The Park (2007 film)

Infobox Chinese Film
name = The Park


image_size =
caption =
director = Yin Lichuan
producer = Lola Zhang
writer = Yin Lichuan
starring = Li Jia
Wang Deshun
Wang Xuebing
Xu Tao
music = Zhou Yunshan
cinematography = Lu Sheng
editing = Zhou Xinxia
distributor = International:
Filmblog Media
released = Shanghai:
June 21, 2007
Moscow:
June 22, 2007
Bangkok:
July 22, 2007
runtime = 96 min.
language = Mandarin
budget =
website =
amg_id = 1:433466
imdb_id = 1071291
jianti = 公园
fanti = 公園
pinyin = Gōng yúan

"The Park" is the 2007 directorial debut of Chinese writer-director Yin Lichuan. Produced by Filmblog Media (which also handles international distribution) and Beijing Wide Angle Lens, the comedy-drama film is part of producer Lola Zhang's Yunnan New Film Project, ten proposed films (two completed, one in post-production) by female Chinese directors. "The Park" is the second of the ten to be released, after Wang Fen's "The Case" (2007).cite web|url=http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/1642/53/|title = "The Park" |author= Elley, Derek| publisher ="Variety" | date = 2007-07-06|accessdate=2008-02-10] Each of the films was required to take place in the southern province of Yunnan. [cite web| url= http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/yunnan/film_project.html|title=Yunnan New Film Project|publisher = "China Daily" |accessdate =2008-02-11]

"The Park" tells the story of a father's reconnection with his daughter after he moves in with her in the provincial capital of Kunming. Upset over her relationship with a younger man with no job prospects, he begins to tout her name in a local park to other elderly parents looking to marry off their children.

Cast

* Wang Deshun as Gao Yuanshan, a widowed man who reconnects with his adult daughter after moving into her apartment in Kunming.
* Li Jia as Xiaojun, Yuanshan's daughter, a journalist.
* Xu Tao as Doudou, Xiaojun's boyfriend, a musician.
* Wang Xuebing as Xu Chao, a potential suitor for Xiaojun after the two are set up by Yuanshan.

Reception

Screening at several major film festivals, the film has received positive reviews. After its screening in Shanghai, "Variety" critic Derek Elley called attention to the film's strong performances, particularly the father and daughter leads, describing their chemistry as "unshowy but excellent." It did equally well at other festivals, most notably Mannheim-Heidelberg where it picked up a FIPRESCI prize. FIPRESCI critic Ayman Youssef's praise is more technical in nature, citing the use of visual framing and the use of long and medium-shots, though he also lauds the performances as "fine and exact acting." [cite web|url=http://www.fipresci.org/festivals/archive/2007/mannheim/the_park_ayoussef.htm|title=FIPRESCI - Festival Reports - Mannheim 2007 - "The Park" |author = Youssef, Ayman| publisher = FIPRESCI |date = 2007-11-07|accessdate=2008-02-11]

Additionally, the film has played at the Moscow International Film Festival [cite web|url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/29/eng/moscow/films/38/ | title=Film Catalog, Park, The//Gongyuan| publisher = MIFF | accessdate=2008-02-11] and at the Bangkok International Film Festival. [cite web|url=http://www.bangkokfilm.org/en/films/film_detail.aspx?searchby=title&id=F07048|title=The Park|publisher = BKKIFF | accessdate=2008-02-11]

Awards & nominations

* FIPRESCI Prize at the 2007 Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival [cite web|url=http://www.fipresci.org/awards/awards/awards_2007.htm|title=FIPRESCI - Awards 2007|accessdate =2008-02-11]

References

External links

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* [http://www.dianying.com/en/title/21159 "The Park"] at the Chines Movie Database