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Film and Theatre Studies
This write up entails the Hong Kong films dating back to 1962. A selection of the same has been done in which three films are discussed at length: Comrades: Almost a Love Story; In the Mood for Love and A Simple Life. The three films, which are all set in Hong Kong, China, depict the dramatic art of self discovery, fantasy and love. Main characters are spotted in the struggle to create new identities for themselves. These characters yearn to be different people, enter new relationship, go to new places and more so, feel nostalgic for the past.
Film 1 In the film: Comrades: Almost A Love Story, directed by Peter Chan (1997) and set in Hong Kong in 1996, we come across main characters like Li Xiao-Jun, Li Qiao, Fang Xiaoting and Ouyang Pao. The film brings forth two characters: Li Xiao-Jun and Li Qiao who, after migration to make a living, finally end up falling in love. Despite their ‘love at first sight’, the two lovers have two different ambitions. Whereas Li Xiao-Jun wants to bring his fiancé to Hong Kong, Li Qiao seems to be taking a different direction. She wants to get rich. A turn of events is witnessed. Li Xiao-Jun makes up his mind, deserts Li Qiao and finally now marries another fiancé: Fang Xiaoting in Hong Kong. From what seems to be a ‘revenge’ game, Li Qiao does not stand the conspicuous loneliness (Cox, 42). She, too, inclines herself to a mob boss called Ouyang Pao, whom she marries.
The films Stage Sisters and Yellow Earth were made twenty years apart in different political climates in China. The films have similarities drawn from policies and ways of thinking that were set in place during the Cultural Revolution and have differences that show the progression filming style and acting post Cultural Revolution thinking.
Mazierska discusses the overarching theme “trapped in presence” in Wong Kar Wei’s movie as postmodern implication that correlates to Wong’s addicted uses of montage and symbolism in narration and editing (p8, Mazierska). As he considers, Wong’s works share the similarity with several postmodern authors. “The notion of alternative temporalities is central to the narrative organization to postmodern novels, such as those of Italo Calvino and Alain Robber-Grillet.”(p17, Mazierska and Rascaroli). James Udden also argues in “the Stubborn Persistence of Local In Wong Kar-wai” that Wong’s popularity is credited to his typically post-modern philosophy of denying his Hong Kong identity and embracing it at the same time (finnayson, p143). In some more relevant cases, Flannery Wilson discusses Wong’s overlapping narration between presence and future in 2046 as the manifestation of Deleuze’s theory of “crystal of time,” vaguely alluding to the notion that virtual and the real intermingles in 2046 (p164, Finnayson). Brunette also postulates that the sense of resisting the advancement of time correlates to what the Fredric Jameson terms as “longing for the present. (Teo, p358) ” Although it is evident that every production of Wong concerns the subject of love, few theorists have been found so far who posit Wong’s interpretation of love in a post-modernistic framework. The one who got closest to this
a film. It is what the viewers sees, hears and experiences while watching a film. A film’s Mise en Scene subtly influences viewer’s mood as they watch a film, much like decor, lighting, smells and sounds can influence our emotional response to an actual place. In Film Art: An Introduction, Bordwell (2001), explained that in Mise en Scene, realism can be achieved by giving the settings an accurate and convincing look or letting actors express their emotions through performance as naturally as possible. This paper will discuss and analyse the significance of Mise en Scene in Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood For Love
The main themes in this novel are family and friendship. For Liang it is the monkey man, for Jung it is Frank Yuen, and for Sekky it is his grandmother. For Chinese-Canadians in the 1930s and 40s, family is more than blood ties, close
The film Glory by Edward Zwick is one of the most well-known films of all time. The film itself is solely based upon the first formal unit of the Union Army during the American Civil War which consist of all African American men. They were essentially the very first unit of United States Colored Troops. They were formally known for their courageous attempts to and actions at Fort Wagner in 1863. The film is set in many different locations such as New York, Maryland, South Carolina and Massachusetts. In each of these different locations events took place that shaped our history. For example on November twenty seventh of 1862 Robert Shaw started to train soldiers. July eighteenth 1863 the Colonel Shaw and his troops attempted to take Fort Wagner, which didn’t succeed.
However, her mother sees it as a way for her daughter to be the best. Meanwhile, Jing-mei decides to rebel against her mother’s wishes. During piano lessons with Mr. Chong she realizes easy ways to get out of practicing.
Jing-Mei finds a new person that was determined to fight against her mother. Moreover, Jing Mei
The 1993 movie directed by Kaige Chen, Farewell My Concubine, addresses the Chinese political issues during the war against Japan via interpersonal issues of an opera troupe of young male actors. The movie is as long as it is engaging. With two orphan boys who are raised to act in an Opera for their entire lives, dedication obtains a whole new meaning. Dieyi's training to act as a woman and to reflect femininity in his whole life increases the dissension that is observed within the film as well as its connections to the politics of China. The use of ghastly sound effects, close-up cinematographic techniques, and military involvement combine together in this movie to create a devastatingly dramatic experience.
