Youth (Chinese: 芳华) is a 2017 Chinese coming-of-age drama film directed by Feng Xiaogang and written by Geling Yan.[3] It was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.[4] It was scheduled to be released in China on October 1, 2017,[5][6][7] but after previews in Beijing and other cities was pulled from the National Day schedule. It was released on 15 December 2017.[8] It was the 6th highest-grossing domestic film of 2017 in China.
| Youth | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Film poster | |||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 芳華 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 芳华 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | Youthfulness | ||||||
| |||||||
| Directed by | Feng Xiaogang | ||||||
| Written by | Geling Yan | ||||||
| Produced by | Wang Zhonglei | ||||||
| Starring | Huang Xuan Miao Miao Zhong Chuxi Yang Caiyu | ||||||
| Edited by | Zhang Qi | ||||||
| Distributed by | IM Global[1] | ||||||
Release dates |
| ||||||
Running time | 135 minutes | ||||||
| Country | China | ||||||
| Language | Mandarin | ||||||
| Budget | CN¥120 million | ||||||
| Box office | US$235.9 million (CN¥1.47 billion)[2] | ||||||
Synopsis
editThe film chronicles the lives of a group of idealistic adolescents in a military art troupe in the People's Liberation Army during the Cultural Revolution. They experience love, lust, betrayal, and sufferings in the background of Mao-era songs and dances. Through the narration of Xiao Suizi, the film follows the story of two key characters, Feng Liu and Xiaoping He. Xiaoping He, a naive, and innocent new recruit from Beijing, and Feng Liu a morally impeccable character, whose comrades praise for being a real life Lei Feng. The pair also participate in the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979 and become heroes for their act of courage.
Xiaoping He eventually becomes the target of her roommates bullying for her provincial naive mannerisms. A majority of the acts are spearheaded by Hao Shuwen, the daughter of the regional commander.
After the war, they are honorably discharged from the Army but struggle to make ends meet in the Reform-era China while they learn lessons from soul-crushing experiences of love, lust, betrayal, and heartbreak.
Cast
edit- Huang Xuan (黄轩) as Liu Feng (刘峰)
- Miao Miao (苗苗) as He Xiaoping (何小萍)
- Zhong Chuxi (钟楚曦) as Xiao Suizi (萧穗子)
- Yang Caiyu (杨采钰) as Lin Dingding (林丁丁)
- Li Xiaofeng (李晓峰) as Hao Shuwen (郝淑雯)
- Wang Tianchen (王天辰) as Chen Can (陈灿)
- Wang Keru (王可如) as Xiao Balei (小芭蕾)
- Su Yan (苏岩) as the dance teacher
- Zhao Lixin (赵立新) as the commissar
- Sui Yuan (隋源) as Zhuoma (卓玛)
- Zhang Renbo (张仁博) as Zhu Ke (朱克)
- Zhou Fang (周放) as the head nurse
- Xue Qi (薛祺) as Secretary Wu (吴干事)
- Yang Shuo (杨烁) as the military chief
- Tao Hai (陶海) as the Psychiatrist
Awards and nominations
edit| Awards | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Film | Youth | Nominated | [9][10] |
| Best Director | Feng Xiaogang | Won | ||
| Best Newcomer | Miao Miao | Won | ||
| Zhong Chuxi | Won | |||
| 23rd Huading Awards | Best Film | Youth | Nominated | [11] |
| Best Director | Feng Xiaogang | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Huang Xuan | Nominated | ||
| Best Newcomer | Miao Miao | Nominated | ||
| Zhong Chuxi | Won | |||
| Best Screenwriter | Geling Yan | Nominated | ||
| 9th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Film | Youth | Won | [12][13] |
| Best Director | Feng Xiaogang | Nominated | ||
| Best Actor | Huang Xuan | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Zhong Chuxi | Nominated | ||
| 37th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan | Youth | Nominated | [14] |
| 12th Asian Film Awards | Best Film | Youth | Won | [15][16] |
| Best Director | Feng Xiaogang | Nominated | ||
| Best Newcomer | Zhong Chuxi | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | Geling Yan | Nominated | ||
| Best Editing | Zhang Qi | Nominated | ||
| 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Geling Yan | Nominated | [17] |
| Best New Performer | Zhong Chuxi | Nominated | ||
| Best Art Direction | Shi Haiying | Nominated | ||
| Best Makeup & Costume Design | Liu Xiaoli | Nominated | ||
| 9th Macau International Movie Festival | Best Picture | Youth | Won | [18][19] |
| Best Director | Feng Xiaogang | Won | ||
| Best Writing | Geling Yan | Won | ||
| Best Actor | Huang Xuan | Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography | Luo Pan | Won | ||
| 1st Marianas International Film Festival | Best Picture | Youth | Won | [20][21] |
| Best Director | Feng Xiaogang | Won | ||
| Best Screenplay | Geling Yan | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Yang Caiyu | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Luo Pan | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Film Score | Zhao Lin | Nominated | ||
| Best New Artist | Miao Miao | Nominated | ||
| Zhong Chuxi | Won |
References
edit- ^ "Cannes: IM Global Picks Up Chinese Crowd-Pleasers 'Youth,' 'Detective Dee'". Variety. 9 May 2017.
- ^ "Weekly China Boxoffice（2018）". Cboo. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "Filmart: Jackie Chan's Sparkle Roll Media launches int'l sales arm". Screen Daily. 12 March 2017.
- ^ Pond, Steve (15 August 2017). "Aaron Sorkin, Brie Larson, Louis CK Movies Added to Toronto Film Festival Lineup". The Wrap. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
- ^ "Fang Hua". China.org.cn. 28 January 2017.
- ^ "芳华 (2017)". Douban.
- ^ "冯小刚新作 《芳华》新海报 展"姿·色"秀美腿". Tencent.
- ^ "很抱歉，你要访问的页面不存在 - Mtime时光网". Archived from the original on 2019-05-05. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
- ^ "Student film festival draws down the curtain". China Daily. May 7, 2018.
- ^ "第二十五届北京大学生电影节闭幕式暨颁奖典礼圆满落幕". Tencent (in Chinese). May 7, 2018.
- ^ "第23届华鼎奖提名：《战狼2》、《芳华》双雄逐鹿". Sina (in Chinese). March 20, 2018.
- ^ "电影导演协会2017年度入围名单揭晓 吴京入围最佳导演". ifeng (in Chinese). February 27, 2018.
- ^ "导演协会年度表彰《嘉年华》《芳华》 周冬雨影后". Sina (in Chinese). April 22, 2018.
- ^ "Hong Kong Film Awards nominations 2018: Ann Hui's Our Time Will Come leads race with 11 nods". South China Morning Post. February 6, 2018.
- ^ "Asian Film Awards 2018 nominations". South China Morning Post. January 11, 2018.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (17 March 2018). "Asian Film Awards: 'Youth' Wins Top Prize From 'Demon Cat'". Variety. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
- ^ "台北金馬影展 Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival". www.goldenhorse.org.tw.
- ^ "2017年第九屆澳門國際電影節獎項提名名單". Macau International Movie Festival Official Website (in Chinese).
- ^ "2017年第九屆澳門國際電影節獎名單". Macau International Movie Official Website (in Chinese).
- ^ "塞班国际电影节公布入围影片 27部作品角逐奖项". Sina (in Chinese). November 22, 2017.
- ^ "Youth is Best Picture at MIFF". Saipan Tribune. December 11, 2017.