Dwelling Narrowness
Encyclopedia
Dwelling Narrowness also known literally as Snail House, was a 2009 television series broadcast in Mainland China
, based on a 2007 novel of the same name. It depicts two sisters struggling with life in Jiangzhou, a fictional city that strongly resembles present-day Shanghai
. The Chinese name is a figure of speech
meaning "humble abode".
Because a prominent storyline portrays the difficulties of buying an affordable home in the city, the show has become a symbol of the perceived ongoing real estate bubble in China
, generating controversy in the Chinese press and attracting attention from foreign media sources.
Although 35 episodes of the series were produced, the Chinese government only allowed 33 episodes to be aired. The series is seen as a running commentary on contemporary social issues in urban China, including the widening wealth gap, real estate prices, political corruption
, the breakdown of traditional Chinese family values, foreigners' views of China and Chinese views of foreigners.
in order to save money to buy a house. Haiping then convinces her mother (Cao Cuifen) to let Guo Haizao (Li Nian), her younger sister, to come to Jiangzhou for college as well.
Four years pass and the couple still cannot afford the down payment on a house, since property prices have been skyrocketing. After Haizao graduates from college and cannot find a job, Haiping lets her sister live with her and Su Chun in their already very cramped apartment. Haizao eventually finds a job and meets Xiao Bei (Wen Zhang
), a warm-hearted white collar office worker whom she starts dating.
Haizao's boss, a real estate developer, asks her to attend a business dinner where she entertains Song Si Ming (Zhang Jiayi), an influential government official who has business dealings with her boss. Song is middle-aged and attracted to Haizao's youth and beauty. He later makes several attempts to win her heart, despite the fact that he is married with a daughter and Haizao already has a boyfriend.
Song takes Haizao out on trips and gives money to her so that she can help her sister, Haiping, pay for the down payment on her house. With Song's help, Haiping finally buys a house that she likes. In return for helping her sister, Haizao begins an affair with Song and tries to hide this from her boyfriend. However, he eventually discovers the affair, and, although he initially forgives Haizao, they eventually break up.
Out of desperation, Haizao returns to Song. Meanwhile, Song and his superior (Ma Guanying), the mayor of Jiangzhou, have been involved in brokering real estate deals with local businessmen and taking large bribes. When he finds out he is under investigation and may be arrested and jailed, Song gives Haizao (who is now pregnant with his child) a large amount of money and leaves.
Song's wife (Vivian Wu
) later finds out about the missing money and goes to Haizao's place to demand it back. Haizao refuses and Song's wife becomes outraged, beating Haizao and causing her to have a miscarriage. Haizao is then hospitalized and loses both the child and her uterus
, which prevents her from ever bearing a child again.
Song hears about Haizao's condition on the eve of being arrested for corruption and rushes to the hospital. However, he is chased by the police who think he is making an attempt to flee. On the way to the hospital, Song dies in a car accident. Haizao learns about Song's death and does not talk for three months due to depression, leaving for the U.S. at the end. Her sister, Haiping, starts a Chinese language school and lives with her husband and daughter at their new house.
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...
, based on a 2007 novel of the same name. It depicts two sisters struggling with life in Jiangzhou, a fictional city that strongly resembles present-day Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. The Chinese name is a figure of speech
Figure of speech
A figure of speech is the use of a word or words diverging from its usual meaning. It can also be a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words in it, as in idiom, metaphor, simile,...
meaning "humble abode".
Because a prominent storyline portrays the difficulties of buying an affordable home in the city, the show has become a symbol of the perceived ongoing real estate bubble in China
Chinese property bubble
The Chinese property bubble is an alleged ongoing real estate bubble in residential and/or commercial real estate in the People's Republic of China...
, generating controversy in the Chinese press and attracting attention from foreign media sources.
Although 35 episodes of the series were produced, the Chinese government only allowed 33 episodes to be aired. The series is seen as a running commentary on contemporary social issues in urban China, including the widening wealth gap, real estate prices, political corruption
Corruption in China
The People's Republic of China suffers from widespread corruption. For 2010, China was ranked 78 of 179 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking slightly above fellow BRIC nations India and Russia, but below Brazil and most developed countries...
, the breakdown of traditional Chinese family values, foreigners' views of China and Chinese views of foreigners.
Synopsis
Guo Haiping (Hai Qing) is the elder of two sisters, who moves to the fictional city of Jiangzhou to attend a prestigious college there. She and her husband Su Chun (Hao Ping) remain in the city after graduation, living in a very shabby shikumenShikumen
Shikumen , literally "stone gate", is an architectural style for residential buildings in Shanghai, China combining Western and Chinese elements that first appeared in the 1860s...
in order to save money to buy a house. Haiping then convinces her mother (Cao Cuifen) to let Guo Haizao (Li Nian), her younger sister, to come to Jiangzhou for college as well.
Four years pass and the couple still cannot afford the down payment on a house, since property prices have been skyrocketing. After Haizao graduates from college and cannot find a job, Haiping lets her sister live with her and Su Chun in their already very cramped apartment. Haizao eventually finds a job and meets Xiao Bei (Wen Zhang
Wen Zhang
Wen Zhang is a Chinese actor.After graduating from China's Central Academy of Drama in 2006, he starred in many popular TV dramas including You Are Smiling, While I am Weeping, Bloom of Youth and The Song of Youth.During 2007 and 2008, Wen became well known for his roles as Xiang Nan in hit TV...
), a warm-hearted white collar office worker whom she starts dating.
Haizao's boss, a real estate developer, asks her to attend a business dinner where she entertains Song Si Ming (Zhang Jiayi), an influential government official who has business dealings with her boss. Song is middle-aged and attracted to Haizao's youth and beauty. He later makes several attempts to win her heart, despite the fact that he is married with a daughter and Haizao already has a boyfriend.
Song takes Haizao out on trips and gives money to her so that she can help her sister, Haiping, pay for the down payment on her house. With Song's help, Haiping finally buys a house that she likes. In return for helping her sister, Haizao begins an affair with Song and tries to hide this from her boyfriend. However, he eventually discovers the affair, and, although he initially forgives Haizao, they eventually break up.
Out of desperation, Haizao returns to Song. Meanwhile, Song and his superior (Ma Guanying), the mayor of Jiangzhou, have been involved in brokering real estate deals with local businessmen and taking large bribes. When he finds out he is under investigation and may be arrested and jailed, Song gives Haizao (who is now pregnant with his child) a large amount of money and leaves.
Song's wife (Vivian Wu
Vivian Wu
Vivian Wu , is a Chinese actress, known for her roles in The Last Emperor , Heaven & Earth , The Joy Luck Club , and The Pillow Book and as the historical figure of Soong May-ling, commonly referred to as Madam Chiang Kai-shek, in two major Chinese motion pictures The Soong Sisters and The...
) later finds out about the missing money and goes to Haizao's place to demand it back. Haizao refuses and Song's wife becomes outraged, beating Haizao and causing her to have a miscarriage. Haizao is then hospitalized and loses both the child and her uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
, which prevents her from ever bearing a child again.
Song hears about Haizao's condition on the eve of being arrested for corruption and rushes to the hospital. However, he is chased by the police who think he is making an attempt to flee. On the way to the hospital, Song dies in a car accident. Haizao learns about Song's death and does not talk for three months due to depression, leaving for the U.S. at the end. Her sister, Haiping, starts a Chinese language school and lives with her husband and daughter at their new house.