The Equation of Love and Death
Encyclopedia
The Equation of Love and Death is a 2008 Chinese dramatic film written and directed by Cao Baoping
and starring Zhou Xun
. The film is a Chinese (Huayi Brothers
) and Hong Kong (Sundream Motion Pictures
) co-production. It is Cao's second solo feature after 2006's Trouble Makers
.
The Equation of Love and Death premiered in China on September 18, 2008 in Shanghai and had its North American premiere at the 2008 Vancouver International Film Festival
where it was part of the Dragons and Tigers
side competition.
The Equation of Love and Death tells the story of Li Mi (played by Zhou Xun
), a Kunming
cab driver who longs for the day she can be reunited with her missing boyfriend. After a case of mistaken identity, a kidnapping, and a threat of extortion, Li Mi's dream may be on the cusp of becoming a reality.
's performance as Li Mi. Shelly Kraicer, the Chinese film scholar and curator of the Vancouver International Film Festival
's Dragons and Tigers
competition noted that while director "Cao Baoping is an expert at orchestrating frenzy," the film ultimately belonged to Zhou Xun. Despite the praise, the film would not go on to win the award (which went to Emily Tang's Perfect Life
). Variety critic Derek Elley also wrote in his review that the film was "motored by another saturated [performance] by the throaty-voiced Zhou."
Other critics saw the film as yet another example of China's growing sophistication with "genre films." The China Film Journal in its final verdict argued that while the film was not "life-changing," it was nevertheless a "step in the right direction" and that audiences would not mind "seeing a few more Memento-esque films" coming out of China in the near future.
The film won the Altadis New Directors Award at the 2008 San Sebastian International Film Festival
.
Cao Baoping
Cao Baoping is a Chinese film director. He has emerged in recent years as a figure in China's "midrange" cinema industry. Some industry watchers, like Variety, have situated directors like Cao between the older fifth generation directors, such as Chen Kaige or Zhang Yimou, who have achieved major...
and starring Zhou Xun
Zhou Xun
Zhou Xun is a Chinese actress and singer. She is regarded as one of the "Four Young Dan actresses" in China in the early 2000s, along with Zhang Ziyi, Xu Jinglei and Zhao Wei.-Early life:...
. The film is a Chinese (Huayi Brothers
Huayi Brothers
Huayi Brothers Media is a movie producer and record label, founded in China in 1994 by two brothers Huang Zhongjun and Huang Zhonglei.-History:...
) and Hong Kong (Sundream Motion Pictures
Sundream Motion Pictures
Sundream Motion Pictures Ltd. , also known as Sundream Pictures is a Hong Kong production company and distributor. It is a subsidiary of pay TV provider i-Cable Communications Ltd..-Company:...
) co-production. It is Cao's second solo feature after 2006's Trouble Makers
Trouble Makers
Trouble Makers is a 2006 Chinese black comedy film written and directed by Cao Baoping. It was Cao's solo directorial debut, though Cao had previously co-directed the film Absolute Emotion in 2001...
.
The Equation of Love and Death premiered in China on September 18, 2008 in Shanghai and had its North American premiere at the 2008 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...
where it was part of the Dragons and Tigers
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...
side competition.
The Equation of Love and Death tells the story of Li Mi (played by Zhou Xun
Zhou Xun
Zhou Xun is a Chinese actress and singer. She is regarded as one of the "Four Young Dan actresses" in China in the early 2000s, along with Zhang Ziyi, Xu Jinglei and Zhao Wei.-Early life:...
), a Kunming
Kunming
' is the capital and largest city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. It was known as Yunnan-Fou until the 1920s. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, communications and cultural centre of Yunnan, and is the seat of the provincial government...
cab driver who longs for the day she can be reunited with her missing boyfriend. After a case of mistaken identity, a kidnapping, and a threat of extortion, Li Mi's dream may be on the cusp of becoming a reality.
Cast
- Zhou XunZhou XunZhou Xun is a Chinese actress and singer. She is regarded as one of the "Four Young Dan actresses" in China in the early 2000s, along with Zhang Ziyi, Xu Jinglei and Zhao Wei.-Early life:...
as Li Mi, the film's heroine, Li Mi is a chain-smoking cabbieCabbieCabbie may refer to:* A taxicab driver* A Lee C Kearns, a.k.a The Cabbie the stand up comedian and vantriloquist* Lee Mroszak, a.k.a. Crazy Cabbie, deejay and former regular guest on The Howard Stern Show* Cabbie Richards, Canadian TV personality...
. Her boyfriend disappeared years ago, but she still reads and memorizes the letters that he occasionally sends her. - Zhang HanyuZhang HanyuZhang Hanyu is a Chinese actor.-Biography:Zhang graduated from the Beijing Central Academy of Drama in 1988. He started his career by doing Chinese voice dubbing for films such as Shark Tale, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and Troy...
as Ye Qingcheng, a police detective who becomes involved in Li Mi's story. - Actor Deng ChaoDeng ChaoDeng Chao is a popular Chinese actor, member of National Theatre. He achieved success when he acted as a leading role in the modern comedian drama Cui Hua, Serve Suancai, please. After graduating from Central Academy of Drama, Deng became even greater success from his acting in the historical...
plays two roles in the film: as Fang Wen, Li Mi's long lost boyfriend, Ma Bing, a man who may be Fang Wen in disguise. - Wang Ning as Feifei, Yanhui's wife.
- Wang BaoqiangWang BaoqiangWang Baoqiang is a Chinese actor. His debut role was that of Yuan Fengming in the movie Blind Shaft, for which he shared the Best New Performer prize at the 2003 Golden Horse Awards with Megan Tzengwon...
as Qiu Shuitian, one of Li Mi's passengers, a bumbling drug smuggler. - Wang Yanhui as Qiu Huogui, another of Li Mi's passengers, another smuggler.
Reception
Early reviews by western critics suggested that Cao Baoping's sophomore film was a stylish thriller/drama, but that much depended on the power of Zhou XunZhou Xun
Zhou Xun is a Chinese actress and singer. She is regarded as one of the "Four Young Dan actresses" in China in the early 2000s, along with Zhang Ziyi, Xu Jinglei and Zhao Wei.-Early life:...
's performance as Li Mi. Shelly Kraicer, the Chinese film scholar and curator of the 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...
's Dragons and Tigers
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...
competition noted that while director "Cao Baoping is an expert at orchestrating frenzy," the film ultimately belonged to Zhou Xun. Despite the praise, the film would not go on to win the award (which went to Emily Tang's Perfect Life
Perfect Life (film)
Perfect Life is a 2008 Chinese-Hong Kong film by Emily Tang and produced by director Jia Zhangke and his company, Xstream Pictures...
). Variety critic Derek Elley also wrote in his review that the film was "motored by another saturated [performance] by the throaty-voiced Zhou."
Other critics saw the film as yet another example of China's growing sophistication with "genre films." The China Film Journal in its final verdict argued that while the film was not "life-changing," it was nevertheless a "step in the right direction" and that audiences would not mind "seeing a few more Memento-esque films" coming out of China in the near future.
The film won the Altadis New Directors Award at the 2008 San Sebastian International Film Festival
San Sebastián International Film Festival
The San Sebastián International Film Festival is an annual FIAPF A category film festival held in the Spanish city of San Sebastián .-History:The festival was founded in 1953...
.
External links
Official site- The Equation of Love and Death at the Chinese Movie Database
- The Equation of Love and Death at Cinemasie