Curiosity Kills the Cat (film)
Encyclopedia
Curiosity Kills the Cat is a 2006 Chinese thriller film directed by Zhang Yibai
. The film is set in the director's home city of Chongqing
. Produced by China Vision Group and Eagle Spirit Management, Curiosity Kills the Cat stars Hu Jun
, Liao Fan, as well as veteran Hong Kong actress Carina Lau
. Though primarily a mainland Chinese production, international sales was handled by Hong Kong based Golden Network.
Lau would win a Best Actress Golden Rooster Award
for her work in the film.
Curiosity Kills the Cat was to some critics, most notably Variety's Derek Elley, a prime example of the kind of popular but well-crafted entertainment that China's film industry had begun to produce.
) from four separate perspectives. In the first part of the film, the story is told from the point-of-view of a young woman, Momo (Lin Yuan), who works in a photography store located in the same building as a luxury apartment complex. Momo has begun to secretly observe (and take pictures with her camera phone
) John Zheng (Hu Jun
) as he carries on an affair with Sharon (Song Jia
), the owner of a nearby nail salon. Momo also observes John's unhappily married wife Rose (Carina Lau
), as she suffers attacks from an unknown vandal who dumps paint on her car and windows.
In the film's second part, the story of John and Sharon is retold, this time from John's perspective and how he became involved with the younger woman. The story is retold once again in the film's third part, now from the perspective of a security guard (Liao Fan). In this part of the film, John and Rose's young child is kidnapped and a murder of one of the characters causes disarray to all the characters' lives.
(SARFT) officials eventually had to contact the lab "consenting" to the film's production. The process still required that the filmmakers institute a number of extensive cuts.
The incident prompted the film's producer, Jimmy Wu to renew calls for a Chinese film rating system
.
pictures (such as Zhang Yimou's Hero
). Wu argued that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
had grown weary of the same historical films every year coming from China and that Curiosity's more realistic depiction of a modern China would appeal to judges. Despite the push, the nomination spot went to Zhang Yimou's historical epic Curse of the Golden Flower
which was ultimately not selected to compete for the award. Wu, however, called for hearings suggesting that Curse violated Academy rules when its screening in China was switched, at the last moment, from Shenyang
to Beijing
.
Zhang Yibai
Zhang Yibai is a Chinese film director.-Directorial career:Zhang began his career in television and music videos before directing his debut, Spring Subway in 2002....
. The film is set in the director's home city of Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
. Produced by China Vision Group and Eagle Spirit Management, Curiosity Kills the Cat stars Hu Jun
Hu Jun
Hu Jun is a Chinese actor of Manchu ethnicity. He is known for his dramatic roles in various films and television series.-Filmography:-External links:***** - Official recognition fan site...
, Liao Fan, as well as veteran Hong Kong actress Carina Lau
Carina Lau
Carina Lau Kar-ling is a Hong Kong actress. She was especially notable in the 1980s for her girl-next-door type roles in films....
. Though primarily a mainland Chinese production, international sales was handled by Hong Kong based Golden Network.
Lau would win a Best Actress Golden Rooster Award
Golden Rooster Awards
China Golden Rooster Film Festival also known as Golden Rooster Awards are the most prestigious awards in film given in mainland China, equivalent the China's Academy Awards. The awards are given annually, beginning in 1981. The name of the award came from the year of the Rooster in 1981...
for her work in the film.
Curiosity Kills the Cat was to some critics, most notably Variety's Derek Elley, a prime example of the kind of popular but well-crafted entertainment that China's film industry had begun to produce.
Plot
Curiosity Kills the Cat tells the same story of an affair gone sour in a modern Chinese city (in this case, ChongqingChongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
) from four separate perspectives. In the first part of the film, the story is told from the point-of-view of a young woman, Momo (Lin Yuan), who works in a photography store located in the same building as a luxury apartment complex. Momo has begun to secretly observe (and take pictures with her camera phone
Camera phone
A camera phone is a mobile phone which is able to capture still photographs . Since early in the 21st century the majority of mobile phones in use are camera phones....
) John Zheng (Hu Jun
Hu Jun
Hu Jun is a Chinese actor of Manchu ethnicity. He is known for his dramatic roles in various films and television series.-Filmography:-External links:***** - Official recognition fan site...
