Fujian Blue
Encyclopedia
Fujian Blue is a 2007
Chinese film
directed by Weng Shouming (Robin Weng). The film is Weng's first and is composed of two separate but linked stories entitled "The Neon Knights" and "At Home at Sea." The film touches on a number of controversial topics including juvenile delinquency
, human trafficking
, and drug use
, which the film implies are the result of increasing influence of the West.
Starring primarily non-professionals, Fujian Blue was produced by several independent companies in China and abroad, including Fantasy Pictures
based in Beijing.
The film won a Dragons and Tigers Award
from the 2007 Vancouver International Film Festival
, an award it shared with Zhang Yuedong's Mid-Afternoon Barks
.
(located across the straits from Taiwan
). The film follows several characters in two separate but linked tales in the aftermath of the Communist government's decision to open the province up to the outside world in the 1980s.
The first tale, entitled "The Neon Knights" follows the youth Amerika (Zhu Xiaoping) who lives in Fuqing
. Amerika works for Roppongi (Zhuang Jiangjie), who operates a blackmail
ing ring that targets lonely housewives who have committed adultery while their husbands are away. Unbeknownst to Amerika, Amerika's mother (Wang Ruiyin) is also involved in crime, as an agent for the smuggler
Czech (Gao Qing). Upset that his mother will not pay for his college education, Amerika makes her his next blackmailing target, but his plan goes awry and he is forced to seek refuge on Pingtan Island
.
The second tale, entitled "At Home at Sea" takes place on that same island and follows another youth in Roppongi's gang named Dragon (Luo Jin
). Dragon, too, has fled to Pingtan after stabbing a man earlier. He had turned to crime in order to pay for the loans taken out to have his brother illegally smuggled out of the country. With nowhere to turn, Amerika gives Dragon some money, and he must decide whether to use it to emigrate himself, or to help his family.
circuit, due in part to what some critics saw as the films' rough aesthetics. Western critics have nevertheless been kind to the film so far. Richard Kuipers of Variety, who saw the film at the 2007 Pusan International Film Festival
, argued that the film was uneven but a strong debut from first-time director Weng. The Hollywood Reporter who reviewed the film at the 2008 Deauville Asian Film Festival
found Fujian Blues non-professional cast and "interesting use of location" worthy of praise. Both critics also noted the film's social commentary, with the latter review stating that Weng accurately captures how "[c]rime and addiction appear to be ruining the country's social fabric." However, like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter was less optimistic regarding the film's ability to reach a broader audience.
2007 in film
This is a list of major films released in 2007.-Top grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2007...
Chinese film
Cinema of China
The Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. Since 1949 the cinema of mainland China has operated under restrictions imposed by the Communist Party of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and...
directed by Weng Shouming (Robin Weng). The film is Weng's first and is composed of two separate but linked stories entitled "The Neon Knights" and "At Home at Sea." The film touches on a number of controversial topics including juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by minors who fall under a statutory age limit. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not...
, human trafficking
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
, and drug use
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
, which the film implies are the result of increasing influence of the West.
Starring primarily non-professionals, Fujian Blue was produced by several independent companies in China and abroad, including Fantasy Pictures
Fantasy Pictures
Fantasy Pictures Entertainment is a Chinese independent film production company and distributor founded by photographer Lin Fan in 2005. Focusing primarily on independent films, Fantasy was involved in the production of Lou Ye's Summer Palace, Robin Weng's Fujian Blue, and Wang Bing's Fengming, a...
based in Beijing.
The film won a Dragons and Tigers Award
Dragons and Tigers Award
VIFF Dragons and Tigers Award for Young Cinema is an award from the Vancouver International Film Festival for a film director from Asia-Pacific region. It awards a creative and innovative film, made early in the director's career, which has not yet won significant international recognition...
from the 2007 Vancouver International Film Festival
Vancouver International Film Festival
The Vancouver International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for two weeks in late September and early October...
, an award it shared with Zhang Yuedong's Mid-Afternoon Barks
Mid-Afternoon Barks
Mid-Afternoon Barks is a 2007 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yuedong. The film was the first directorial effort for Zhang, who was previously an established theater director in Beijing....
.
Plot
Fujian Blue takes place in the southeastern coastal province of FujianFujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
(located across the straits from Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
). The film follows several characters in two separate but linked tales in the aftermath of the Communist government's decision to open the province up to the outside world in the 1980s.
The first tale, entitled "The Neon Knights" follows the youth Amerika (Zhu Xiaoping) who lives in Fuqing
Fuqing
Fuqing is a county-level city of Fuzhou in Fujian, China.It is located in the eastern part of the province, borders the East China Sea, just southeast of Fuzhou and 45 kilometers from Changle International Airport of Fuzhou. Fuqing city has geographical advantage, for its location between...
