The Left Ear

The Left Ear is a 2015 Chinese coming of age film directed by Alec Su. It is Su's directorial debut, and based upon the novel of the same name by Rao Xueman. Rao also wrote the film's screenplay.[4][5][6] Filming completed and went into post production in November 2014,[7] and was slated for release on April 30, 2015 but was moved forward to April 24, 2015.[8][9][10]

The Left Ear
Chinese film poster
Chinese左耳
Hanyu PinyinZuǒ Ěr
Directed byAlec Su
Screenplay byRao Xueman
Based onThe Left Ear (novel)
by Rao Xueman
Starring
Production
company
Release date
  • April 24, 2015 (2015-04-24)
Running time
117 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageMandarin
Budget$10 million[2]
Box office$77.91 million (China)[3]

Many of Su's former co-stars from popular TV series My Fair Princess, Romance in the Rain and Destiny by Love helped him promote the film, including Ruby Lin, Leo Ku, Qin Lan,[11] and Zhao Wei[12] who sang the theme song. The moderate-budget film became a major box office success, grossing US$78 million.[13]

Plot

Li Er, a 17-year-old-girl, is partially deaf in her left ear. She dreams of having someone whisper sweet nothings into her impaired left ear because it'll "go straight to the heart". Li Er has a crush on Xu Yi, a popular guy in school who is handsome and intelligent. Instead, Xu Yi is in love with Li Bala, a bar waitress. Driven to distraction, Xu neglects his homework, which infuriates his mother to the point that she was hospitalized and eventually died.

What Xu Yi and Li Bala doesn't know is that they are all pawns in a plan devised by Zhang Yang, Xu Yi's half-brother. Zhang Yang has always hated his mother for leaving him and his father and marrying Xu Yi's father. He wants to seek revenge against Xu Yi. One night, after seeing Zhang Yang in a basketball game, Li Bala falls in love with first sight with him. Disregarding Zhang Yang's offhand violence and his jealous and spoilt girlfriend, Jiang Jiao, Li Bala chases after him fervently. Zhang Yang agrees to date Li Bala, on the condition that Li Bala destroys Xu Yi's reputation.

After the exams, Zhang Yang and Jiang Jiao go out for dinner with their high school friends. After seeing Li Bala's name on Zhang Yang's phone, Jiang Jiao forces Zhang Yang to make a choice between her and Li Bala. Zhang Yang calls Li Bala a slut to appease Jiang Jiao, but the moment is caught on Jiang Jiao's camcorder, which is later stolen by Hei Ren's subordinate. Hei Ren, a gangster who is in love with Li Bala, assumes that Zhang Yang is playing with her feelings, and shows the video tape to Li Bala. Unable to accept the fact, Li Bala heads to find Zhang Yang to clarify the misunderstanding. However, she unfortunately dies in a car accident along the way. As she is dying, Li Bala whispers her last words into Li'er's ears, telling her to pass it on to Zhang Yang. However, because of her condition, Li Er is unable to hear what Li Bala says.

After graduation, Zhang Yang and Jiang Jiao head to Beijing while Li Er and Xu Yi go to Shanghai. Li Er and Xu Yi start to date, but soon break up after Li Er finds out that Xu Yi is cheating on her. Li Er heads back to her hometown, where she chances upon Zhang Yang, whom she eventually forgives. She chances upon a note left by Li Bala, who wrote that she wanted Zhang Yang to be happy. Li Er decides to pass on the note to Zhang Yang, telling him that it is Li Bala's last words for him.

In the year 2013, everyone has graduated. Li Er is employed into a company in Shanghai. Zhang Yang, who has gradually fallen in love with Li Er, whispers gently into her ears as Li Er meets his eyes and smiles.

Cast

Soundtrack
  • The Left Ear
  • Rest Assured to Fly
    • Performer: Oho Ou, Yang Yang, Hu Xia
  • A Beautiful Yesterday
    • Performer: Hu Xia

Reception

Box office

It opened Friday, April 24, 2015 in China, earning $31.49 million, coming first place at the Chinese box office and third place worldwide, behind Avengers: Age of Ultron and Furious 7.[14][15] In its second weekend, it earned $15.57 million and fell to No. 3 behind Furious 7 and You Are My Sunshine.[16] In its third weekend, the film grossed $4.36 million for a No. 4 finish behind Chappie, Furious 7, and You Are My Sunshine.[17]