) as he carries on an affair with Sharon (Song Jia
Song Jia
Song Jia , also known as Xiao Song Jia , is a Chinese actress and singer. Her label is Orange Sky Entertainment Group Holdings Ltd...
), the owner of a nearby nail salon. Momo also observes John's unhappily married wife Rose (Carina Lau
Carina Lau
Carina Lau Kar-ling is a Hong Kong actress. She was especially notable in the 1980s for her girl-next-door type roles in films....
), as she suffers attacks from an unknown vandal who dumps paint on her car and windows.
In the film's second part, the story of John and Sharon is retold, this time from John's perspective and how he became involved with the younger woman. The story is retold once again in the film's third part, now from the perspective of a security guard (Liao Fan). In this part of the film, John and Rose's young child is kidnapped and a murder of one of the characters causes disarray to all the characters' lives.
Cast
- Carina LauCarina LauCarina Lau Kar-ling is a Hong Kong actress. She was especially notable in the 1980s for her girl-next-door type roles in films....
as Rose Feng (千羽) , John's unhappily married wife. - Hu JunHu JunHu Jun is a Chinese actor of Manchu ethnicity. He is known for his dramatic roles in various films and television series.-Filmography:-External links:***** - Official recognition fan site...
as John Zheng (郑重) , a middle-aged man married to Rose with a young child. The film's second act is from his perspective. - Song JiaSong JiaSong Jia , also known as Xiao Song Jia , is a Chinese actress and singer. Her label is Orange Sky Entertainment Group Holdings Ltd...
as Sharon Liang (梁晓霞) , a young woman who has opened a manicure business next to John and Rose's apartment complex; she is John's mistress. - Liao Fan as Liu Fendou (刘奋斗) , the security guard in John and Rose's apartment building. The film's third act is told from Liu's perspective.
- Lin Yuan as Momo (陌陌) , a young woman who works in a camera shop, she has taken to observing the marital strife between her neighbors, John and Rose. The film's first act is from Momo's point of view.
Censorship
In a bizarre turn, during the film's development process, a technician confiscated several reels for fear that the film's sex scenes would never make it past the censors. The technician, an employee at the Beijing Film Developing and Printing & Video Laboratory, refused to print the film or return the negatives. Ten years earlier, the same lab technician had been punished by the China Film Bureau over a similar matter, reportedly leading him to be "a bit jumpy." State Administration of Radio, Film, and TelevisionState Administration of Radio, Film, and Television
The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television is an executive branch under the State Council of the People's Republic of China...
(SARFT) officials eventually had to contact the lab "consenting" to the film's production. The process still required that the filmmakers institute a number of extensive cuts.
The incident prompted the film's producer, Jimmy Wu to renew calls for a Chinese film rating system
Motion picture rating system
A motion picture rating system is designated to classify films with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of mature content...
.
Oscar nomination bid
In late 2006, Curiosity Kills the Cat made a bid to become China's nomination for best foreign film in the Academy Awards. The decision to push the film by producer Jimmy Wu was seen as odd in comparison to the previous six Chinese films to be selected, all of which were historical epics or high-budget wuxiaWuxia
Wuxia is a broad genre of Chinese fiction concerning the adventures of martial artists. Although wuxia is traditionally a form of literature, its popularity has caused it to spread to diverse art forms like Chinese opera, manhua , films, television series, and video games...
pictures (such as Zhang Yimou's Hero
Hero (2002 film)
Hero is a 2002 wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou. Starring Jet Li as the nameless protagonist, the film is based on the story of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin in 227 BC....
). Wu argued that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
had grown weary of the same historical films every year coming from China and that Curiosity's more realistic depiction of a modern China would appeal to judges. Despite the push, the nomination spot went to Zhang Yimou's historical epic Curse of the Golden Flower
Curse of the Golden Flower
Curse of the Golden Flower is a 2006 Chinese epic drama film directed by Zhang Yimou.With a budget of US$45 million, it was at the time of its release the most expensive Chinese film to date, surpassing Chen Kaige's The Promise...
which was ultimately not selected to compete for the award. Wu, however, called for hearings suggesting that Curse violated Academy rules when its screening in China was switched, at the last moment, from Shenyang
Shenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
External links
- Curiosity Kills the Cat at the Chinese Movie Database
- Curiosity Kills the Cat at Cinemasie