Chinese Box
Encyclopedia
Chinese Box is a 1997 movie
directed by Wayne Wang
and starring Jeremy Irons
, Gong Li
, Maggie Cheung
and Michael Hui
.
The movie is set and was made at the time of Hong Kong
's handover
to the People's Republic of China
on June 30, 1997. The film credits Paul Theroux
as a source for the story, based on themes he explores in his 1997 novel Kowloon Tong
.
Second, there is Vivian, who is trying to find a balance in life, trying to escape from the underground and forget about her past, but is not allowed to do so because of the prejudices that go back thousands of years in the Chinese society (including Hong Kong).
Third, there is Vivian (still), with a possibility to discard all the problems she has with a simple option of marrying John and going to the West. But she knows that would just be running away from the core of the problem and it wouldn't really be a long-term solution, because of different cultural backgrounds and maybe even because of a subtle uncertainty regarding John's ex-wife and ex-life.
Fourth, there is Jean, with her own story and with a typical Hong Kong here-today-who-knows-where-tomorrow attitude. Living the moment, enjoying and suffering at the same time, perfect reflection of modern life, especially so easily seen in Hong Kong. She understands all the different kinds of hardships that come in life but also understands where to draw the line in selling herself. John tries to help her, but does that in a dishonest way, which disappoints her tremendously. Jean's story was inspired by a short story by the American-British author Rachel Ingalls
, according to a note in the film's credits.
Fifth, there is friendship between John and Jim. Close, mutually understanding, with enough humor and sarcasm to keep them going even through the bad days.
Sixth, there is Chang, a man of power, of high position, but a wimp in his heart. Money can't replace what he doesn't have in personality. No charisma, no morality, no care. Just money and status. He is ashamed of Vivian, and loves her in his own pathetic, cowardly way at the same time. He doesn't marry her but rather arranges a mock wedding photo-shoot, so Vivian would have some pictures (which she burns the same night). He is very much into "saving face" and can not find an equilibrium in his life (professional nor personal).
Seventh, there are John and Vivian. A story of true love that just isn't meant to be. Not because they wouldn't want it to, but because of the constraints of the society they live in.
Eighth, there is John (again), perplexed with his own mortality of which awareness appears suddenly and without preparation. Ninth, there is the political aspect of Hong Kong politically becoming a part of China again, which (at the time) was a great uncertainty.
.
Scenes were shot at the Main Bar of the Foreign Correspondents' Club
.
The main characters residence in the film was shot in a flat located along the mid-levels escalator ride, just below Hollywood Road Central.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed by Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang
Wayne Wang is a Chinese American film director.-Biography:Wang was born and raised in Hong Kong, and named after his father's favorite movie star, John Wayne...
and starring Jeremy Irons
Jeremy Irons
Jeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
, Gong Li
Gong Li
Gong Li is a Chinese film actress. Gong first came into international prominence through close collaboration with Chinese director Zhang Yimou and is credited with helping to bring Chinese cinema to Europe and the United States....
, Maggie Cheung
Maggie Cheung
Maggie Cheung Man yuk is a Chinese actress from Hong Kong. Raised in England and Hong Kong, she has over 70 films to her credit since starting her career in 1983...
and Michael Hui
Michael Hui
Michael Hui Koon-Man is a Hong Kong comedian, scriptwriter and director. He is the eldest of the four Hui brothers who remain three of the most prominent figures in the Hong Kong entertainment circle during the 1970s and the 1980s...
.
The movie is set and was made at the time of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
's handover
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
on June 30, 1997. The film credits Paul Theroux
Paul Theroux
Paul Edward Theroux is an American travel writer and novelist, whose best known work of travel writing is perhaps The Great Railway Bazaar . He has also published numerous works of fiction, some of which were made into feature films. He was awarded the 1981 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his...
as a source for the story, based on themes he explores in his 1997 novel Kowloon Tong
Kowloon Tong (novel)
Kowloon Tong is a novel by Paul Theroux about Bunt, an English mummy's boy born and raised in Hong Kong. He is made an offer for his textile factory by the shady Mr Hung, and has no choice but to accept, when it is made clear that Mr Hung knows all about the part of Bunt's life that he has kept...
.
Plot
The movie unfolds at least nine different stories on very different levels. First, there is John as a reporter, trying to capture the interesting things in daily life of Hong Kong and persuading himself that in this way he gives his life a meaning.Second, there is Vivian, who is trying to find a balance in life, trying to escape from the underground and forget about her past, but is not allowed to do so because of the prejudices that go back thousands of years in the Chinese society (including Hong Kong).
Third, there is Vivian (still), with a possibility to discard all the problems she has with a simple option of marrying John and going to the West. But she knows that would just be running away from the core of the problem and it wouldn't really be a long-term solution, because of different cultural backgrounds and maybe even because of a subtle uncertainty regarding John's ex-wife and ex-life.
Fourth, there is Jean, with her own story and with a typical Hong Kong here-today-who-knows-where-tomorrow attitude. Living the moment, enjoying and suffering at the same time, perfect reflection of modern life, especially so easily seen in Hong Kong. She understands all the different kinds of hardships that come in life but also understands where to draw the line in selling herself. John tries to help her, but does that in a dishonest way, which disappoints her tremendously. Jean's story was inspired by a short story by the American-British author Rachel Ingalls
Rachel Ingalls
Rachel Holmes Ingalls is an American-born author who has lived in the United Kingdom, since 1965. She won the 1970 Authors' Club First Novel Award for Theft. Her novel Mrs...
