Durian Durian
Encyclopedia
Durian Durian is a 2000
Hong Kong film
directed by Fruit Chan
. The film portrays the experiences of a young girl (Mak Wai-Fan) and her sex worker
neighbour (Qin Hailu) in Hong Kong
.
, living near a family who is staying in the area illegally. She services dozens of clients per day and showers compulsively. Her pimp
is assaulted with a durian
in front of Fan (Mak Wai-fan), a young daughter of the nearby family. After her 3-month-stay in Hong Kong, Yan returns to her family and her ex-fiance in Northeastern China. Yan remains in contact with Fan, receiving a durian
from her as a gift.
in Kowloon
.
in 2001, Durian Durian was nominated for the Best Film, Best Director (Fruit Chan), Best Screenplay (Fruit Chan), Best Actress (Qin Hailu), Best New Performer (Qin Hailu) and Best Art Direction (Tin Muk) awards. It won the awards for Best Film and Best New Performer. It was awarded Best Film at the 2001 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
. The film also won the Best Picture award at the 38th Golden Horse Awards
, with Qin winning the Best Actress and Best New Performer awards.
and actresses Qin Hailu and Mak Wai-Fan, and emphasize themes of contrast, urban squalor, youthful optimism, and alienation. The film as been called "deliberate and brooding".
Hong Kong films of 2000
A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 2000:.-2000:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 2000 at...
Hong Kong film
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
directed by Fruit Chan
Fruit Chan
Fruit Chan Gor is an independent Hong Kong Second Wave screenwriter, filmmaker and producer, who is best known for his style of film reflecting the everyday life of Hong Kong people. He is well known for using amateur actors in his films...
. The film portrays the experiences of a young girl (Mak Wai-Fan) and her sex worker
Sex worker
A sex worker is a person who works in the sex industry. The term is usually used in reference to those in the sex industry that actually provide such sexual services, as opposed to management and staff of such industries...
neighbour (Qin Hailu) in 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...
.
Plot
Yan (Qin Hailu) is a young woman in Hong KongHong 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...
, living near a family who is staying in the area illegally. She services dozens of clients per day and showers compulsively. Her pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
is assaulted with a durian
Durian
The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family . Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk...
in front of Fan (Mak Wai-fan), a young daughter of the nearby family. After her 3-month-stay in Hong Kong, Yan returns to her family and her ex-fiance in Northeastern China. Yan remains in contact with Fan, receiving a durian
Durian
The durian is the fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio and the Malvaceae family . Widely known and revered in southeast Asia as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and formidable thorn-covered husk...
from her as a gift.
Connection to Fruit Chan's Other Work
Fan was featured in Little Cheung, a film which also deals with poverty and life as an immigrant. This film also centers upon Portland StreetPortland Street
Portland Street is a popular street in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The street is known for its business and retailing skyscraper complex Langham Place, numerous restaurants and its famous red-light district.-Geography:...
in Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
.
Awards
At the 20th Hong Kong Film Awards20th Hong Kong Film Awards
Ceremony for the 20th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 29 April 2001 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and hosted by Eric Tsang, Carol Cheng, Gigi Leung and Eric Ng. Eighteen winners in eighteen categories were unveiled...
in 2001, Durian Durian was nominated for the Best Film, Best Director (Fruit Chan), Best Screenplay (Fruit Chan), Best Actress (Qin Hailu), Best New Performer (Qin Hailu) and Best Art Direction (Tin Muk) awards. It won the awards for Best Film and Best New Performer. It was awarded Best Film at the 2001 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
The Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards are the annual awards given by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society in Hong Kong, China since 1995. The awards are determined by votes cast in three rounds after a substantial discussion session between the members of the society...
. The film also won the Best Picture award at the 38th Golden Horse Awards
Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards
The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962, by Government Information Office, Republic of China...
, with Qin winning the Best Actress and Best New Performer awards.
Reception
In addition to numerous awards, the film has received critical acclaim. Reviews have praised director Fruit ChanFruit Chan
Fruit Chan Gor is an independent Hong Kong Second Wave screenwriter, filmmaker and producer, who is best known for his style of film reflecting the everyday life of Hong Kong people. He is well known for using amateur actors in his films...
and actresses Qin Hailu and Mak Wai-Fan, and emphasize themes of contrast, urban squalor, youthful optimism, and alienation. The film as been called "deliberate and brooding".