Springtime in a Small Town

Infobox Film
name = Springtime in a Small Town


director = Tian Zhuangzhuang
producer = William Kong
Li Xiaowan
TIng Yatming
writer = Ah Cheng
Li Tianji (short story)
starring = Hu Jingfan
Wu Jun
Xin Baiqing
Ye Xiaokeng
Lu Si Si
distributor = United States:
Palm Pictures
United Kingdom:
Artificial Eye
cinematography = Pin Bing Lee
editing = Xu Jianping
music = Zhao Li
released = Venice:
4 September 2002
United Kingdom:
13 June 2003
United States:
14 May 2004
runtime = 116 min.
language = Mandarin
country=China
France
The Netherlands
budget =
imdb_id = 0332831
amg_id = 1:273192

"Springtime in a Small Town" (zh-cp|c=小城之春|p=Xiǎochéng zhī chūn) is a 2002 Chinese film directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang. The film is a remake of director Fei Mu's 1948 film, "Spring in a Small Town". Though the two movies are referred to by different English titles, both share the same title in Chinese, 小城之春 ("Xiǎochéng zhī chūn").

"Springtime in a Small Town" marks the return of Tian Zhuangzhuang to the director's chair, following a nearly nine-year absence since his last film, "The Blue Kite" (1993). It was funded by several production companies from China (Beijing Film Studio, Beijing Rosart Film), France (Orly Films, Paradis Films), and the Netherlands (Fortissimo Films).

Unlike "Kite", "Springtime" is an intimate affair with no overt political references, causing at least one reviewer to see it as Tian's "playing it careful" upon his return to directing.cite web | title = Springtime in a Small Town| author = Kemp, Philip| publisher = BFI, Sight & Sound| url = http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/1313/ | date= July 2003 | accessdate=2007-08-10]

Plot

The film follows Fei Mu's original fairly closely. Zhang Zhichen (Xin Baiqing), a city doctor, comes to visit his old friend from school Dai Liyan (Wu Jun) shortly after the war against the Japanese has ended. Dai is sickly although Zhang suspects it to be mainly a case of hypochondria. While visiting, he meets Liyan's wife, Yuwen (Hu Jingfan) and Liyan's young teenage sister Dai Xiu (Lu Sisi).

Zhang quickly realizes that he and Yuwen had had a brief but passionate affair ten years earlier before she had been engaged to marry her husband. Due to her husband's sickness however, the couple had ceased any real physical contact. With Zhang back, both Yuwen and the doctor find themselves again attracted to one another.

As emotions run high, Dai Xiu's birthday comes up. As the drinks begin to flow, Zhang and Yuwen's mutual attraction emerge clearly to everyone, especially to Liyan. Too sickly in his mind to care for his wife any longer, he begs Zhang to stay. Liyan then promptly attempts suicide by overdose but is saved by his friend. Zhang then decides that it is best that he departs.

Cast

Unlike Tian's ensemble direction in "The Blue Kite", the cast here is deliberately limited to only five actors, all of whom were unknowns at the time of "Springtime's" release.

*Hu Jingfan as Yuwen, the wife;
*Wu Jun as Dai Liyan, her husband;
*Xin Baiqing as Zhang Zhichen, Dai Liyan's childhood friend and Yuwen's former lover
*Ye Xiaokeng as Lao Huang, Dai Liyan and Yuwen's loyal servant
*Lu Sisi as Dai Xiu, Dai Liyan's young sister.

Reception

The film received great acclaim from film critics. The film review aggregator "Rottentomatoes" records that 89% of film critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 35 reviews; with "top critics" gave the film an 100% rating. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/springtime_in_a_small_town/|title=Springtime in a Small Town|publisher=Rottentomatoes| accessdate=2008-07-31] The "Metacritic" records the film received an average score of 84, meaning "universal acclaim". [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/springtimeinasmalltown?q=Springtime%20in%20a%20Small%20Town|title=Springtime in a Small Town|publisher=Metacritic| accessdate=2008-07-31] "Variety" praised the film as a "visually rich" and "exquisitely made love story." [cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117918632.html?categoryid=31&cs=1|title=Springtime in a Small Town Review|author= Stratton, David|publisher="Variety"|date=2002-09-08| accessdate=2008-07-31] The "Sight and Sound" states: "this is a sensual, haunting film, atmospheric and moving, full of melancholy and a subtle eroticism".

Awards and nominations

*Venice Film Festival, 2002
**San Marcos Prize
*Tromsø International Film Festival, 2003
**Don Quixote Award

DVD

"Springtime in a Small Town" was released in the United States on DVD on November 23, 2004 and is distributed by Palm Pictures. The DVD features subtitles in English.

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0332831|title=Springtime in a Small Town
*amg title|id=1:273192|title=Springtime in a Small Town
*rotten-tomatoes|id=springtime_in_a_small_town|title=Springtime in a Small Town
*metacritic film|id=springtimeinasmalltown|title=Springtime in a Small Town
*mojo title|id=springtimeinasmalltown|title=Springtime in a Small Town
* [http://www.dianying.com/en/title/xcz2002 "Springtime in a Small Town"] at the Chinese Movie Database