A Beijing A Sound of Spring Thunder Film Co. presentation of a Ning Jingwu Film Workshop production, in association with Liaoning Chaoyang Group Art Gallery. (International sales: Ning Jingwu Film Workshop, Beijing.) Produced by Ning Jingwu. Executive producers, Duo Jinhui, Zhao Yuhui.
Directed by Ning Jingwu. Executive director, Gu Tianyang. Performance director, Wang Changli. Screenplay, Li Ming.
With: Wang Changlin, Wang Suyun, Wang Changli, Lei Ting, Guo Qiucheng, Xiao Wen, Zhu Jiasan, Chou Chou.
Tensions surface in "The Birthday" as a family gathers in the sticks for the father's 65th. Predictable dramatic structure is kept afloat by good chemistry between the ensemble cast and cool, observational direction by journeyman Ning Jingwu, in his first self-financed pic. Overall, however, the characters don't go much deeper than archetypes, and an overcooked music score negates much of the directorial restraint. This is one for Asiaphile events.
Eldest son Dabao (Wang Changli), a milquetoast government clerk married to a pushy wife (Lei Ting), and middle son Erbao (Guo Qiucheng), who hires an unemployed waitress (Xiao Wen) to pose as his g.f., arrive at the rural Hebei home of their father, knife-grinder Li Chaoyang (Wang Changlin), to celebrate his birthday. Their retarded youngest brother (Zhu Jiasan) has just gotten engaged to a local mute (Chou Chou). However, it soon becomes clear to the old man that his three sons are more interested in the 180,000 yuan ($22,000) he's getting for being resettled in another property than in his birthday. Pic is leavened by a vein of dry humor, and is much more subtly played than many allegories about China's modernization.
Camera (color), Jiang Xiujia; editor, Jia Cuiping; music, Chen Changfeng; art director, Wu Yaoyu. Reviewed at Shanghai Film Festival (Panorama), June 21, 2006. Original title: Mojianzi qiang caidao. Running time: 84 MIN.
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