sword, and on the way, love, revenge, and family ties are found. Along the way, we are treated with absolutely stunning sword fights across rivers, rooftops, and bamboo trees. It is so beautifully filmed, and you are riveted to the screen until the end.
I highly recommend this film, and if you've seen it before, see it again; you will gain new appreciation and insights with each viewing.
This film can be used in the classroom, it is rated PG-13. I would recommend it for junior high and high school students. It can be used for lessons on Chinese history; it shows the way houses were built, the dress that was worn, and the schism between classes. The martial arts sequences will keep any student entertained!
Miriam

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