In the Heat of the Sun

In the Heat of the Sun
In the Heat of the Sun
Directed by Jiang Wen
Produced by Guo Youliang
Hsu An-chin
Po Ki
Written by Jiang Wen
Novel:
Wang Shuo
Starring Xia Yu
Ning Jing
Music by Guo Wenjing
Cinematography Gu Changwei
Editing by Zhou Ying
Release date(s) 1994
Running time 134 minutes
Country China
Language Mandarin

In the Heat of the Sun (simplified Chinese: 阳光灿烂的日子; traditional Chinese: 陽光燦爛的日子; pinyin: Yángguāng cànlàn de rìzi; literally "Days of the bright and lush sunshine") is a 1994 movie directed by Jiang Wen. This was Jiang Wen's first foray into directing after years as a leading man. The film is based on author Wang Shuo's novel Wild Beast (动物凶猛).

Contents

Synopsis

The film is set in Beijing during the Cultural Revolution. It is told from the perspective of Ma Xiaojun nicknamed Monkey (played by Xia Yu; some of Monkey's experiences mimic director Jiang's during the Revolution[1]), who is a teenage boy at the time. Monkey and his friends are free to roam the streets of Beijing day and night because the Cultural Revolution has caused their parents and most adults to be either busy or away. Most of the story happens during one summer, so the main characters are even more free because there is no school, and revolves around Monkey's dalliances with his roguish male friends and his subsequent angst-filled crush with one of the female characters, Mi Lan (Ning Jing).

This film is significant in its unique perspective of the Cultural Revolution. Far from the Cultural Revolution-set films of Chinese 5th-generation filmmakers (Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang) which puts the era behind a larger historical backdrop, In The Heat Of the Sun is mellow and dream-like, portraying memories of that era with somewhat positive and personal resonances. It also acknowledges, as the narrator recalls, that he might have misremembered parts of his adolescence as stated in the prologue: "Change has wiped out my memories. I can't tell what's imagined from what's real"[2], as the director offers alternative or imagined versions to some events as people seek to romanticize their youthful memories.

Development

The film was a co-production of three Chinese firms. Most of the budget, $2 million USD, was generated from Hong Kong. Derek Elley of Variety said that the film alters "some 70% of the original" novel and adds "a mass of personal memories."[3]

Cast

  • Han Dong - Ma Xiaojun (马小军 Mǎ Xiǎojūn, young boy)
  • Xia Yu - Ma Xiaojun (teenage Monkey)
    • At the time of filming, Xia was a high school student. The character has the nickname "Monkey" in the film version. "Monkey" was the nickname of director Jiang Wen.[3] Derek Elley of Variety says that Xia as Xiaojun has "both an uncanny resemblance to Jiang himself and a likable combination of insolence and innocence."[3]
  • Feng Xiaogang - Mr. Hu (胡老师 Hú-lǎo​shī), the teacher
  • Geng Le - Liu Yiku (刘忆苦 Liú Yìkǔ, teenage)
  • Jiang Wen - Ma Xiaojun (adult; narrator)
  • Ning Jing - Mi Lan (米兰 Mǐ Lán)
  • Tao Hong - Yu Beipei (于北蓓 Yú Běipèi)
  • Shang Nan - Liu Sitian (刘思甜 Liú Sītián)
  • Wang Hai - Big Ant
  • Liu Xiaoning - Liu Yiku (adult)
  • Siqin Gaowa - Zhai Ru (翟茹 Zhái Rú - Xiaojun's mother)
  • Wang Xueqi - Ma Wenzhong (马文中 Mǎ Wénzhōng - Xiaojun's father)
  • Fang Hua - Old general
  • ? - Yang Gao (羊搞 Yáng Gǎo)

Music

The Chinese version of the Soviet song "Moscow Nights" features prominently in the film.

Awards and recognition

Very well received in China and the Chinese-speaking world but very obscure in the United States, In The Heat Of The Sun is named by American director Quentin Tarantino as one of his favorite films to come out of East Asia. The film also won the Venice International Film Festival's Best Actor prize for its young lead actor Xia Yu as well as the Golden Horse Film Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. (Xia Yu was then the youngest recipient of the Best Actor award at Venice.)

It was the first People's Republic of China film to win Best Picture in the Golden Horse Film Awards, in the very year where a liberalization act allows Chinese-language films from the PRC to participate.

References

External links


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