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FATHER
(BABA)
(CHINA)
A Beijing Film Studio presentation of a Beijing Film Studio/Beijing Shanhe Yingshi Yishu production, in association with Beijing Good Dreams. Produced by Han Sanping. Executive producer, Wang Weijing. Executive in charge of production, Peng Xiaolin.
Directed by Wang Shuo. Executive director, Lao Yun. Screenplay, Wang, Feng Xiaogang, from Wang's 1991 novel "I'm Your Dad" (Wo shi ni baba). Camera (color), Yang Xiaoxiong; editor, Zhou Ying; music, Shi Wanchun; art director, Feng; sound (Dolby), Tang Yuanping; assistant director, Sun Zhiyi. Reviewed at Locarno Film Festival (competing), Aug. 9,2000. Running time: 96 MIN.
Ma Linsheng ..................Feng Xiaogang
Ma Che, his son ....................Hu Xiaopei
Qi Huaiyuan ..................... Xu Fan
Xia Jingping .......................... Qin Yan
Xia Qing, his daughter ...... Wang Weining
Tie Jun ............. ................ Ye Qing
With: Yuan Yuan, Chen Huanyuan, Sima Nan.
(Mandarin dialogue)
Traditional attitudes toward authority are just one of the many targets in the sights of "Father," a cheeky tragi-comedy hinged on the uneasy relationship between a rebellious kid and his inadequate, widowed father as they adjust to life together. While pic's a little uneven in tone and loses its focus in the final reels, this sharply observed, sometimes moving directorial debut by famed bad-boy novelist Wang Shuo could cut a niche career in the West following its world preem at the Locarno festival, where it won the top Golden Leopard award. Pic's still-banned status in China offers plenty of ad-pub hooks.
Completed in February 1996 and subjected to countless requests for revision by...