Shanghai Story

Shanghai Story (Chinese: 美丽上海) is a 2004 Chinese film directed by Peng Xiaolian. A family drama, the film was the surprise winner of the 19th Golden Rooster Awards in China, where it won best picture over the heavily favored House of Flying Daggers.[1] The film's win was also surprising given that the story, according to Arthur Jones of Variety, included references to the Cultural Revolution, which is still a sore subject for Chinese censors.[1] Even more surprisingly, the film was little-touched by censors. While the film's studio in Shanghai requested changes to the ending, Peng asked for the decision to come from the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television in Beijing, who chose to leave the film be.[1]

Shanghai Story
Traditional Chinese美麗上海
Simplified Chinese美丽上海
Literal meaningbeautiful Shanghai
Hanyu PinyinMěilì Shànghǎi
Directed byPeng Xiaolian
Written byPeng Xiaolian
Lin Liangzhong
Produced byHsu Feng
StarringJoey Wang
Josephine Koo
Feng Yuanzheng
Zheng Zhenyao
CinematographyLin Liangzhong
Edited byPeng Xiaolian
Release date
  • June 11, 2004 (2004-06-11) (Shanghai)
Running time
100 minutes
LanguageMandarin

Plot

The film follows the rise and fall of a family in Shanghai. Once wealthy capitalists, the family unravels during the Cultural Revolution; their home, once a French concession mansion, converted into a multi-family dwelling. Years later, the matriarch of the family announces that she is dying. When her four grown children return, it is the first time the family has been under one roof in decades.

Reception

Shanghai Story had an unusual reception in China. Nominated for several categories at the Golden Rooster Awards, the film was not expected to win, which according to Arthur Jones of Variety, faced tough competition particularly from Zhang Yimou's big-budget wuxia picture, House of Flying Daggers.[1] To director Peng Xiaolan's surprise, the film won nearly all major categories including the best picture, director, actress and supporting actor prizes.[1] Even after these wins, however, the film was not immediately picked up for domestic distribution in China.[1]

The film, however, was screened at several international film festivals, giving the film exposure to audiences abroad.

Shanghai Story was eventually released in China in 2005 for the Mid-Autumn Festival.[2]

References
  1. Jones, Arthur (2004-09-24). "'Shanghai Story' Rules the Rooster". Variety. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  2. Podvin, Thomas (2005-11-04). "A woman of substance, director Peng Xiaolian". that's Shanghai. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
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