Directed by Zhang Yimou, Cinematography by Gu Changwei, Produced by Wu Tianming
Mandarin with English subtitles
Based on the novel by Mo Yan
Cast: Gong Li, Jiang Wen
When Zhang Yimou made Red Sorghum he was known for his work as an award winning actor (Old Well, 1987) and cinematographer on such ground breaking films as Zhang Junzhao’s One and Eight (1984) and Chen Kaige’s Yellow Earth (1984). Red Sorghum is not a perfect film but was hailed as the beginning of a renaissance in Chinese cinema and has become a standard for every course and many a festival on Chinese film.
Red Sorghum is visually stunning. As a filmmaker, Zhang Yimou’s hallmark is arguably his gorgeous cinematography and it began with Red Sorghum. Much of Hollywood’s abandoned Technicolor processing equipment was sold to China and it is evident here in the rich hues, especially of red, splashed throughout the film. Beyond colour, the cinematography is rich in content with sweeping landscapes, swishing sorghum and stunningly beautiful details of everyday life in northern China. The musical score intensifies the imagery, with primal, rhythmic folk songs perfecting the impact of the story. He integrates a fairy-tale quality into the first two-thirds of the film, making it appear as a fable moderated by the details he provides of the reality of life. Within the context of the story details of lovemaking and winemaking become the dominant reality.
Rich (to some overly heavy-handed) in its use of symbolism the film is an ode to red through the copious pouring of sorghum wine, the spilling of blood, the referencing of Communism and the bride’s virginity. The colour is used to reproduce its political meaning. Red wine is used liberally by workers to disinfect the landowner’s home mimicking Mao’s land reform that expunged the feudal patriarchal system. Multi-dimensional symbolism also appears through the significance of ‘9’ in the film. As the name of the main female character, born on the ninth day of the ninth month, Xiao Jiu epitomises collectivism. From a poor background she comes to take control, asking the workers to join with her for their mutual benefit, offering to share the profits. There is a strong political message in the brooding masculinity in the film. The cast is predominantly male, often scantily dressed, with sweaty, dusty bodies. Urinating into the wine perfects its flavour. As in the wild west, these men drink hard, love hard and work hard, portraying a life very far removed from that of ideal, cultured, cerebral men in Imperial China. The last line of their drinking song is ‘If you drink our wine, you won’t kowtow to the emperor.’
The story is set in North East China in the 1920’s and 30’s and opens with the departure of Gong Li from her village in a bridal sedan carried by a group of men across the empty landscape to an old leprous winemaker to whom her father has sold her. She and one of the carriers (Jiang Wen) fall in love and after the death of her husband she takes over the winemaking business. Most of the film concerns itself with Gong Li’s life in the winery and it is in this setting that the major themes are finely developed. It is with the arrival of the Japanese forces that the film takes a dive into disturbing violence for which we as audience are not prepared. This humourless, jarring realism is to many critics the weakness of the film but few see it as outweighing the success of the earlier segments.
Red Sorghum began the stellar careers of Gong Li and Jiang Wen and both give brilliant performances, although developing depth of character is not Zhang Yimou’s primary concern at this point of his career.
AWARDS
Golden Bear Award, 38th Berlin Film Festival, 1988
Hundred Flowers Award, Best Film, 1988
Golden Rooster Awards (professional awards by China Film Association): Best Story, Best Cinematography, Best Music, and Best Sound, 1988
China’s Official Selection for Academy Awards, 1988
Film Critics Award, Sydney Film Festival, 1988
Running time 88 minutes
Our evening will be hosted by Bites Lounge by CHAI Living who have kindly provided the venue, equipment, a discount on the menu AND a specially prepared tapas platter for RAS members to enjoy while watching the movie.
Donation suggested: RMB 20.00 (RAS members) and RMB 50.00 (guests). Those unable to make the donation but wishing to attend may contact us for exemption prior to the RAS Film Club viewing. Membership application and membership renewals will be available at this event.
RSVP ESSENTIAL AS SPACE IS LIMITED, RAS MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE PRIORITY BOOKING UNTIL FRIDAY 8th JUNE 2012 FULL ADDRESS AND DIRECTIONS:Bites Lounge by CHAI Living Embankment Building, Ground Floor,410C North Suzhou Road, Hongkou (betweenSichuan Road and Henan Road) Tel: (021) 3603 3511 In Chinese: 河滨大楼，苏州北路410C底楼（在四川路河南路之间） Line 10 to Tiantong Road – exit 5 brings you out at the corner of the two roads and you will see the back of the building on the diagonal corner. OR Line 2 to Nanjing East Road – walk across Henan Road bridge to North Suzhou Road. The large building on the right is Embankment Building