The second film from director Li Yang is the harrowing story of a naïve young college student who accompanies a classmate to a remote northern village in the pursuit of a promised job. Instead of gainful employment, however, she finds herself sold as a bride to a brutish peasant and held captive in his home. When an appeal to local government officials for rescue fails, she resorts to several plans of escape, but is thwarted at every turn by her “husband,” his extended family and the tightly knit community. Only when she is befriended by a village teacher and begins to instruct several youngsters does a plan for release from her horrific situation start to take shape. Li continues to expose the brutality of rural Chinese life as he did in his first feature Blind Shaft, but here turns his focus to the plight of women rather than men. With a harshly realistic gaze and using a largely nonprofessional—but very impressive—cast, Li firmly establishes himself among other groundbreaking contemporary Chinese filmmakers such as Lou Ye and Jia Zhang-ke. Written by Li Yang. Photographed by Lin Jong. Distributed by Kino International. In Mandarin with English subtitles, 95 min.
At the Sundance Kabuki all seats are reserved and an amenity fee is in effect for most shows. Tickets will be available through the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas box office, at kiosks in the lobby and online at www.sundancecinemas.com with print-at-home capability. San Francisco Film Society members will receive discounted admission to SFFS Screen programs at the box office only (not online or at the lobby kiosks).
Official Website: http://www.sffs.org
Added by cinesoul on June 20, 2008