- Happy Times
Infobox_Film
caption = US One-sheet
name = Happy Times
writer =Mo Yan (novel)
starring =Zhao Benshan Dong Jie
director =Zhang Yimou
cinematography =Hou Yong
music =San Bao
producer =Zhao Yu Yang Qinglong Zhou Ping Zhang Weiping
editing =Zhai Rui
distributor = Canada:Mongel Media
Japan:
Fox Japan
United States:Sony Pictures Classics
released =
runtime = 102 min
released = China:December 31 ,2000
Pusan:November 10 ,2001
Berlin:February 7 ,2002
country = China
language = Mandarin
budget =
imdb_id = 0303243
amg_id =1:246282"Happy Times" (zh-tsp|t=幸福時光|s=幸福时光|p=Xìngfú Shíguāng) is a 2000
tragicomedy film directed by the famed Chinesefilmmaker Zhang Yimou . It is based on the novel, "Shifu: You'll Do Anything for a Laugh" byMo Yan .Plot
In the city of
Dalian , an old and laid-out factory worker (played byZhao Benshan ) seeks to marry an obese and divorced middle-aged woman (played byDong Lifan ), whom he hopes will bring him warmth and comfort in life. So he sets out desperately to find a way to make money for the rich wedding he promised to present. The hapless man decides to renovate a broken bus on top of a hill, popular for romantic couples. This small bus he turned into a small dwelling he named Happy Times Hotel, which will be rented to willing couples that visit the hill.As he brags about his newly opened "hotel" and how much money he is making, he found himself entrusted with the care of the woman's emaciated, blind stepdaughter Wu Ying (played by
Dong Jie ), who is unwanted in the house. Not willing to expose his scheme and ruin his attempt to get married, the man enlists the help of his retired co-workers, who agree to do all they can to make the lonely girl happy at her new job as amasseur in the "hotel".As the story unfolds, a touching friendship between the childless man and the dejected, orphaned girl under his care develops, leading to a moving and surprising conclusion.
Awards
* 2002
Berlin International Film Festival official selection.ee also
*
Cinema of China External links
* [http://www.sonyclassics.com/happy/index-flash.html Official site] from
Sony Pictures Classics
* [http://www.foxjapan.com/movies/happytimes/ Official site] from Fox Japan
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* [http://www.songliphoto.com/vintage/slides/movie2.htm Happy Times - Film location map in Dalian ]
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