Study Guide written by Robert Hamilton and Qi Zhang (Manchester Metropolitan University) Projector: Community Languages in collaboration with Routes into is supported by: Languages North West (COLT) st st / INTRODUCTION This study guide is relevant to GCSE and equivalent level Mandarin. GCSE LEVEL TOPICS: School life, daily routine and social conventions (courtship, village life). Themes include: personal relationships, love, death rituals, customs and traditions, and the Culture Revolution. PLOT: Set in rural China before the Cultural Revolution, a young city dweller returns home for the funeral of his father. As he and his elderly mother make preparations, the story of his parents’ courtship emerges. A heartfelt reflection upon love, family, culture and change. / CREDITS Director Zhang, Yimou Country China Year 2000 Length 100 mins Genre Family Drama Script Bao Shi Music San Bao Photography Hou Yong Cast Zhang Ziyi (Zhao Di, Young), Sun Honglei (Luo Yusheng), Zheng Hao (Luo Changyu), (Zhao Di, Old) Zhao Yulian. 2 / BEFORE THE FILM Pre-viewing activities / Director 1. Decide whether the following statements are True False a b c d e 3 2. Can you find a synonym for the word / Synopsis 3. Decide whether the following statements are True False a b c d 4 4. Look at the two posters and answer the questions a. Group work: examine the poster layouts and spot the difference b. Look at the Chinese poster & translate the title of the film. What do you notice? 5 c. Group work: Can you find other examples of where the Chinese poster differs from the English? 6 / DURING THE FILM While-viewing activities 5. Write down as many Chinese words that you hear from the film 6. (A-F) Put the following photos (A-F) in order according to the film A B C D E F 7 7. (1-6) (A-F) Link the statements (1-6) with the related pictures (A-F) a. b. c. d. e. f. 8. Use the following words to describe the seasons in the film: 8 9. Can you think of any other words? 9 / AFTER THE FILM Post-viewing activities 10. Look at the picture carefully and answer the following questions: a. Who is in the picture? b. Why is it in black and white? c. What is the poster on the wall and why might it be significant? 10 11. Translate the list of words (below) into Chinese, then use them to describe the four characters: loving independent kind helpful respectful caring daring obedient mean inconsiderable kind to animals brave generous problematic Zhao Di Luo Yusheng Luo Changyu Grandmother 11 12. Group work: read the following statements (1-6) about the film and try to find the same information in the critique MISSING SCAN 1. This film received many rewards at different film festivals. 2. The film employs the technique called montage. 3. The memory of the parents’ love story was represented in colour, which forms a contrast with the presence shown in black and white. 4. The director set the story in a small village, which is difficult to periodise the film. 5. The film depicts beautiful rural landscapes, which makes the love story colourful and joyful. 13. If you had the opportunity to meet the director, Yimou ZHANG, what questions would you like to ask him? Please make a list of the questions that you would ask: 12 Filmography Zhang Yimou ‘Red Sorghum’ (Hong Gao Liang), 1987 ‘Ju Dou’, 1990 ‘Raise the Red Lantern’ (Da Hong Denglong Gao Gao Gua), 1991 ‘The Story of Qiu Ju’ (Qiu Ju Da Guansi), 1992 ‘To Live’ (Huo Zhe), 1994 ‘Shanghai Triad’ (Yao A Yao, Yao Dao Waipo Qiao), 1995 ‘Not One Less’ (Yi Ge Ye Buneng Shao), 1999 ‘Happy Times’ (Xingfu Shiguang), 2000 ‘Hero’ (Ying Xiong), 2002 ‘House of the Flying Daggers’ (Shi Mian Mai Fu), 2004 ‘Curse of the Golden Dragon’ (Man Cheng Jin Dai Huang Jin Jia), 2006 Chinese Films of Interest ‘Goddess’ (Shengnu), Wu Yonggang, 1935 ‘Street Angel’ (Malu tianshi), Yuan Muzhi, 1937 ‘Spring in a Small Town’ (Xiaocheng zhi chun), Fei Mu, 1948 ‘Red Detachment of Women’ (Hongse niangzijun), Xie Jin, 1961 ‘Stage Sisters’ (Wutai jiemei0, Xie Jin, 1965 ‘One and Eight’ (Yige he bage), Zhang Junzhao, 1984 ‘Yellow Earth’ (Huang tudi), Chen Kaige, 1984 ‘Farewell My Concubine’ (Bawang bieji), Chen Kaige, 1993 ‘Pickpocket’ (Xiao Wu), Jia Zhangke, 1998 ‘Platform’ (Zhantai), Jia Zhangke, 2000 13 Bibliography Books C. Berry, Perspectives on Chinese Cinema, BFI, 1991 M. Berry, Jia Zhangke’s ‘Hometown Trilogy’, BFI, 2005 R Chow, Primative Passions: Visuality, Sexuality, Ethnography and Contemporary Chinese Cinema, Columbia UP, 1995 P. Clark, Chinese Cinema: Culture and Politics since 1949, Cambridge UP, 1989 S. Cornelius, New Chinese Cinema, Wallflower, 2002 J. Fenby, The Penguin History of Modern China, Allen Lane, 2008 J. Leyla, Dianying: An Account of Films and Film Audiences in China, MIT Press, 1972 Lu, Sheldon H (eds), Transnational Chinese Cinemas, Hawaii UP, 1997 D J Marion, The Chinese Filmography, Jefferson, 1997 K-K Tam and W Dissayake, New Chinese Cinema, Oxford UP, 1998 Yingjin Zhang, Chinese national Cinema, Routledge, 2004 Yingjin Zhang, Screening China, Michigan UP, 2002 N. Zhen, Memoirs from the Beijing Film Academy, Duke UP, 2002 Links http://www.sonypictures.com/classics/theroadhome/ http://wwwmediacircus.net/roadhome.html http://www.archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/00/8/roadhome.html http://www.archive.sensesofcinema.com/directors/.../zhang.html http://dianying.com/en/person/ZhangYimou http://www.china.orgcn/english/features/film http://www.cornerhouse.org/education/projector 14 Mandarin Study Guide was produced for Cornerhouse (part of Projector: Community Languages) and written by Robert Hamilton, Senior Lecturer – Film and Media Studies ([email protected]) and Qi Zhang, Lecturer in Chinese ([email protected]) from Manchester Metropolitan University. Download this study guide from: http://www.cornerhouse.org/resources/ In partnership with: Supported by: st st Cornerhouse funders: 15.