- The Big Parade (1986 film)
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The Big Parade Directed by Chen Kaige Written by Gao Lili Starring Wang Xueqi
Guan Qiang
Lei Lu
Sun ChunMusic by Zhao Jiping
Qu XiaosongCinematography Zhang Yimou Editing by Zhou Xinxia Studio Guangxi Film Studio Release date(s) 1986 Running time 103 minutes Country China Language Mandarin The Big Parade (simplified Chinese: 大阅兵; traditional Chinese: 大閱兵; pinyin: Dà Yuèbīng) is a 1986 Chinese film directed by Chen Kaige. The story of a tough drill sergeant and his raw recruits, The Big Parade stars Wang Xueqi, Sun Chun, and was photographed by Zhang Yimou.
Today, the film stands somewhat in the shadows to Chen Kaige's better-known works, including his directorial debut Yellow Earth, or the Palme d'Or winning Farewell, My Concubine.
Contents
Background
The Big Parade is often seen as an exploration of the relationship of collectivism versus individualism.[1] At the time, however, some western critics, including the New York Times, took the film at face value, seeing it as propagandist and describing it as a "boot camp" film. The New York Times, in particular, derided the film as a "Recruiting Poster for Collective Action."[2] If critics felt that this was merely China's newest propaganda film, this was due in part to the heavy hand of the Chinese Film Bureau. Originally, Chen had not shot an actual parade to conclude his film, only obscure silhouettes of soldiers against a sunset, an artistic decision that shocked "both army and censors."[3] Even forcing the director to insert more traditional imagery, censors nevertheless withdrew the film from the 1987 Cannes Film Festival without explanation.[3]
Despite its apparent support of collectivism, some scholars have noted a more ambiguous subtext to the film, suggesting that the film's imagery is less simplistic than such early reviews suggested. As one scholar writes, Chen explores the relationship between the collective and the individual, but wants to leave the relationship ambiguous.[1] Another Chinese film scholar, Zhang Yingjin, also sees a subtext of criticism of the Chinese notion of its own nationhood, even as the film's rhetoric veers towards the propagandist.[4]
Cinematography
One aspect of the film that is not in dispute, however, is Zhang Yimou's photography. The New York Times wrote upon the film's American screening in 1988 that it was "[Zhang's] photography that lifts The Big Parade out of the rudely fashioned trench of its story."[2] Zhang would go on to become a major film director himself, directing his debut, Red Sorghum in 1987.
References
- ^ a b Zhou Xuelin (2007). Young Rebels in Contemporary Chinese Cinema. Hong Kong University Press, p. 73. ISBN 978-962-209-849-7. Google Book Search. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^ a b Goodman, Walter (1988-03-15). "Movie Review - The Big Parade". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?res=940DEED9123EF936A25750C0A96E948260. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^ a b Gargan, Edward (1987-07-12). "China's Cultural Crackdown". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE6D71F31F931A25754C0A961948260. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^ Zhang Yingjin (1997), "From 'Minority Film' to 'Minority Discourse': Questions of Nationhood and Ethnicity in Chinese Cinema" in Transnational Chinese Cinemas: Identity, Nationhood, Gender. University of Hawaii Press, p. 94. ISBN 0-824-818-458. Google Book Search. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
External links
- The Big Parade at the Internet Movie Database
- The Big Parade at AllRovi
- The Big Parade at the Chinese Movie Database
Films directed by Chen Kaige 1980s 1990s Life on a String (1991) • Farewell My Concubine (1992) • Temptress Moon (1996) • The Emperor and the Assassin (1999)2000s 2010s Sacrifice (2010)Cinema of China Categories:- 1986 films
- Chinese films
- 1980s drama films
- Films set in Beijing
- Films directed by Chen Kaige
- Mandarin-language films
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