M butterfly a play by David Henry Hwang has captivated audiences for many years! I love story with many twist and turns M butterfly describes an affair between a Chinese “women” and a French diplomat that caries on for 20 years only to discover that the Women was actually a man. A spy for the communist party sent to get information on the Vietnam war, but Gillard was to stubborn to see it until Liling the Chinese opera singer is sent to France where she is found to be a man in court. Through this we can see the relationship between Gender, capitalism and ethnicity/ nationality and sexuality.
Casablanca, first released on January 23rd, 1943 is undoubtedly one of the masterpieces of Classical Hollywood film. Written and released in the midst of World War Two it explores themes such as love, desire and especially sacrifice. Although the love story of the protagonists is the cause and catalyst for most of the narrative, one would not necessarily associate it with the conventional Classical Hollywood love story. Rather as a fabula based on the principle of the importance of sacrifice in order to overcome a common enemy, in this case the Nazis. Casablanca does indeed contain many of the common characteristics identified with the Classical Hollywood film. An example being the the way director, Michael Curtiz used a mainly chronologically ordered narrative structure and the utilisation of a Cause and Effect chain. In this essay I will looking at the various ways I believe this film does fall into the criteria of a Classical Hollywood narrative and also how some could perceive that it does not.
Decades have passed since young Chi Fa Lu endured the many trials and tragedies of his youth, yet, I’m sure he has a clear memory of those days gone by. In reading the book, the reader will discover why he changed his name from Chi Fa to “Gordon.” The book starts out in a very small village in China, and in contrast it will eventually will take the readers far, far away from this remote community to a different land.
In subsequent years following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China came a revolutionary new approach to not only producing films, but also film’s very role in communist society. During this period the state gained complete control of the filmmaking industry, decreeing that the utilitarian functions of art and literature were to become a powerful weapon in serving the revolutionary struggle. In an otherwise artistically stifling period in which socialist realism pervaded all creative outlets, Xie Jin managed to retain some autonomy and emerged as one of the cleverest Chinese directors in the early 1960s. In his 1961 film Red Detachment of Women, Jin provides a classic revolutionary melodrama, yet also displays elements of formalism so that the viewer becomes conscious of the manipulations of his film technique. To analyze this film, I will use Mao Zedong’s 1942 “Talks at the Yan 'an Forum on Literature and Art,” clip #10 “Landmark 2,” and clip #6 “We are joining the red army” to elaborate on the major themes and cinematic style that distinguish Xie Jin’s work from his contemporaries.
Ang Lee’s Crouching tiger Hidden Dragon is probably one of the most successful foreign films to ever be screened in America. Being the number one film of the year in 2000. On the other hand it was reportedly considered a flop in China. While it was influenced by American film styles, it still kept true to many aspects of its Chinese film heritage. With very apparent love story, it lacked the Extreme amount of Kung Fu fight scenes eastern audiences have come to enjoy. This is a stunning love story between a monk and widow. While it does have its share of over the top fight scenes, when you start to dig deeper the films many social implications become apparent. With ties to subjects such as religion, martial arts, philosophy, love, and even gender issues. This film is a representation of the modern era and how long practiced traditions are being challenged. Each character and plot line allows a glimpse into the Social and Traditional understanding of a culture.
When she meets Fan Liuyuan, she takes her chances and follows him to Hong Kong. Her decision to leave Shanghai has two implications. Firstly, she wants an escape from her family. After years of following their rules and hearing their complaints about her presence, she finally has a chance to leave it all behind to find her own independence. Secondly, she is strangely attracted to Liuyuan and securing his love and attention is a conquest for her.
The film Lust,Caution was released in 2007 and was written by Hui-Ling Wang and was directed by Ann Lee. Lust,Caution is a dark, tensed and speculative thriller. As the movie opened in a mahjong-game in Shanghai in WWII-era, we met Mrs. Mak, who was a undercover role played by Chia-Chi Wong(“Wong”)( played by Tang Wei), a serect agent of the puppet government of Japan Mr. Yee (play by Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) who was the assassinated target of Wong. Wong belonged to a troupe of drama students(“the troupe”) from Hong Kong University who plan this assassination. Lust, Caution, the next creation after Ann Lee had won the Best Director for Brokeback Mountain at Academy Award, was less known to the western world due to the cultural and language barrier. However, this is another master piece of Ann Lee which did not only demonstrate his capability in transforming literature into motion picture, but also deeply discussed the conflict among love and ambition. Lust, Caution was adapted from a short novel by one of the greatest Chinese authors in early 20th century, Eileen Chang. Among all the works of her, Ann Lee has considered Lust, Caution as the one with the most elements and frames for a film. He said, “when I read Eileen Chang’s novels, especially Lust, Caution, I believed she was inspired by movies, and structured the story as a movie.” Even though the movie directed by Ann Lee and the novel written by Eileen Chang presented their art and message in different forms,