Quitting

Infobox Film
name = Quitting


image_size =
caption = DVD cover for "Quitting"
director = Zhang Yang
producer = Peter Loehr
Imar Film
writer = Zhang Yang
Huo Xin
Based on the life story of Jia Hongsheng
starring = Jia Hongsheng
Jia Fengsen
Chai Xiuling
music = Zhang Yadong
cinematography = Wang Yu
Cheng Shouqi
editing = Yang Hongyu
distributor = Sony Pictures Classics
(United States)
released = )
runtime = 112 min.
country =
language = Mandarin Chinese
budget =
website =
amg_id = 1:256987
imdb_id = 0298238

"Quitting" (zh-cl|c=昨天|l=Yesterday) is a 2001 Chinese drama film directed by Zhang Yang, starring and based on the true life story of Jia Hongsheng. Jia, an actor and former drug addict, battled his addiction to marijuana and heroin for five years from 1992 to 1997. All members of the cast, from Jia and Jia's family members right down to the doctors and patients at a mental institute Jia was admitted to, are real people playing themselves. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival on 4 September, 2001 and clinched the NETPAC Award.

The original Chinese title is an allusion to The Beatles classic "Yesterday". References to The Beatles, of whom Jia was an avid fan, are also made throughout the film. Besides dressing up like John Lennon, Jia also fantasized himself as Lennon's son and recited the Chinese translation of the lyrics to "Let It Be" religiously. However, Michael Jackson, who owns the rights to most Beatles songs, declined to give permission for the song or its title to be used in the film. [Unknown (2003-12-12). [http://www.china.org.cn/english/NM-e/82263.htm Director Zhang Yang Prepares for His Latest Flick] . China Internet Information Center. Retrieved on 2007-04-28.] Instead, the film uses songs by Chinese rockers such as Cui Jian, Tang Dynasty and Dou Wei.

Plot

Jia Hongsheng, graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing in 1989, gains fame in the late 80s and early 90s as an actor in films such as "The Case of the Silver Snake" and "A Woman from North Shaanxi". During rehearsal for a stageplay titled "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (also directed by Zhang Yang) in the fall of 1992, Jia first comes into contact with marijuana and subsequently becomes addicted and even experiments occasionally with heroin. In 1995, after filming "Weekend Lovers", Jia quits acting completely and lives off his younger sister Wang Tong. An avid fan of The Beatles, Jia listens to their music obsessively and begins to imagine himself as the son of John Lennon.

In late 1995, Jia's parents Jia Fengsen and Chai Xiuling, both theatre actors from Northeastern China, decide to move to Beijing to help their son to quit drugs. Wang Tong, who had previous moved out, also comes back to live with her parents and brother in the same apartment. Initial efforts by the aged parents to penetrate their son's inner world are met with indifference, sometimes even hostility. Over time, however, Jia begins to open up gradually. He begins to take regular walks with his father, usually buying a bottle or two of beer along the way. Jia Fengsen also buys his son cassette tapes by The Beatles, as requested by the latter.

In early 1996, however, Jia Hongsheng relapses after staying off drugs for almost half a year. On 19 March, 1996, after drinking many bottles of beer in celebration of his twenty-ninth birthday, Jia slaps his father, claiming to teach the latter the "meaning of life". Jia's family subsequently contacts the police. Three policemen come the next day and bring Jia to a mental institution.

While at the mental institution, Jia is put under medication and his condition improves significantly. More importantly, he has stopped fantasizing and begins to see himself as just an ordinary human being. The doctor subsequently determines that Jia is not suffering from schizophrenia but recommends that Jia stays in the institution for a longer time to completely quit drugs. On 19 March, 1997, on his thirtieth birthday, Jia is finally discharged.

Cast

* Jia Hongsheng as himself, an actor who battled his drug addiction from 1992 to 1997.
* Jia Fengsen as himself, a retired theatre actor from Northeastern China, father of Jia Hongsheng.
* Chai Xiuling as herself, a retired theatre actress from Northeastern China, mother of Jia Hongsheng.
* Wang Tong as herself, younger sister of Jia Hongsheng.

Reception

"Quitting" premiered at the Venice Film Festival on 4 September, 2001 and clinched the NETPAC Award (tied with Iranian film "Raye makhfi", by Babak Payami). The film opened in the United States on 13 September, 2002, distributed by Sony Pictures Classics. When it closed on 17 October, 2002, it grossed a meager US$18,531 in box office. [Unknown. [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=quitting.htm "Quitting"] . Box Office Mojo. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.]

Awards and nominations

* Venice Film Festival, 2001
** NETPAC Award (tied with "Raye makhfi")
* Bangkok International Film Festival, 2001
** Best Film
* Stockholm Film Festival, 2001
** FIPRESCI Prize
** Bronze Horse Award (nominated)
* Singapore International Film Festival, 2002
** Silver Screen Award for Best Actor — Jia Hongsheng
** Silver Screen Award for Best Asian Feature Film (nominated)

DVD release

"Quitting" was released on DVD and distributed in the United States by Sony Pictures Classics on 4 March, 2003. The DVD release features original dialogue with subtitles in English and Spanish.

Notes

External links

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