Platform

2001 2h 35m ZH

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 102

DramaHistory

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

China’s rapid changes from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, as seen through the lives of four performers in a theater troupe.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Zhao Tao
Yin Ruijuan
Wang Hongwei
Cui Minliang
Liang Jingdong
Chang Jun
Yang Lina
Zhong Pin
Han Sanming
Sanming
Wang Bo
Yao Eryong

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jia Zhangke
Writers: Jia Zhangke
Languages: Mandarin
Countries: Hong Kong, Japan, 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

Clocks in at 155 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

25 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: Hong Kong, Japan, 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 Jia Zhangke, shot by Nelson Yu Lik-wai. 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 Yoshihiro Hanno. 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 Kong Jinlei 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

Zhao Tao and Wang Hongwei and Liang Jingdong carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jia Zhangke directs. Nelson Yu Lik-wai behind the camera. Yoshihiro Hanno scores. Kong Jinlei cuts. Produced in Hong Kong, Japan, France. Dialogue in Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Clocks in at 155 minutes — on the longer side of feature-length cinema.
225 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 3 countries: Hong Kong, Japan, France.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Jia Zhangke, shot by Nelson Yu Lik-wai. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Yoshihiro Hanno. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Kong Jinlei shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Zhao Tao and Wang Hongwei and Liang Jingdong carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0258885 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.