The True Story of Ah Q

1981 2h 5m ZH

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 15

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Based on the 1921 novella of the same name by one of China's most well-known modern writers, Lu Xun (Lu Hsun), the True Story of Ah Q is set during the 1911 revolution. Ah Q is a lowly peasant who wants to rise above his class, or at least get out of his grinding poverty. At first he thinks the way to do it is by marrying into a better station in life; later, he joins the revolution as he feels that is the only way he and others like him can transcend poverty. In this film version of Lu Xun's story, the character of Ah Q might benefit from a more rounded humanity to make him appealing to those not familiar with the harsh environment in China before the 1911 revolution.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Yan Shunkai
A Qiu
Li Wei
Master Zhao
Yikang Jin
The Fake Foreign Devil
Wang Suya
Wu Ma
Youyun Zhang
The Little Nun
Li Dingbao
Lu Xun
Baohe Yang
Shopkeeper
Fuming Bao
Master Zhao's son

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Cen Fan
Writers: Chen Baichen
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: China

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

45 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Cen Fan, shot by Fuxi Xu. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Yan Shunkai and Li Wei and Yikang Jin carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0081971 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

Only 15 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Cen Fan directs. Fuxi Xu behind the camera. Produced in China. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

145 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Cen Fan, shot by Fuxi Xu. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Yan Shunkai and Li Wei and Yikang Jin carry the top of the cast.
5IMDB entry: tt0081971 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
6Only 15 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.