Year: 2001
Country:
China
Run Time:
84 minutes
An understated, direct tale told with overwhelming power, THE ORPHAN OF ANYANG starts with a sudden reversal of fortune for Dagong, an unemployed laborer late of a failing factory in Anyang, a city in province of Henan. Reduced to trying to trade his near-worthless company food coupons for cash, he happens to be idling at a noodle-vendor's stall when he finds a recently abandoned baby, another hopeless soul in the city even more poignant than he. But this child comes with a note promising a lavish bequest (the US equivalent of about $35) to whomever takes care of the child. With no prior experience, Dadong appoints himself instant guardian, and sure enough, has a meeting with a beautiful mystery woman, Yanli, who sets out the terms of his monthly stipend. What Dadong doesn't realize is that the baby is the illegitimate son of a gangster, Yanli an underworld prostitute-mistress. As the relationship between Dadong and Yanli deepens, a twist of fate brings the `orphan' to his father's attention, in an ironic meditation on the nature of love, heritage and family, in modern, industrialized China. (In Mandarin with English subtitles)
Screenplay
Wang Chao (from his novel)
Director
Wang Chao
Producer
Fang Li, Wang Chao
Cinematography
Zhang Xi
Editing
Wang Chao, Wang Gang
Principal Cast
Zhu Jie, Sun Guilin, Yue Senyi
Jean Chen
2190 Fortune Drive
San Jose
CA
95131
USA
Tel: (408) 526-9022
Fax: (408) 526-9023
jeanchen@laurelindustrial.com
Questions?
Check out our FAQs for answers to common questions about entering the film festival.
Donate
Your donation helps fulfill our mission to promote artistically and culturally significant film arts through education and exhibition.