Cell Phone (film)
Encyclopedia
Cell Phone is an award-winning Chinese
comedy-drama
film
directed by Feng Xiaogang
and starring Ge You
, Zhang Guoli
, Xu Fan and Fan Bingbing. It was first released on 18 December 2003 in Mainland China
and was subsequently screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival
on 18 March 2005. With box office earnings of over ¥
50 million, Cell Phone became the best-selling domestic film in 2003.
Written by Liu Zhenyun, based on his own novel of the same title, the film revolves around two successful men whose marriages were wrecked when their wives uncovered their extramarital affairs through traces left in their cellphones. More broadly, the film explores the role of cellphones in interpersonal relationships in modern China
, where the rapid development in information technology is having huge impacts on the way people communicate.
Sensing something amiss, Fei immediately tries to contact the former but to no avail. When Yan finally reaches home, he is confronted by Yu but insists that he has been with Fei. Yu then uses Yan's cellphone to call Fei, who immediately upon answering blurts out his warning that Yu has called him in her effort to contact Yan. Yu subsequently finds a love-bite on Yan's neck, left by Wu. They divorce shortly after.
Months later, during a training program at a local arts academy, Yan meets teacher Shen Xue (Xu Fan) and the two soon fall in love. They move in together and look like they are on their way to marriage. However, at this time, the launching ceremony of Fei's latest book sees Yan and Wu's path crossed again. On the other hand, Fei, who has always advised Yan that affairs are "trouble", is lured into troubles himself when a female fan makes advances on him. The two arrange to rendezvous in a hotel room. Shortly after, Fei's wife finds out and divorces him, even though he maintains that he did go to the hotel but never went up to the room. It will not take long for Shen to uncover Yan's affair as well, and the two eventually split.
performance. Having achieved ¥
50 million in box office within a month after release (US$
6.4 million in total according to Business Week), the film became the best-selling domestic production in 2003. The film also clinched all three top awards at the 2004 Hundred Flowers Awards
, which is based on viewer voting. However, it failed to bag any award or even acquire nomination for any of the major awards at the jury-based Golden Rooster Awards
in the same year. According to Golden Rooster's leading juror Zhong Chengxiang, albeit being popular among viewers, Cell Phone lacked "class and style". Producer Wang Zhongjun retorted that viewers' approval is of the utmost importance and rejected the Golden Rooster as an award that has "not a single bit of commercial driving force". On the other hand, the official Huabiao Awards
gave out an unprecedented special award to Cell Phone for its achievements in "market development", signifying official recognition of the market forces and taste of the masses.
Cinema of China
The Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. Since 1949 the cinema of mainland China has operated under restrictions imposed by the Communist Party of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and...
comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed by Feng Xiaogang
Feng Xiaogang
Feng Xiaogang , in is a Chinese film director. He is famous in China as being perhaps the most successful "commercialized" filmmaker whose comedy films do consistently well in the box office, although Feng has attempted to break out from that mold by making drama or period drama films...
and starring Ge You
Ge You
Ge You is an acclaimed Mainland Chinese actor. A native of Beijing, he is considered by many to be one of the most recognizable acting personalities in the Mainland...
, Zhang Guoli
Zhang Guoli
Zhang Guoli is an award winning Chinese film director and actor. Zhang was a xiangsheng actor before he started working on films and television series. He is married to actress Deng Jie and their son Zhang Mo is also an actor....
, Xu Fan and Fan Bingbing. It was first released on 18 December 2003 in Mainland China
Mainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
and was subsequently screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival
Cleveland International Film Festival
The Cleveland International Film Festival, first held in 1977, is the largest film festival in Ohio. The 2010 festival featured over 300 films. Since 1991 the festival has been held at Tower City Cinemas in downtown Cleveland.-Roxanne T...
on 18 March 2005. With box office earnings of over ¥
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
50 million, Cell Phone became the best-selling domestic film in 2003.
Written by Liu Zhenyun, based on his own novel of the same title, the film revolves around two successful men whose marriages were wrecked when their wives uncovered their extramarital affairs through traces left in their cellphones. More broadly, the film explores the role of cellphones in interpersonal relationships in modern China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, where the rapid development in information technology is having huge impacts on the way people communicate.
Plot
The story is set primarily in urban Beijing. Yan Shouyi (played by Ge You) is a TV host who has an affair with Wu Yue (Fan Bingbing), a young and attractive woman working in publishing. Yan diligently erases all text messages and call records between him and Wu on his cellphone before he gets home everyday, in order to avoid detection by his wife Yu Wenjuan (Lu Zhang). One night, after telling Yu that he has a work meeting with Fei Mo (Zhang Guoli), a TV producer and Yan's superior, Yan rendezvous with Wu and switches off his cellphone. Not being able to reach Yan a while later, Yu calls Fei, who has been in the know of Yan's affair, and asks about the work meeting. However, before he realizes the situation, Fei slips that he is not with Yan. Yu hastily hangs up.Sensing something amiss, Fei immediately tries to contact the former but to no avail. When Yan finally reaches home, he is confronted by Yu but insists that he has been with Fei. Yu then uses Yan's cellphone to call Fei, who immediately upon answering blurts out his warning that Yu has called him in her effort to contact Yan. Yu subsequently finds a love-bite on Yan's neck, left by Wu. They divorce shortly after.
