Life on a String

1991 1h 50m ZH

👍

6.9

SOLID

⭐

6.9

IMDB

★6.9TMDB · 15★6.9IMDB · 715

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A blind man's master told him that after he has broken 1000 strings on his Banjo, he can open the Banjo to get a script for his eyes. After 60 years he broke the 1000th string.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Liu Zhongyuan
Old Master
Xu Qing
Lanxiu
Huang Lei
Shitou
Ma Ling
Noodle Stall Owner's Wife
Yao Er-ga
Retarded Man at Noodle Stall
Zhang Zhengyuan
Noodle Stall Owner / God of Death
Zhang Jinzhan
Lanxiu's Father
Ling Zhong
Pharmacist

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Chen Kaige
Writers: Chen Kaige
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: China, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan

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

ERA

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 5 countries: China, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Chen Kaige, shot by Gu Changwei. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Liu Zhongyuan and Xu Qing and Huang Lei carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0101440 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Chen Kaige directs. Gu Changwei behind the camera. Pei Xiaonan cuts. Produced in China, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

135 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 5 countries: China, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Japan.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Chen Kaige, shot by Gu Changwei. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Editor Pei Xiaonan shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Liu Zhongyuan and Xu Qing and Huang Lei carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0101440 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 15 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.