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Dirt (1994 film)
Encyclopedia
Dirt is a Chinese film from 1994 which depicts the nascent rock music scene of Beijing. It is considered an important example of the Sixth Generation movement that emerged in China after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
.
While the film's general pessimism about youth is shared by many other Sixth Generation films, a character's choice to have a child rather than an abortion has been seen by some scholars to have played a role in why the film garnered official permission to screen abroad, a stark contrast to the similarly themed Beijing Bastards
.
. Dirt is often compared with another major sixth generation film about the Beijing rock scene, Zhang Yuan
's Beijing Bastards
. In contrast to that film's underground status, however, Guan Hu paid nearly US$2000 for state studio affiliation, allowing the film to be distributed in China and screened abroad with approval from state regulators.
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989
The Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, also known as the June Fourth Incident in Chinese , were a series of demonstrations in and near Tiananmen Square in Beijing in the People's Republic of China beginning on 15 April 1989...
.
While the film's general pessimism about youth is shared by many other Sixth Generation films, a character's choice to have a child rather than an abortion has been seen by some scholars to have played a role in why the film garnered official permission to screen abroad, a stark contrast to the similarly themed Beijing Bastards
Beijing Bastards
Beijing Bastards is a 1993 drama film by sixth generation director Zhang Yuan, and is one of the first independently produced Chinese films....
.
Background
Dirt was filmed on a shoestring budget and was funded primarily by lead actress, Kong LinKong Lin
Kong Lin is a Chinese actress. Born in Hangzhou, Kong graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1987 before beginning her career in acting. Her birth name is Kong Linglin ....
. Dirt is often compared with another major sixth generation film about the Beijing rock scene, Zhang Yuan
Zhang Yuan
Zhang Yuan is a Chinese film director who has been described by film scholars as a pioneering member of China's Sixth Generation of filmmakers...
's Beijing Bastards
Beijing Bastards
Beijing Bastards is a 1993 drama film by sixth generation director Zhang Yuan, and is one of the first independently produced Chinese films....
. In contrast to that film's underground status, however, Guan Hu paid nearly US$2000 for state studio affiliation, allowing the film to be distributed in China and screened abroad with approval from state regulators.
Plot
The film follows a nurse, Ye Tong (Kong Lin), who also serves as the film's narrator. One day, Ye Tong reunites with some childhood friends, including Peng Wei, a disillusioned and long-haired young man who leads a local rock band. Ye finds herself attracted to Peng Wei's lifestyle, despite the admonitions of her police officer friend, Zheng Weidong. When Zheng is injured by a mutual friend, Ye finds herself increasingly attracted to the straight-laced Zheng, while also finding herself attracted to Peng.Cast
- Kong LinKong LinKong Lin is a Chinese actress. Born in Hangzhou, Kong graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1987 before beginning her career in acting. Her birth name is Kong Linglin ....
as Ye Tong, a nurse sent from her hospital in Guangzhou to train in Beijing. - Geng Le as Peng Wei, a long-haired musician and childhood friend of Ye Tong.
- Zhang Xiaotong as Zheng Weidong, a straight-laced police officer who disapporves of Peng Wei's lifestyle.
- Ding Jiali as Zheng Weiping, Weidong's sister, Weiping works at a foreign company when she discovers that she is pregnant.
External links
- Dirt at the Chinese Movie Database