Fish and Elephant
Encyclopedia
Fish and Elephant is documentary filmmaker and former TV hostess Li Yu
's feature film
directorial debut. The film is also often referred to as the first Chinese mainland film to broach the topic of lesbian
relationships in China.
The story follows the elephant keeper in the Beijing Zoo
who maintains an aquarium of fish in her home (hence the two-animal title), and her lesbian lover, a fabric saleswoman in an outdoor market. Her relationship is tested, however, when her recently divorced mother returns to town in the hope of setting her daughter up in marriage. Further complicating matters is one of Xiaoqun's ex-lovers also returning to her life with the law in pursuit.
The film was produced by Cheng Yong Productions and was an "underground" production (in that it was not made with official support). Moreover, the film was cast entirely with non-professional actors and actresses.
, who had previously directed several documentaries, including 1997's Sisters, a film which had run into state interference.
Casting by Li Yu was done entirely with non-professionals. The two leads, Xiaoqun (Pan Yi) and Xiaoling (Shitou), were cast after Li began visiting various lesbian bars in Beijing
. Similarly, several of the film's "blind dates" were based on actual dates set up by Li through classified ads. The men's reactions upon Xiaoqun revealing her sexual orientation therefore are entirely natural and accurate. Some have reported that this focus on amateurs was only partially by choice, in that Li had been unable to sign on established talent due to the controversial script and story.
instead of a film reel. Fortunately for Li, copies of Fish and Elephant eventually managed to screen at over 70 different film festivals around the world.
However, it was shown only once in Mainland China at a LGBT film festival that was quickly shut down by authorities.
in the United States by the LGBT
-focused distributor, Ariztical Entertainment on May 23, 2006. The edition features the original Mandarin-language dialogue and includes English subtitles.
though generally positive in its praise also noted that there was "nothing here to surprise western viewers." Chinese film critic Shelly Kraicer, meanwhile, analyzed the film and concluded, "[Fish and Elephant's] flaws are those, entirely forgivable, of a first film, of a novice director who really wants to try to cram all of her ideas into one work." The film's release was similarly noted by the film criticism website Senses of Cinema, which stated that, "Fish and Elephant might be overlooked by film festivals in favour of other more glossy underground Chinese films produced this year...", but the author would nonetheless "recommend it and will keep an eye out for [Li Yu's] future works."
Li Yu (director)
Li Yu is a female Chinese film director and screenwriter. Li began her career in entertainment at a young age, serving as a presenter at a local TV station...
's feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directorial debut. The film is also often referred to as the first Chinese mainland film to broach the topic of lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
relationships in China.
The story follows the elephant keeper in the Beijing Zoo
Beijing Zoo
The Beijing Zoo is a zoological park in Beijing, China. Located in the Xicheng District, the zoo occupies an area of 89 hectares , including 5.6 hectares of lakes and ponds . It is one of the oldest zoos in China and has one of the largest animal collections in the country...
who maintains an aquarium of fish in her home (hence the two-animal title), and her lesbian lover, a fabric saleswoman in an outdoor market. Her relationship is tested, however, when her recently divorced mother returns to town in the hope of setting her daughter up in marriage. Further complicating matters is one of Xiaoqun's ex-lovers also returning to her life with the law in pursuit.
The film was produced by Cheng Yong Productions and was an "underground" production (in that it was not made with official support). Moreover, the film was cast entirely with non-professional actors and actresses.
Cast
- Pan Yi as Xiaoqun, the elephant keeper at the Beijing Zoo.
- Shitou as Xiaoling, Xiaoqun's girlfriend, she sells clothes she makes in a market stall.
- Zhang Qianqian as Junjun, Xiaoqun's ex-girlfriend. She re-enters Xiaoqun's life a fugitive, wanted for the murder of her father.
- Zhang Jilian as Xiaoqun's mother, a divorcee who is unaware of her daughter's sexual orientation. She attempts to set her daughter up on a series of blind dates.
Production
Filmed on an almost-square 16 mm format, Fish and Elephant was the first feature film by Li YuLi Yu (director)
Li Yu is a female Chinese film director and screenwriter. Li began her career in entertainment at a young age, serving as a presenter at a local TV station...
, who had previously directed several documentaries, including 1997's Sisters, a film which had run into state interference.
Casting by Li Yu was done entirely with non-professionals. The two leads, Xiaoqun (Pan Yi) and Xiaoling (Shitou), were cast after Li began visiting various lesbian bars in 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...
. Similarly, several of the film's "blind dates" were based on actual dates set up by Li through classified ads. The men's reactions upon Xiaoqun revealing her sexual orientation therefore are entirely natural and accurate. Some have reported that this focus on amateurs was only partially by choice, in that Li had been unable to sign on established talent due to the controversial script and story.
International and domestic film festivals
Once the film's production was complete, it faced several challenges before it could be seen by audiences. Due to its underground status, Li Yu did not have the support of the Chinese authorities. An attempt to deliver a print to the Venice Film Festival in 2001 led to it being lost. Later screenings, therefore, like at the Toronto Film Festival, for example, had to be on videotapeVideotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
instead of a film reel. Fortunately for Li, copies of Fish and Elephant eventually managed to screen at over 70 different film festivals around the world.
However, it was shown only once in Mainland China at a LGBT film festival that was quickly shut down by authorities.
DVD release
Fish and Elephant was released on DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in the United States by the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
-focused distributor, Ariztical Entertainment on May 23, 2006. The edition features the original Mandarin-language dialogue and includes English subtitles.
Reception
Upon its dissemination to international audiences, Fish and Elephant was praised for being groundbreaking in subject matter, but mediocre in execution. Time Out New York, for example,though generally positive in its praise also noted that there was "nothing here to surprise western viewers." Chinese film critic Shelly Kraicer, meanwhile, analyzed the film and concluded, "[Fish and Elephant's] flaws are those, entirely forgivable, of a first film, of a novice director who really wants to try to cram all of her ideas into one work." The film's release was similarly noted by the film criticism website Senses of Cinema, which stated that, "Fish and Elephant might be overlooked by film festivals in favour of other more glossy underground Chinese films produced this year...", but the author would nonetheless "recommend it and will keep an eye out for [Li Yu's] future works."
Awards and nominations
- 2001 Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
- Winner of the Elvira Notari Prize
- 2002 Berlin International Film FestivalBerlin International Film FestivalThe Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
- Winner of the Best Asian Film Prize at Forum of New Cinema
- NETPAC Special Mention
See also
- East Palace, West PalaceEast Palace, West PalaceEast Palace, West Palace is a 1996 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yuan starring Hu Jun, Si Han. It is also known as Behind the Forbidden City or Behind the Palace Gates....
- director Zhang YuanZhang YuanZhang 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 1996 film, often referred to as the first homosexual-themed film out of mainland China. - Homosexuality in ChinaHomosexuality in ChinaHomosexuality in China refers to homosexuality in Chinese culture; which, as a term, is relatively ambiguous in the contemporary context, although many instances have been recorded in the dynastic histories.-Terminology in China:...