Months later, during a training program at a local arts academy, Yan meets teacher Shen Xue (Xu Fan) and the two soon fall in love. They move in together and look like they are on their way to marriage. However, at this time, the launching ceremony of Fei's latest book sees Yan and Wu's path crossed again. On the other hand, Fei, who has always advised Yan that affairs are "trouble", is lured into troubles himself when a female fan makes advances on him. The two arrange to rendezvous in a hotel room. Shortly after, Fei's wife finds out and divorces him, even though he maintains that he did go to the hotel but never went up to the room. It will not take long for Shen to uncover Yan's affair as well, and the two eventually split.
Cast
- Ge YouGe YouGe You is an acclaimed Mainland Chinese actor. A native of Beijing, he is considered by many to be one of the most recognizable acting personalities in the Mainland...
as Yan Shouyi, a TV host - Zhang GuoliZhang GuoliZhang Guoli is an award winning Chinese film director and actor. Zhang was a xiangsheng actor before he started working on films and television series. He is married to actress Deng Jie and their son Zhang Mo is also an actor....
as Fei Mo, a TV producer, Yan's superior - Xu Fan as Shen Xue, a teacher at an arts academy, Yan's lover after his divorce with his wife
- Fan Bingbing as Wu Yue, a young attractive woman working in publishing who has an affair with Yan
- Lu Zhang as Yu Wenjuan, Yan's wife who divorces him when she discovers his affair with Wu
Reception
The popularity of Cell Phone among the cinema-goers is evident in its strong box officeBox office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
performance. Having achieved ¥
Renminbi
The Renminbi is the official currency of the People's Republic of China . Renminbi is legal tender in mainland China, but not in Hong Kong or Macau. It is issued by the People's Bank of China, the monetary authority of the PRC...
50 million in box office within a month after release (US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
6.4 million in total according to Business Week), the film became the best-selling domestic production in 2003. The film also clinched all three top awards at the 2004 Hundred Flowers Awards
Hundred Flowers Awards
The People's Hundred Flowers Film Festival or Hundred Flowers Awards, equivalent the China's Golden Globes, are considered, together with the Golden Rooster Awards, the most prestigious film awards in China...
, which is based on viewer voting. However, it failed to bag any award or even acquire nomination for any of the major awards at the jury-based Golden Rooster Awards
Golden Rooster Awards
China Golden Rooster Film Festival also known as Golden Rooster Awards are the most prestigious awards in film given in mainland China, equivalent the China's Academy Awards. The awards are given annually, beginning in 1981. The name of the award came from the year of the Rooster in 1981...
in the same year. According to Golden Rooster's leading juror Zhong Chengxiang, albeit being popular among viewers, Cell Phone lacked "class and style". Producer Wang Zhongjun retorted that viewers' approval is of the utmost importance and rejected the Golden Rooster as an award that has "not a single bit of commercial driving force". On the other hand, the official Huabiao Awards
Huabiao Awards
China Huabiao Film Awards ,also known as Huabiao Awards, is an annual awards ceremony for Chinese cinema. Named after the decorative Chinese winged columns , The Huabiao Awards were first instituted in 1957 as the Ministry of Culture Excellence Film awards. Between 1958 and 1979, no awards were given...
gave out an unprecedented special award to Cell Phone for its achievements in "market development", signifying official recognition of the market forces and taste of the masses.
Awards and nominations
- Huabiao AwardsHuabiao AwardsChina Huabiao Film Awards ,also known as Huabiao Awards, is an annual awards ceremony for Chinese cinema. Named after the decorative Chinese winged columns , The Huabiao Awards were first instituted in 1957 as the Ministry of Culture Excellence Film awards. Between 1958 and 1979, no awards were given...
, 2004- Market Development Award
- Best Film (nominated)
- Best New Actress (nominated) — Fan Bingbing
- Golden Rooster AwardsGolden Rooster AwardsChina Golden Rooster Film Festival also known as Golden Rooster Awards are the most prestigious awards in film given in mainland China, equivalent the China's Academy Awards. The awards are given annually, beginning in 1981. The name of the award came from the year of the Rooster in 1981...
, 2004- Best Supporting Actor (nominated) — Zhang GuoliZhang GuoliZhang Guoli is an award winning Chinese film director and actor. Zhang was a xiangsheng actor before he started working on films and television series. He is married to actress Deng Jie and their son Zhang Mo is also an actor....
- Best Supporting Actress (nominated) — Fan Bingbing
- Best Cinematography (nominated)
- Best Art Direction (nominated)
- Best Supporting Actor (nominated) — Zhang Guoli
- Hundred Flowers AwardsHundred Flowers AwardsThe People's Hundred Flowers Film Festival or Hundred Flowers Awards, equivalent the China's Golden Globes, are considered, together with the Golden Rooster Awards, the most prestigious film awards in China...
, 2004- Best Film
- Best Actor — Ge YouGe YouGe You is an acclaimed Mainland Chinese actor. A native of Beijing, he is considered by many to be one of the most recognizable acting personalities in the Mainland...
- Best Actor (nominated) — Zhang Guoli
- Best Actress — Fan Bingbing
- Best Actress (nominated) — Xu Fan