Date : 25th to 27th Apr 2016
Venue : Alliance Framcaise Auditorium
Movies to be screened
1. Under the Hawthorn Tree/ Dir.Yimou Zhang/114 min (25.04.16 | 6.30p.m)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU8YpuAYfxc
Romance sparks between a young woman and a young man from different economic backgrounds during China’s Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and ’70s. Jing, a naive city schoolgirl is to be transferred to a remote village for “re-education” during the Cultural Revolution. Jing’s father has been jailed for being a “rightist” and her mother struggles to feed her three children. Jing knows that both their future and the welfare of her family depend, in view of the authorities, on their good behavior. A small error would be enough to ruin their lives. But Jing’s prudent and peaceful existence is disrupted when she condescends to the attentions of Sun, the charming son of an elite military member. Due to the social gap separating them, a romance between them is unthinkable; even more so, dangerous. But the attraction is mutual, powerful and undeniable. Jing tries to resist, but Sun chases her politely, even after she is back to her native city. Awards : 2 wins & 7 nominations
2. Fly with the Crane/Dir.Runjun Li/108 min (26.04.16 | 6.30p.m)
73 years old Ma and his good mate Cao were once coffin makers. Since the Chinese government implemented the practice of cremation, the demand for coffins dried up therefore Ma spends his days hanging out with his grandchildren. When Ma returns from spending mid-Autumn festival with his daughter and her family, he is told that Cao has passed away and his coffin is secretly buried in a cornfield next to a lake. Later Ma claims to have seen a white crane by the lake but none of his children believes him. Thereafter, Ma waits by the lake everyday and becomes a laughingstock in the neighbourhood. Ma’s grandson asks why is he waiting for the white crane, Ma says,”I worked so hard to raise your father, uncle and aunt, but now they want to turn me into a pile of ash. I want to be carried to heaven by the white crane.” Realising that this is but a dream, his little grandchildren innocently propose to take the matter into their own hands. Awards : 2 nominations
3. A Wedding Invitation/Dir.Ki-hwan OH/100 min(27.04.16 | 6.30p.m)
High school sweethearts QiaoQiao and Li Xing are about to graduate from university and Li Xing surprises QiaoQiao with a marriage proposal. QiaoQiao, however, declines the proposal, offering rash arguments as to why he’s not ready. Little does he know, QiaoQiao has a devastating secret. Nonetheless, they write a break-up contract; if they’re both single in five years, they’ll get married. The two part ways and five years pass. Believing Li Xing is still waiting for her, QiaoQiao waits patiently for his call. But when Li Xing finally does contact her it’s to invite her to his wedding. QiaoQiao is flabbergasted and is determined to win her former flame back at any cost-even though the secret that forced them apart lingers.
4. The Piano In a Factory/Dir.Meng ZHANG/100 min(27.04.16 | 7.30p.m)
To fight for custody of his daughter who loves playing the piano, a steel factory worker decides to forge a piano from scratch. Steelworker Chen has a passion for music and plays the accordion in a local band with a close group of friends. When his estranged wife returns one day after years of absence, she demands a divorce and sole custody of their daughter. Chen is at a loss. He doesn’t mind divorcing a woman who has become a stranger, but he can’t bear to part with his daughter. Chen has worked hard to give her a respectable life and has taught her his love of music. When asked if she’d rather stay with her father or go with her mother, the girl gives a practical, devastating answer: she’ll go with whomever can provide her with a piano. Chen cannot afford such a luxury item, but the piano becomes his last hope to save what little is left of his family. With the help of his loyal friends and the support of his lover – the singer in his band – Chen concocts several plans to fulfill his daughter’s wish. Awards : 10 wins & 29 nominations