Day and Night (film)
Encyclopedia
Day and Night is a 2004 Chinese film
, and the second film by Sixth Generation writer-director Wang Chao
. It is also known, less accurately, as Night and Day. The film constitutes the second entry in Wang Chao's loose trilogy on modern China. It was preceded by Wang's 2001 debut, The Orphan of Anyang
, and would be followed by Luxury Car
in 2006. The film is a Chinese-French co-production between Fang Li's Laurel Films
and Sylvain Busztejn's Rosem Pictures in association with the China Film Fourth Group and Arte France Cinema; Laurel and Rosem would later reunite to produce Luxury Car.
, Inner Mongolia
, near the provincial capital of Hohhot
.
but also at Pusan
and Hong Kong
. However, the film would ultimately fail to garner the same level of acclaim that Wang's The Orphan of Anyang was able to, though it was more technically polished than the decidedly low-budget Orphan. Critics such as Derek Elley derided the film as a "curiously lifeless item that falls short of its seemingly mythic intent." As such, it is generally considered a less successful film than its predecessor.
The film did manage to garner one major award, however, with the Golden Montgolfiere at the 2004
Nantes Three Continents Festival.
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...
, and the second film by Sixth Generation writer-director Wang Chao
Wang Chao (director)
Wang Chao is a Chinese film director and screenwriter, sometimes considered part of the loosely defined "sixth generation." Wang began his career serving as an assistant director to the fifth generation auteur, Chen Kaige, working with the elder director on epics like Farewell My Concubine and...
. It is also known, less accurately, as Night and Day. The film constitutes the second entry in Wang Chao's loose trilogy on modern China. It was preceded by Wang's 2001 debut, The Orphan of Anyang
The Orphan of Anyang
The Orphan of Anyang is a 2001 Chinese film from Sixth Generation writer-director Wang Chao. It is Wang's first feature film as director , and is based on a novel written by the director...
, and would be followed by Luxury Car
Luxury Car (film)
Luxury Car is a 2006 film directed by Wang Chao. The film was produced by China's Bai Bu Ting Media and France's Rosem Films, and in association with Arte France Cinéma....
in 2006. The film is a Chinese-French co-production between Fang Li's Laurel Films
Laurel Films
Laurel Films is an independent Beijing-based production company, operated by producer and screenwriter Fang Li. The company has produced several independent films from directors like Wang Chao, Li Yu and Lou Ye....
and Sylvain Busztejn's Rosem Pictures in association with the China Film Fourth Group and Arte France Cinema; Laurel and Rosem would later reunite to produce Luxury Car.
Synopsis
Day and Night tells the story of a miner, Li Guangsheng (Liu Lei), in a fictional northern Chinese city who carries on an illicit affair with the wife of his friend and father figure (played by Orphans Sun Guilin). When his friend is killed in a cave-in, the miner is wracked with guilt and takes it upon himself to end the affair, rebuild the mine, and help his friend's mentally disabled son find a wife.Production
The film was shot in Wuchuan CountyWuchuan County
Wuchuan , is the county surrounding Hohhot City, capital of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in the People's Republic of China. Wuchuan has an area of 4,885 square km with a population of 171,000. It is connected to Hohhot by the Huwu Highway; roughly a half-hour's drive...
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, near the provincial capital of Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
.
Cast
- Liu Lei as Li Guangsheng, the main character, a miner in northern China.
- Sun Guilin as Zhongmin, Li Guangsheng's friend and father-figure.
- Wang LanWang LanWang Lan was a Taiwanese writer,artist and a NARC deputy.He is famous for the novel Blue and Black, which is considered as one of four major novels about anti-Japanese war.- External links :*...
- Xiao Ming as A-Fu, Zhongmin's son.
- Wang Zheng
- Zhang Guangjie
Reception
Day and Night premiered in several major international film festivals, notably the 2004 Adelaide Film FestivalAdelaide Film Festival
The Adelaide Film Festival is a biennial and non-competitive film festival held over two weeks in late February, in Adelaide, South Australia....
but also at Pusan
Pusan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong International Film Festival
The Hong Kong International Film Festival is a platform for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world to launch and experience new film work. There are seminars, conferences, exhibitions, and parties celebrating the festival community...
. However, the film would ultimately fail to garner the same level of acclaim that Wang's The Orphan of Anyang was able to, though it was more technically polished than the decidedly low-budget Orphan. Critics such as Derek Elley derided the film as a "curiously lifeless item that falls short of its seemingly mythic intent." As such, it is generally considered a less successful film than its predecessor.
The film did manage to garner one major award, however, with the Golden Montgolfiere at the 2004
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
Nantes Three Continents Festival.
External links
- Night and Day at the Chinese Movie Database