27-02-2008
6.15 pm
at School of Media Studies,
near south overbridge,
S.A.Road,Ernakulam
Getting Home/Luo ye gui gen
CHINA
(2006, 97 Minute)
DIRECTOR: Yang Zhang
Producer: Stanley Tong, Er Yang, Zhang Yang
Editor: Yang Hongyu
Screenwriter: Zhang Yang, Wang Yao
Cinematographer: Yu Lik Wai, Lai Yiu Fau
Principal Cast: Zhao Benshan, Hong Qiwen, Song Dandan, Guo Degang, Hu Jun,
Sun Haiying, Xia Yu, Wu Ma
Synopsis
Old Zhao, in his 50's, is a poor migrant worker slaving away in
Shenzhen, a city near Hong Kong. When his friend and co-worker Old
Wang dies unexpectedly, Old Zhao decides to bring the dead home.
He pretends his companion is just a passed-out drunk, boards a
cross-country coach, and meets a band of armed robbers. Old Zhao
tells them to kill him first to take his dead friend's compensation.
Moved by his loyalty, the robbers show their respect and leave the
bus. Instead of thanking him, the passengers kick Old Zhao and his
dead friend off.
Now on the side of the road, Old Zhao tries to flag down a car,
pretending Old Wang needs to get to a hospital. After spending a night
at a hotel, Old Zhao finds his traveling money has been stolen. He
breaks down and weeps. Nevertheless, Old Zhao's determination is
not to be shaken. When he needs money, he uses Old Wang's corpse
to pose as a beggar. When he needs to eat, he cries at a stranger's
funeral to get a free meal. When he needs to hide Old Wang's death
spots, he finds a sympathetic prostitute who puts make up on Old
Wang.
Along his odyssey, Old Zhao meets many different types of Chinese
people. Just as the hometown is almost in sight, a torrential rain strikes
and causes a landslide. Now all Old Zhao has to fight is the nature.
When he wakes up in the hospital, he sees himself on TV as a hero. The
first thing he has to do is to sneak his dead friend out of the morgue.
When he finally arrives in Old Wang's hometown, it's been turned into
a dam. The entire village is now deep underwater. Old Zhao sits down
and recalls a scene that occurred not long ago before Old Wang's
death...
Sitting at the wine shop in Shenzhen, the drunken Old Zhao
Old Zhao, in his 50's, is a poor migrant worker slaving away in
Shenzhen, a city near Hong Kong. When his friend and co-worker Old
Wang dies unexpectedly, Old Zhao decides to bring the dead home.
He pretends his companion is just a passed-out drunk, boards a
cross-country coach, and meets a band of armed robbers. Old Zhao
tells them to kill him first to take his dead friend's compensation.
Moved by his loyalty, the robbers show their respect and leave the
bus. Instead of thanking him, the passengers kick Old Zhao and his
dead friend off.
Now on the side of the road, Old Zhao tries to flag down a car,
pretending Old Wang needs to get to a hospital. After spending a night
at a hotel, Old Zhao finds his traveling money has been stolen. He
breaks down and weeps. Nevertheless, Old Zhao's determination is
not to be shaken. When he needs money, he uses Old Wang's corpse
to pose as a beggar. When he needs to eat, he cries at a stranger's
funeral to get a free meal. When he needs to hide Old Wang's death
spots, he finds a sympathetic prostitute who puts make up on Old
Wang.
Along his odyssey, Old Zhao meets many different types of Chinese
people. Just as the hometown is almost in sight, a torrential rain strikes
and causes a landslide. Now all Old Zhao has to fight is the nature.
When he wakes up in the hospital, he sees himself on TV as a hero. The
first thing he has to do is to sneak his dead friend out of the morgue.
When he finally arrives in Old Wang's hometown, it's been turned into
a dam. The entire village is now deep underwater. Old Zhao sits down
and recalls a scene that occurred not long ago before Old Wang's
death...
Sitting at the wine shop in Shenzhen, the drunken Old Zhao
complainsto Old Wang about his hard life. His biggest fear is to
die away from home. Also drunk, Old Wang tells Old
Zhao that if Old Zhao dies, he will take Old Zhao
home even if he has to carry the dead body the whole
way.
die away from home. Also drunk, Old Wang tells Old
Zhao that if Old Zhao dies, he will take Old Zhao
home even if he has to carry the dead body the whole
way.
Director's Statement
This is a real story that happened last year in China
and created some controversy when it was reported.
A peasant took the corpse of his friend from the
countryside back to his home, just to ensure that his
friend would be buried properly and wouldn't become
a "hungry ghost." Some could not understand why he
did it, deeming it ridiculous and superstitious.
However, others saw the modesty and purity which
had been lost in the modern cities. Many people were
touched by his story.
Even though the theme appears serious and tragic,
the film is full of black comedy. We do not stress the
sorrow and bitterness of the journey but instead give
the main character a very open and generous view on
life - a peasant overcomes difficulties one by one with
wisdom and a sense of humor.
It's a road movie as it covers half of China and we
meet different types of Chinese people, all classic and
typical. One thing sure to be included is the
magnificent landscapes of China.
Director
Zhang Yang graduated from the Director's
Department of the Central Theatre Academy. In
1997, he directed his first feature Spicy Love Soup
which was in competition at the Tokyo International
Film Festival and swept all the domestic Chinese
awards. His second film Shower (1999) also went
on to win awards at a wide array of festivals in
Canada, Spain, Greece, Holland, the United
States, Argentina and Italy. His third feature
Quitting (2001) scored at the Chinese box office
and won FIPRESCI Prize at the Stockholm Film
Festival. His fourth film Sunflower (2004) won Best
Director and Best Cinematography at the San
Sebastian International Film Festival.
This is a real story that happened last year in China
and created some controversy when it was reported.
A peasant took the corpse of his friend from the
countryside back to his home, just to ensure that his
friend would be buried properly and wouldn't become
a "hungry ghost." Some could not understand why he
did it, deeming it ridiculous and superstitious.
However, others saw the modesty and purity which
had been lost in the modern cities. Many people were
touched by his story.
Even though the theme appears serious and tragic,
the film is full of black comedy. We do not stress the
sorrow and bitterness of the journey but instead give
the main character a very open and generous view on
life - a peasant overcomes difficulties one by one with
wisdom and a sense of humor.
It's a road movie as it covers half of China and we
meet different types of Chinese people, all classic and
typical. One thing sure to be included is the
magnificent landscapes of China.
Director
Zhang Yang graduated from the Director's
Department of the Central Theatre Academy. In
1997, he directed his first feature Spicy Love Soup
which was in competition at the Tokyo International
Film Festival and swept all the domestic Chinese
awards. His second film Shower (1999) also went
on to win awards at a wide array of festivals in
Canada, Spain, Greece, Holland, the United
States, Argentina and Italy. His third feature
Quitting (2001) scored at the Chinese box office
and won FIPRESCI Prize at the Stockholm Film
Festival. His fourth film Sunflower (2004) won Best
Director and Best Cinematography at the San
Sebastian International Film Festival.
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