Cinema
Suzhou River
蘇州河
Lou Ye · 2000
Synopsis
A Shanghai videographer imagines telling Meimei, who dances as a mermaid in a bar, the story of Mardar, a motorbike courier who knows the city and never asks questions. An alcohol smuggler hires him to drive his sixteen-year-old daughter, Moudan; the two young people become attached to each other, but Mardar is involved in a kidnapping plot. When Moudan discovers it, she throws herself into the Suzhou river. Years later, out of prison, Mardar meets Meimei, who looks exactly like Moudan.
Context
The film was produced by Nai An and Philippe Bober, for Coproduction Office and the German company Essential Filmproduktion. Presented in its world premiere at the Rotterdam festival in 2000, without the authorities' consent, it earned its director a two-year ban on filming; it has since been authorised in China. It was released in France on 11 October 2000, distributed by Dissidenz Films, and was rereleased in cinemas on 28 December 2022.
Who it is for
A film of about an hour and twenty minutes, in Mandarin, shot in Shanghai; released in France in 2000 and re-released in 2022.
Prizes and reception
It won one of the three Tiger Awards at the Rotterdam festival in 2000.
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