Uniform (film)
Encyclopedia
Uniform is the 2003 feature film debut of director Diao Yi'nan
, who had previously worked as an established screenwriter
for directors such as Zhang Yang and Shi Runjiu
. The film, produced by Hu Tong Communications, was distributed via DVD
in the United Starts by First Run Features
as part of the Global Film Initiative
.
Uniform follows a young man, Wang Xiaojian, who, down on his luck, comes upon a seemingly abandoned policeman's uniform. Putting it on, Wang discovers he can have influence and control not only on others but himself as well.
The film premiered at the 2003 Vancouver International Film Festival
where it won the Dragons and Tigers award. It also screened at a handful of other international film festivals, notably Rotterdam
, where it was the only Chinese film in competition for the Tiger Award.
on digital video and on a shoe-string budget in September 2002. The film is Diao's first behind the camera, he had previously worked with the Beijing independent production house, Imar Film Company
as a screenwriter, and as an occasional actor, most notably with Yu Lik-wai
in the film All Tomorrow's Parties
.
Both Yu Lik-wai and director Jia Zhangke
served as artistic advisers to Diao during Uniforms production. The film's crew also included several Jia and Yu collaborators, including editor Chow Keung (see e.g., Unknown Pleasures
) and producer Li Kit Ming (see e.g., Xiao Wu
).
Suddenly, Xiaojian's life begins to turn around as people mistake him for a police officer, a mistake he quickly capitalizes on. Using the uniform, Xiaojian begins stopping motorists and bus drivers in order to shake them down for bribes in order to pay for his father's medical expenses. Less noble, he uses the uniform to begin wooing a pretty clerk, Zheng Shasha (Zeng Xueqiong). As they begin seeing each other more regularly, however, it becomes clear that Xiaojian is not the only one living a double life.
Diao Yi'nan
Diao Yinan is a Chinese director, screenwriter and occasional actor.-Biography:A graduate of the Central Academy of Drama in 1992, Diao has worked as a screenwriter with directors Shi Runjiu and Zhang Yang...
, who had previously worked as an established screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
for directors such as Zhang Yang and Shi Runjiu
Shi Runjiu
Shi Runjiu , is a Beijing-based Chinese filmmaker.After graduating from the directing department of the Beijing Central Drama Academy in 1992, he went on to direct many documentaries and music videos for MTV....
. The film, produced by Hu Tong Communications, was distributed via DVD
DVD
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 Starts by First Run Features
First Run Features
First Run Features is an independent film distribution company based in New York City. First Run was founded in 1979 by a group of filmmakers in order to advance the distribution of independent film...
as part of the Global Film Initiative
Global Film Initiative
The Global Film Initiative is a non-profit film organization that supports cinematic works from developing nations and promotes cross-cultural understanding through an innovative use of film and non-traditional learning resources...
.
Uniform follows a young man, Wang Xiaojian, who, down on his luck, comes upon a seemingly abandoned policeman's uniform. Putting it on, Wang discovers he can have influence and control not only on others but himself as well.
The film premiered at the 2003 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 won the Dragons and Tigers award. It also screened at a handful of other international film festivals, notably Rotterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
The International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...
, where it was the only Chinese film in competition for the Tiger Award.
Production
Uniform was filmed primarily in Diao's home province of ShaanxiShaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
on digital video and on a shoe-string budget in September 2002. The film is Diao's first behind the camera, he had previously worked with the Beijing independent production house, Imar Film Company
Imar Film Company
Imar Film Company is an independent film production company in China. Imar was established in 1997 by American producer Peter Loehr.Imar It was the first legal independent film company in the PRC. Imar handles production, distribution and marketing of films in partnership with Xin Film Studio...
as a screenwriter, and as an occasional actor, most notably with Yu Lik-wai
Yu Lik-wai
Yu Lik-wai is a Hong Kong cinematographer, film director, and occasional film producer. Born in Hong Kong, Yu was educated at Belgium's INSAS where he graduated with a degree in cinematography in 1994...
in the film All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (2003 film)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a 2003 Chinese science fiction film directed by Yu Lik-wai. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Cho Yong-won - Xuelan* Diao Yinan - Xiao Zhuai* Na Ren - Lanlan...
.
Both Yu Lik-wai and director Jia Zhangke
Jia Zhangke
Jia Zhangke is a Chinese film director. He is generally regarded as a leading figure of the "Sixth Generation" movement of Chinese cinema, a group that also includes such figures as Wang Xiaoshuai and Zhang Yuan....
served as artistic advisers to Diao during Uniforms production. The film's crew also included several Jia and Yu collaborators, including editor Chow Keung (see e.g., Unknown Pleasures
Unknown Pleasures (film)
Unknown Pleasures is a 2002 Chinese film directed by Jia Zhangke, starring Wu Qiong, Zhao Weiwei and Zhao Tao as three disaffected youths living in Datong in 2001, part of the new "Birth Control" generation...
) and producer Li Kit Ming (see e.g., Xiao Wu
Xiao Wu
Xiao Wu also known as The Pickpocket is a 1997 Chinese movie directed by Jia Zhangke.The film was the directorial debut of Jia Zhangke, one of the major figures of the so-called Sixth Generation of Chinese cinema and stars Wang Hongwei in the titular role along with Hao Hongjian and Zuo Baitao...
).
Plot
Wang Xiaojian (Liang Hongli) is a down-and-out slacker in a small town in China's industrial Shaanxi province. His father, a factory worker, has fallen ill, and prospects for both Xiaojian and his family look dim. Stuck working in his family's tailoring and laundry shop, one day, Xiaojian comes across the freshly laundered uniform of a police officer. Attempting to deliver it, he discovers that the police office who the uniform was intended had been injured and would not be back on the job for a few weeks. Wandering home, Xiaojian decides to try the uniform on.Suddenly, Xiaojian's life begins to turn around as people mistake him for a police officer, a mistake he quickly capitalizes on. Using the uniform, Xiaojian begins stopping motorists and bus drivers in order to shake them down for bribes in order to pay for his father's medical expenses. Less noble, he uses the uniform to begin wooing a pretty clerk, Zheng Shasha (Zeng Xueqiong). As they begin seeing each other more regularly, however, it becomes clear that Xiaojian is not the only one living a double life.
Awards and nominations
- 2003 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 Cinema
- 2004 International Film Festival RotterdamInternational Film Festival RotterdamThe International Film Festival Rotterdam is an annual film festival held in various cinemas in Rotterdam, Netherlands held at the end of January. It is approximately comparable in size to other major European festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Locarno...
- Amnesty International - DOEN Award - Special Mention
- NETPACNetwork for the Promotion of Asian CinemaThe Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema is a worldwide organization of 29 member countries. It was created as the result of a conference on Asian cinema organized by Cinemaya, the Asian Film Quarterly, in New Delhi in 1990 at the instance and with the support of UNESCO, Paris.Headquartered...
Award - Special Mention
External links
- Uniform at the Chinese Movie Database
- Uniform from the Global Film InitiativeGlobal Film InitiativeThe Global Film Initiative is a non-profit film organization that supports cinematic works from developing nations and promotes cross-cultural understanding through an innovative use of film and non-traditional learning resources...