Mural (film)
Mural (simplified Chinese: 画壁; traditional Chinese: 畫壁; pinyin: Huà Bì; Jyutping: Waa6 Bik1) is a 2011 Chinese film co-written, co-produced and directed by Gordon Chan, which stars Deng Chao, Sun Li, Yan Ni, Collin Chou, Zheng Shuang and Eric Tsang.[1] It is directed by the same director who directed Painted Skin (2008). Both stories are drawn from Pu Songling's (1640–1715) collection of supernatural tales Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio.[2]
| Mural | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Gordon Chan |
| Screenplay by | Gordon Chan Frankie Tam Maria Wong Lau Ho Leung |
| Based on | Strange Tales of a Lonely Studio by Pu Songling |
| Produced by | Abe Kwong Gordon Chan |
| Starring | Deng Chao Sun Li Yan Ni Collin Chou Zheng Shuang Eric Tsang |
| Cinematography | Mark Lee |
| Edited by | Chan Kei Hop |
| Music by | Ikurō Fujiwara |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Beijing Enlight Pictures (China) Intercontinental Film Distributors (HK) (Hong Kong) |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 123 minutes |
| Countries | China Hong Kong |
| Language | Mandarin |
| Box office | 185 million RMB |
Plot
Mural tells the story of Zhu Xiaolian, a poor scholar who travels to the capital to take an examination accompanied by his servant. Along the way they capture a thief. The thief, trying to escape, enters a temple.
While taking a break Zhu becomes distracted by a mural and enters into the fantasy land of fairies. He meets the fairies and encounters love and hate. Due to the strict regulations of no man being allowed in the fairy land created by the queen fairy, a war breaks out to drive the men away.
Cast
- Deng Chao as Zhu Xiaolian
- Sun Li as Shaoyao
- Yan Ni as The Aunt
- Collin Chou as Meng Longtan
- Zheng Shuang as Mudan
- Eric Tsang as Monk Budong (guest star)
- Andy On as Golden Warrior
- Monica Mok as Ding Xiang
- Ada Liu as fairy Yunmei
- Bao Wenjing as Baihe
- Xia Yiyao as Xuelian
- Bao Beier as Hou Xia, Zhu's servant
- Du Shiwu as housekeeper
- Xie Nan as Fairy Cuizhu
Theme music
The title song for the movie is also named "Mural". The singers are Deng Chao and Betty Sun.
Accolades
Zheng Shuang won the Best New Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Award for her performance.[3]
Trivia
Deng Chao and Betty Sun who played the roles of hero and heroine in the movie was in fact married in 2010, shortly before the movie was filmed. The couple's first child was born in 2011, shortly after the movie was released.
All of the fairies are named after flowers. Shaoyao is Chinese peony. Mudan is rock peony. Ding Xiang is cloves.
References
- Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 89. ISBN 978-1908215017.
- Q&A: Gordon Chan Talks About 'The Mural', The Hollywood Reporter, 26 June 2011 (retrieved on October 17, 2011).
- "郑爽喜获新演员金奖 受香港电影导演协会肯定". Sina. Retrieved 25 February 2017.