Lala's Gun
Encyclopedia
Lala's Gun is a 2008 film about the coming-of-age of a young boy as a member of China's Miao
ethnic minority. The film was written and directed by Ning Jingwu and stars Wang Jishuai in the titular role. Lala's Guns international sales were picked up by the Taiwan-based 3 Dots Entertainment. The film's world showed at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival
as part of its Generation 14plus program.
from his father as a symbol of reaching manhood. Lala, however, has been raised by his grandmother, his mother having died and his father having abandoned the family years earlier. Though promised a gun from the local gunsmith, Lala sets off to other villages in search of a father he never knew.
Derek Elley of Variety, for example, notes that what the film lacks in narrative, it makes up for in its "verismo detail".
Miao people
The Miao or ม้ง ; ) is an ethnic group recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China as one of the 55 official minority groups. Miao is a Chinese term and does not reflect the self-designations of the component nations of people, which include Hmong, Hmu, A Hmao, and Kho Xiong...
ethnic minority. The film was written and directed by Ning Jingwu and stars Wang Jishuai in the titular role. Lala's Guns international sales were picked up by the Taiwan-based 3 Dots Entertainment. The film's world showed at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The 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...
as part of its Generation 14plus program.
Plot
Lala's Gun tells the story of a young boy of the Miao ethnic minority in China. As dictated by tradition, every Miao boy upon reaching the age of fifteen is to receive a gunFirearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
from his father as a symbol of reaching manhood. Lala, however, has been raised by his grandmother, his mother having died and his father having abandoned the family years earlier. Though promised a gun from the local gunsmith, Lala sets off to other villages in search of a father he never knew.
Reception
The film's limited exposure to international markets has garnered it some above average reviews. Though many western critics have faulted the film for its simplistic story, even while praising the film's lush visuals and nuanced portrayal of the Miao people.Derek Elley of Variety, for example, notes that what the film lacks in narrative, it makes up for in its "verismo detail".
External links
- Lala's Gun at the Chinese Movie Database