Written by Gui Zi from a short story by Mo Yan (Shifu: You’ll Do Anything For A Laugh)

Produced by Terence Malick, Zhou Ping and others

Mandarin with English subtitles

Cinematography: Hou Yong

Original music: San Bao

Cast:  Zhao Benshan (Zhao), Dong Jie (Wu Ying), Fu Biao, Sun Honglei

The RAS Film Club has seen several of Zhang Yimou’s iconic films, including Red Sorghum and Judou from his famous ‘Red’ trilogy and To Live from his second directorial phase of film-making. This month we will watch one of his lesser known films in which he explores the genre of comedy. Unlike his earlier attempt, Keep Cool, which was a hit with Chinese audiences but the comedy was rather lost in translation internationally, he uses comedy in this film to subtle effect. The result is a humour of circumstances, rather than slapstick or raucous laughter. There is also sympathy and sadness which give the film its lingering appeal.

Happy Times, like Zhang’s earlier The Road Home, shows a very different side of Zhang Yimou’s skill as a director. The metaphoric use of colour, so intrinsic to his earlier films, is totally absent here. Happy Times is set in contemporary China, in the urban environment and closed factories of Dalian and is reliant upon the type of characterisation that was missing in those earlier films. Also there is no Gong Li or Zhang Ziyi to fascinate the audience and he neither prettifies nor uglifies the Chinese landscape. Like his earlier films, however, with Happy Times Zhang succeeded in making a film that can be understood by audiences at home and abroad, adding to his reputation as an international director. This is not one of his big budget, commercial films like the magnificent Hero or Shanghai Triad (1995), but, rather, as a Fifth Generation director he gives us his take on the Sixth Generation’s home ground of gritty, urban life.

Happy Times tells an unconventional love story, mixing fairy tale with the economic realities of life in China. As one would expect the story revolves around a strong woman, but in this case the woman is not only young but she is extra vulnerable as she is also blind. The masculine element, through whose eyes the story is told (another usual for Zhang Yimou) is the middle-aged Zhao (played by the accomplished comedy actor who starred in Getting Home, Zhao Benshan), a laid-off factory worker. Eager to be married, he wins the affections of a buxom divorcee by posing as a wealthy businessman. To pay for the lavish wedding banquet that she has planned, Zhao and his friends, all without prospect of employment, hatch a plan to open a “hotel” for privacy-starved couples in a derelict bus abandoned in a nearby park. Impressed by his talk of his hotel, his fiancee persuades him to employ her blind niece as a masseuse. As Zhao gets further embroiled in his lie he builds friendship with and respect for this initially troublesome young woman.

Running time: 102 minutes

Awards 

Official selection, Berlin International Film Festival, 2002

Our evening will be hosted at CHAI Living Gallery.  They kindly provide the venue, equipment, a discount on the menu AND specially prepared popcorn for RAS members to enjoy while watching the movie.

Donation suggested: RMB 20.00 (RAS members) and RMB 50.00 (non-members). Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption, prior to the RAS Film Club viewing. Membership applications and membership renewals will be available at this event 

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