. Amerika works for Roppongi (Zhuang Jiangjie), who operates a blackmail
Blackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
ing ring that targets lonely housewives who have committed adultery while their husbands are away. Unbeknownst to Amerika, Amerika's mother (Wang Ruiyin) is also involved in crime, as an agent for the smuggler
Human trafficking
Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings for the purposes of reproductive slavery, commercial sexual exploitation, forced labor, or a modern-day form of slavery...
Czech (Gao Qing). Upset that his mother will not pay for his college education, Amerika makes her his next blackmailing target, but his plan goes awry and he is forced to seek refuge on Pingtan Island
Pingtan Island
Pingtan Island is located in eastern coastal area in Fujian province, China. It is the largest island in Fujian, and the fifth largest island in China...
.
The second tale, entitled "At Home at Sea" takes place on that same island and follows another youth in Roppongi's gang named Dragon (Luo Jin
Luo Jin
Luo Jin is a Chinese film and television actor.He graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 2006.-TV drama:-Films:-Stage Play:《Zun Yan》（尊严）《Ying Xiong》（英雄）《Ye Ban Ge Sheng》（夜半歌声）-Opera:*Tea-picking Opera（采茶戏）《Si Jiu Lu Shang》（四九路上）...
). Dragon, too, has fled to Pingtan after stabbing a man earlier. He had turned to crime in order to pay for the loans taken out to have his brother illegally smuggled out of the country. With nowhere to turn, Amerika gives Dragon some money, and he must decide whether to use it to emigrate himself, or to help his family.
Cast
- Zhu Xiaoping as Amerika, a delinquent youth living with his single mother in FujianFujian' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
province. Bored and unsupervised, Amerika has become part of a gang who seek out "remittance widows" to blackmail after filming their trysts with lovers. - Wang Ruiyin as Amerika's mother, who is herself an agent of the human trafficker "The Czech." One critic specially praised Wang's portrayal of Amerika's mother as effectively capturing a character who was both a devout ChristianChristianity in ChinaChristianity in China is a growing minority religion that comprises Protestants , Catholics , and a small number of Orthodox Christians. Although its lineage in China is not as ancient as the institutional religions of Taoism and Mahayana Buddhism, and the social system and ideology of...
and also a criminal in human trafficking. - Luo JinLuo JinLuo Jin is a Chinese film and television actor.He graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 2006.-TV drama:-Films:-Stage Play:《Zun Yan》（尊严）《Ying Xiong》（英雄）《Ye Ban Ge Sheng》（夜半歌声）-Opera:*Tea-picking Opera（采茶戏）《Si Jiu Lu Shang》（四九路上）...
as Dragon, another youth in Amerika's gang. Unlike his companions, however, Dragon commits crimes in order to help support his family. He dreams of escaping China, however, to follow in the footsteps of his brother who has already illegally emigrated to Ireland. - Zhang Jianjie as Roppongi, the leader of Amerika's blackmail ring.
- Gao Qing as The Czech, Amerika's mother's boss and a major figure in Fujian's human smuggling underground.
Reception
Fujian Blue remains obscure outside of the film festivalFilm festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
circuit, due in part to what some critics saw as the films' rough aesthetics. Western critics have nevertheless been kind to the film so far. Richard Kuipers of Variety, who saw the film at the 2007 Pusan International Film Festival
Pusan International Film Festival
Busan International Film Festival , held annually in Haeundae-gu, Busan , South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia...
, argued that the film was uneven but a strong debut from first-time director Weng. The Hollywood Reporter who reviewed the film at the 2008 Deauville Asian Film Festival
Deauville Asian Film Festival
The Deauville Asian Film Festival takes place annually in Deauville, France since 1999 and focuses on Asian cinema...
found Fujian Blues non-professional cast and "interesting use of location" worthy of praise. Both critics also noted the film's social commentary, with the latter review stating that Weng accurately captures how "[c]rime and addiction appear to be ruining the country's social fabric." However, like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter was less optimistic regarding the film's ability to reach a broader audience.
Awards
- 2007 Vancouver International Film FestivalVancouver International Film FestivalThe Vancouver International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for two weeks in late September and early October...
- Dragons and Tigers Award for Young East Asian Cinema (shared with Mid-Afternoon BarksMid-Afternoon BarksMid-Afternoon Barks is a 2007 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yuedong. The film was the first directorial effort for Zhang, who was previously an established theater director in Beijing....
)
- Dragons and Tigers Award for Young East Asian Cinema (shared with Mid-Afternoon Barks
External links
- Fujian Blue (金碧辉煌) at China Film Journal
- Fujian Blue at the Chinese Movie Database
- Fujian Blue at Cinemasie