China, My Sorrow

1989 1h 26m ZH

😐

6.4

MID

★6.4TMDB · 7

HistoryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In August 1966, the Cultural Revolution in full swing, 13-year-old Tian Ben is arrested for playing a pop record; he's sent to a remote mountain camp in Niu-Peng. There he's called "Four Eyes" and, with about 16 other older boys and men, he's made to carry muck up a mountainside, make bricks, saw logs, and sing daily to Chairman Mao of his faults. There's camaraderie among the five youths, especially with a young pickpocket named Baimao, and Tian is also drawn to a silent monk who cares for him when he falls ill and the others expect him to die. The camp is remote, so there are no fences or walls. Tian longs to escape.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Liang Yi Guo
Tian Ben
Quan Nghieu Tieu
Han Lai Vuong
Chef
Sam Chi-Vy
Beimo
Loi Truong
Artiste
Cheung Siang Chang
Cuisinier

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Dai Sijie
Writers: Yuan Zhu Shan
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: Germany, China, France

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 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

86 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: Germany, China, France.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Dai Sijie, shot by Jean-Michel Humeau. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Qui Gang Chen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Chantal Delattre shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Liang Yi Guo and Quan Nghieu Tieu and Han Lai Vuong carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Dai Sijie directs. Jean-Michel Humeau behind the camera. Qui Gang Chen scores. Chantal Delattre cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Germany, China, France. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

186 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
237 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 3 countries: Germany, China, France.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Dai Sijie, shot by Jean-Michel Humeau. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Qui Gang Chen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Chantal Delattre shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Liang Yi Guo and Quan Nghieu Tieu and Han Lai Vuong carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0097985 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 7 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.