Critical reviews

Variety said the film succeeded in immersing audience in the characters, and praised the actors' heartfelt performances, in particularly Sandra Ma.[18]

Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultRef.
201552nd Golden Horse AwardsBest New DirectorAlec SuNominated[19]
Best Supporting ActressSandra MaNominated
5th Beijing International Film FestivalBest Youth Literature IP of the YearThe Left EarWon[20]
20168th Macau International Movie FestivalMost Potential ActressGuan XiaotongWon[21]
18th Huading Awards Best New Actor Yang Yang Nominated
23rd Beijing College Student Film FestivalMost Popular DirectorAlec SuWon
18th Taipei Film FestivalBest CinematographyZhao FeiWon[22]
20th Huading Awards Top 50 moviesThe Left Ear (Rank 18)Won[23]
16th Chinese Film Media AwardsMost Anticipated ActorOho OuWon[24]

See also

References
  1. Kevin Ma (June 19, 2015). "Fox International Channels acquires Enlight 3". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on June 19, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
  2. 《左耳》比拼《速7》 国产票房累计近2亿元 (in Chinese). 21so. 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  3. Clifford Coonan (May 25, 2015). "China Box Office: 'Avengers' Passes $200M as Bollywood Hit 'PK' Opens Strongly". The Hollywood Reporter. (Prometheus Global Media). Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  4. staff (18 November 2014). 电影《左耳》男主曝光 苏有朋谈做导演：比想象的要糟 (in Chinese). ifeng.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  5. "zh:电影《左耳》开发布会 苏有朋首当导演". Shenzhen Economic Daily. 2014-11-19. Archived from the original on 2014-12-23.
  6. 来源: 当代生活报(南宁) (20 November 2014). 电影《左耳》里有熟人(图) (in Chinese). 163.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  7. Hsia, Heidi (15 December 2014). "Alec Su to release his first directorial effort". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  8. 《左耳》发布主题曲歌词海报 林夕倾情填词感怀青春 4月24日上映 (in Chinese). mtime. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  9. 来源: 新快报(广州) (5 February 2015). 电影《左耳》 苏有朋"承包"小鲜肉们的青春 (in Chinese). 163.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  10. Cui Zhe (5 February 2015). 青春电影 卷土重来 (in Chinese). news.hexun.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  11. "In Beijing: Alec Su attended promotion campaign which became My Fair Princess series gathering?". Asian E-News Portal. May 5, 2015. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  12. "Zhao Wei promotes Alec Su's directorial debut". China Daily. April 15, 2015. Archived from the original on May 3, 2015. Retrieved July 5, 2015.
  13. "Week 20 05/18 - 05/24/2015". Archived from the original on 2015-05-26. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
  14. Nancy Tartaglione (April 26, 2015). "'Cinderella' Scores In Japan; 'Home' Lands In China: More International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  15. Clifford Coonan (April 27, 2015). "China Box Office: 'Furious 7' Becomes Highest Grossing Movie Ever". The Hollywood Reporter. (Prometheus Global Media). Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  16. Jonathan Papish (May 4, 2015). "China Box Office Weekend Actuals: 'Furious 7' Takes Victory Lap As It Nears $400M, Fourth Weekend At #1; 'Silent Separation' Close Second; 'Home' Holds Strong Over Holiday". BoxOffice.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  17. Jonathan Papish (May 11, 2015). "China Box Office Weekend Actuals: 'Chappie' Outpaces 'Furious 7' On Final Lap Ahead Of Massive 'Ultron' Release". BoxOffice.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  18. "Film Review: 'The Left Ear'". Variety. Archived from the original on 2017-12-24. Retrieved 2017-12-13.
  19. "苏有朋凭《左耳》入围金马 首次执导获两提名_网易娱乐". NetEase. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  20. "《左耳》夺年度最青春文学IP 导演苏有朋诚意推荐_高清视频在线观看_电影网". www.1905.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  21. "金羊奖《夏洛》五奖成最大赢家 宋佳蒋勤勤同封影后". ent.ifeng.com. Archived from the original on 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  22. "许玮甯夺影后哽咽 避谈阮经天". Sina. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  23. "第20届华鼎奖公布中国电影50强榜单 大导演大制作遇滑铁卢". news.ifeng.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
  24. "欧豪成最受瞩目男演员 加盟陈凯歌《妖猫传》". Sohu. 2016-11-21. Archived from the original on 2017-04-09. Retrieved 2017-05-08.
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