, according to a note in the film's credits.
Fifth, there is friendship between John and Jim. Close, mutually understanding, with enough humor and sarcasm to keep them going even through the bad days.
Sixth, there is Chang, a man of power, of high position, but a wimp in his heart. Money can't replace what he doesn't have in personality. No charisma, no morality, no care. Just money and status. He is ashamed of Vivian, and loves her in his own pathetic, cowardly way at the same time. He doesn't marry her but rather arranges a mock wedding photo-shoot, so Vivian would have some pictures (which she burns the same night). He is very much into "saving face" and can not find an equilibrium in his life (professional nor personal).
Seventh, there are John and Vivian. A story of true love that just isn't meant to be. Not because they wouldn't want it to, but because of the constraints of the society they live in.
Eighth, there is John (again), perplexed with his own mortality of which awareness appears suddenly and without preparation. Ninth, there is the political aspect of Hong Kong politically becoming a part of China again, which (at the time) was a great uncertainty.
Filming locations
The movie shows the actual temporary press room, specially set up for the press coverage of the handover, and located in the old part of the Convention and Exhibition CentreHong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is one of the two major convention and exhibition venues in Hong Kong, along with AsiaWorld-Expo. It is located in Wan Chai North, Hong Kong Island. Built along the Victoria Harbour, it is linked by covered walkways to nearby hotels and commercial...
.
Scenes were shot at the Main Bar of the Foreign Correspondents' Club
Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong
The Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong is a members-only club and meeting place for the media, business and diplomatic community. It is located at 2 Lower Albert Road in Central, next to the Hong Kong Fringe Club, and they both occupy the Old Dairy Farm Depot at the top of Ice House Street,...
.
The main characters residence in the film was shot in a flat located along the mid-levels escalator ride, just below Hollywood Road Central.
Cast and roles include
- Jeremy IronsJeremy IronsJeremy John Irons is an English actor. After receiving classical training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons began his acting career on stage in 1969, and has since appeared in many London theatre productions including The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the...
- John - Gong LiGong LiGong Li is a Chinese film actress. Gong first came into international prominence through close collaboration with Chinese director Zhang Yimou and is credited with helping to bring Chinese cinema to Europe and the United States....
- Vivian - Maggie CheungMaggie CheungMaggie Cheung Man yuk is a Chinese actress from Hong Kong. Raised in England and Hong Kong, she has over 70 films to her credit since starting her career in 1983...
- Jean - Michael HuiMichael HuiMichael Hui Koon-Man is a Hong Kong comedian, scriptwriter and director. He is the eldest of the four Hui brothers who remain three of the most prominent figures in the Hong Kong entertainment circle during the 1970s and the 1980s...
- Chang - Rubén BladesRubén BladesRubén Blades Bellido de Luna is a Panamanian salsa singer, songwriter, lawyer, actor, Latin jazz musician, and politician, performing musically most often in the Afro-Cuban and Latin jazz genres...
- Jim - Jared HarrisJared HarrisJared Francis Harris is a British character actor, well known for playing the obnoxious Mac McGrath in the Adam Sandler film Mr. Deeds, and for his portrayal of Lane Pryce on the AMC series Mad Men.- Personal life :...
- William - Chaplin Chang - Homeless Man
- Noel Rands - John's Friend at New Year's Party
- Emma Lucia - Amanda Everheart
- Ken Bennett - Rick
- Russell Cawthorne - New Year's Party MC
- Emotion Cheung - William Wong
- Harvey Stockwin - Weeks
- Jonathan Midgley - Jonathan
- Bruce Walker - Bruce
- Angelica Lofgren - Baby-Lin
- Dr. Julian Chang - Dr. Chang
- Jian Rui Chao - Businessman #1
- Wai Sing Chau - Businessman #2
- Hung Lo - Businessman #3
- Shirley Hung - Girlfriend #1
- Michelle Yeung - Girlfriend #2
- Alex Ng - Drunk karaoke singer
- Chiu Wah Lee - Minibus passenger
- Maria CorderoMaria CorderoMaria Cordero, MH is a singer, actress and chef from Macau. She also has her own cooking show, Maria's Kitchen on Cable TV. Her fans nicknamed her "Fat Mama" .- Biography :...
- Mamasan - Pao Fong - Godfather
- Hui Fan - Godfather's wife
- Lam Man Cheung - Wedding photographer
- Lee Siu-keiLee Siu-KeiLee Siu-kei is a Hong Kong actor, film director, scriptwriter and producer. He is a former triad member and has served as consultant for many Hong Kong triad movies.-Selected filmography:* God of Gamblers II * Fist of Fury 1991...
- Gangster #1 - Leung Chi On - Gangster #2
- Tse Yuen Fat - Gangster #3
- Roderick Lee - Manhattan Club bouncer
- Hui LiHui LiHui Li was an Indian Buddhist monk who visited China in the 4th c. He is the founder of the Lingyin temple . The name is also written Huili....
- Black Moon hostess - Maria St. Lynne - Black Moon hostess
- Josie HoJosie HoJosephine "Josie" Ho Chiu-Yi is a daughter of Macao casino magnate Stanley Ho, and a singer and actress from Hong Kong.-Movie career:She was involved in numerous movies, TV commercials, TV dramas, and singing performances....
- Lilly