Movies and Books

[Anonymous]

This looks like an interesting Book that could incorporate Asian studies in a Spanish class: Our History Is Still Being Written: The Story of Three Chinese-Cuban Generals in the Cuban Revolution, published by Pathfinder Press. It could help led a discussion concerning the Chinese contributions to Latin America and build cross cultural bridges.

[Anonymous]

Books that I have read about China include Soul Mountain by Gao Xingjian, who is the first Chinese recipient of the Nobel prize for literature and whose book describes a physical and a spiritual journey.

In the pages of the above book, I have an article about another book, which I haven't read but sounds incredible. It's titled Sky Burial and it's about a Chinese writer's journey in Tibet, offering a unique perspective to Americans.

On a more whimsical note, but still with a slice of history, is Balzac and the Chinese seamstress, about two cities boys who are sent into the country to be "re-educated" during the Cutural Revolution and who read European classics secretly to a seamstress (it's not Asia, but kind of reminds me of reading Lolita in Tehran, another great book).

I've also read The Good Earth, which was a really beautiful book, almost Tolstoyan in its scope of a man's life. I don't know enough about Chinese history to say how accurate or authentic a representation this is from this missionary daughter. I would be curious to know what Chinese people think about this book. From my perspective it was very impressive for the knowledge and love the author seems to have for the country.[Edit by="zskalkottas on Jan 31, 6:34:28 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

The Joy Luck Club is another great book, both the book and the movie are so moving, especially for mothers and daughters.

The beginning part where the mother shows the daughter the feather and says something to the effect of that it might not look like much, but it represents all her good intentions toward her daughter, is a tear-jerker! [Edit by="zskalkottas on Jan 31, 6:32:30 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Isn't it Raise the Red Lantern? It was good but awful at the same time.[Edit by="zskalkottas on Jan 31, 6:31:42 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

As for movies, I love Eat, Drink, Man, Woman and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, both directed by Ang Lee. What an incredible director! Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen are all amazing in CTHD. I also liked the later film, similar in style, though not quite as good--House of Flying Daggers.

[Edit by="zskalkottas on Jan 31, 6:38:59 PM"][/Edit]

[clay dube]

Thanks, many thanks, to Joe and to Zamira for contributing to this discussion. These are great recommendations. Zamira -- what could you use from Raise the Red Lantern? (I think there may be a couple scenes.)

Whenever possible, please change the subject line to the name of the movie or the topic being discussed. This is a big help as readers scan the listings.

[Anonymous]

I also enjoyed this movie, it was reminiscent of another film: The Dead Poet Society” in which a group of College prep students embark on a journey of awakening and self discovery by reading poetry and the classics. Although the movie does not offer a critique of the horrors of the Cultural Revolution, it does give a personal glimpse into the lives of young people whose world is surrounded by uncertainty and chaos as they seek to find on answers in the universal world of literature. In the end, their “re-education” is brought about through their own transformations as a result of self reflections; instead of directives from the state.

I located the film’s (“Dead Poets Society”) quotation from Henry David Thoreau that I thought was also appropriate for this film: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived … I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms..."

[Anonymous]

"Raise the Red Lantern" is not banned in China. Actually, Zhang Yimou, who directed the film and also the 2008 Beijing Olympic Openning ceremony, directed the ballet with the same name. It is performed by National Ballet of China, and has had more than 100 shows in China.

You may google the informaiton on "Google", and here is a link on Ytube of the ballet.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEOX0xE9qMQ%5BEdit by="lwang on Dec 2, 8:42:38 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

A recently released book explains the subsequent political and economic impact regarding Theodore Roosevelt's delegation which was sent
to China. It is titled, "Imperial Cruise."

In it, the author explains how then President Roosevelt sent a delegation to China (to negotiate a trade agreement).
However, it would be the model which America would use to promote imperialism around the world.

Cheryl Watson

[Anonymous]

The Good Earth is a classic. It also tells about family relationships, and women's status.

[Anonymous]

Lust Caution is a great movie. It tells about China's history duirng World War II in a unique way. The actress' name is Tang Wei. It was her 1st movie.

[Anonymous]

I found this link:

http://www.archive.org/details/feature_films

and there I found

http://www.archive.org/details/the_white_haired_girl

I don't think all the films have subtitles, so some of them will be hard to understand.

enjoy

[Anonymous]

I just received two early Christmas gifts from my Amazon.com Wishlist:
The movie for my film review is NOT ONE LESS and I have heard a lot about it and can't wait to see it. I also got a book WHEN CHINA RULES THE WORLD. Both should be interesting, especiallty the book which has stirred a lot of copntroversy already.
Any thoughts? (without spoiling the movie)

[Anonymous]

The White Haired Girl remains to be a cultural icon in China. She was a symbol of repressed, but rebellious woman who has self respect and pride because she refused to be a sex slave, or concubine of the rich landlord, and escaped to the mountains and lived there for many years before being rescued after 1949.

The film and the ballet with the same name were based on a true story. The woman died a few years ago. Her granddaughter passed the very competitive Civil Servant exam this year, and launched her new job in a village near her grandma's hometown several months ago. It was a hot news on Chinese internet.

However, there was a heated debate among college students in Wuhan, Hubei province recently on The White Haired Girl's value system. Female college students born after 1980s asked such questions: Why the White Haired Girl was reluctant to become a concubine or lover of a well established rich landlord? Why on earth she gave up the opportunity to enjoy a comfortable life and chose to live in the wild mountain like a animal?? One girl's reasoning was that she could have lived with the landlord, and even helped the poor with his money.

The world has really changed, especially in China!

[Anonymous]

Until this class, I've never heard of the film, the White Haired Girl nor the symbolism that went along with the image. I wonder where the origin of this image started...the notion of white hair, etc. There's definitely a lot of films that I need to familiarize myself with. I could also use this parts of this film, in my 2/3rd grade class, to explore the notion of symbolism--how colors, images can be utilized in such a way to convey an idea.

[Author]

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