''The Park'' is the 2007 directorial debut of Chinese writer-director
Yin Lichuan
Yin Lichuan () (born 1973) is a Chinese writer, poet and filmmaker. A graduate of Peking University and ESEC ( école supérieure d'études cinématographiques in Paris), Yin made her name writing novels and poetry, including '' A Little More Comfo ...
. Produced by Filmblog Media (which also handled international distribution) and Beijing Wide Angle Lens, the comedy-drama film is part of producer Lola Zhang's Yunnan New Film Project, ten proposed films by female Chinese directors. ''The Park'' is the second of the ten to be released, after Wang Fen's ''
The Case'' (2007).
Each of the films was required to take place in the southern province of
Yunnan
Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the C ...
.
''The Park'' tells the story of a father's reconnection with his daughter after he moves in with her in the provincial capital of
Kunming. Upset over her relationship with a younger man with no job prospects, he begins to tout her name in a local park to other elderly parents looking to marry off their children.
Cast
* Wang Deshun as Gao Yuanshan, a widowed man who reconnects with his adult daughter after moving into her apartment in
Kunming.
* Li Jia as Xiaojun, Yuanshan's daughter, a journalist.
* Xu Tao as Doudou, Xiaojun's boyfriend, a musician.
* Wang Xuebing as Xu Chao, a potential suitor for Xiaojun after the two are set up by Yuanshan.
Reception
Screening at several major film festivals, the film has received positive reviews. After its screening in
Shanghai
Shanghai (; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ) is one of the four direct-administered municipalities of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The city is located on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River flowin ...
, ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' critic Derek Elley called attention to the film's strong performances, particularly the father and daughter leads, describing their chemistry as "unshowy but excellent."
[ It did equally well at other festivals, most notably Mannheim-Heidelberg where it picked up a FIPRESCI prize. FIPRESCI critic Ayman Youssef's praise is more technical in nature, citing the use of visual framing and the use of long and medium-shots, though he also lauds the performances as "fine and exact acting."
Additionally, the film was screened at the ]29th Moscow International Film Festival
The 29th Moscow International Film Festival was held from 21 to 30 June 2007. The Golden George was awarded to the Russian film ''Travelling with Pets'' directed by Vera Storozheva.
Jury
* Fred Schepisi (Australia – Chairman of the Jury)
* A ...
Bangkok International Film Festival
The Bangkok International Film Festival (BKKIFF) ( th, เทศกาลภาพยนตร์นานาชาติกรุงเทพฯ) is an international film festival held annually in Bangkok, Thailand, since 2003. In addition to fi ...
.
Awards and nominations
* FIPRESCI Prize at the 2007 Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival
References
External links
*
*
''The Park''
at the Chinese Movie Database
Chinese comedy-drama films
2007 films
2000s Mandarin-language films
2007 comedy-drama films
Films set in Kunming
2007 directorial debut films
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