Happy Times
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Movie Reviews of Happy Times
Movie Review: Simple Story about a Girl and a Middle-aged Man in China
Summary: 4 Stars
Very common error among Western viewers about "Happy Times" is the idea that this film is a comedy, or "basically comedy." And another mistake is to see this one as too light-weight, remembering the past works of the director Zhang Yimou, previously known for his collaboration with Gong Li (in "Red Sorghum" "Ju Dou" "Raise the Red Lantern" and others) and more recently for "The Road Home" starring beautiful Zhang Ziyi. Yes, "Happy Times" is often very funny; and yes, it is short and simple. But you should not miss the messages at the subliminal level.The film stars a newcomer Dong Jie, formerly a student at a dance school in Beijing, as Wu Ying. Wu Ying is a blind girl, adopted by the reluctant step-mother, and living at her house while being treated very badly. Wu is just another trouble to the family, and she knows it.
Then, a middle-aged guy named Zhao steps in, as a possible husband to Wu's step-mother. Zhao, unemployed, is so desperate to marry her (step-mother), so keeps on lying about his social background, claiming he can offer plenty of money at the marriage, and even promises to "employ" Wu as one of staff at his imaginary hotel. Thus meet the two unlikely persons: a blind girl and a preposterously lying forty-something man.
We are to follow the relations between them; Zhao has to keep Wu "employed" even though she is a sulky girl, and the "hotel" exists no longer. However, Zhao, not an unkind chap, comes to feel sympathy for her while the girl Wu begins to understand what is going on around her.
I should not reveal more about the story except that though the whole framework of the film is that of comedy, the underlcurrent feelings are very tragic one, as you see in Zhang Yimou's recent works "Not One Less" and "The Road Home." The film unfolds its story very smoothly, thanks to the perfect performance of Zhao Benshan, to the bitter-sweet ending (more bitter than sweet, perhaps), and if you don't care for that kind of story, you will find another Zhang Ziyi in the strong acting of the heroine, of Dong Jie, who had to lose her weight by nearly 10 kilometers to prepare for the audition. Well, she looks natural, and is natural, but that's what you call good acting.
The most important thing might be that the director shrewdly inserts the shots and episodes that reflect the today's social conditions in China, the gaps between those who have, and have not. Ads for items like icecream or cosmetics are abound in the city, but they are out of the reach of the two main characters. But Yimou handles subtlely these matters, never letting them impede the film.
This is a simple tale, and might be too simple for some people. (If you want a more dynamic film, wait to see his next epic film "Hero" starring again Zhang Ziyi.) Still "Happy Times" offers vivid portrayal of two convincing characters and heart-wrenching (but heart-warming) moments. If you loved "Not One Less" or "The Road Home," definitely it is yours.
The film is co-produced by Terrence Malick, director "Thin Red Line."
Movie Review: Laugh and cry.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is one of my favorite Zhang Yimou films. There are rumors that Zhang has sold out, doing a government film for the Olympics, making martial arts films for Hollywood. We'll see. I think he has been one of the best people to tell the story of the common Chinese. His earlier works (The Road Home, Not one Less, Judou, etc) tell of rural life. This is about urban life. What makes this movie great is that it doesn't use recognizable face people as actors. Also, there are no special effects. For me this made it easier to become very emotionally involved with the quirky story of some quirky people. Sometimes it was hilarious, sometimes sad. If you like typical Hollywood movies that have predictable endings, the usual villains, are preachy and pander to "basic instincts" such as sex and violence this probably isn't your cup of tea. For me it was real and believable.
The one drawback I felt was that it doesn't really give a good feel for what a modern Chinese city is like. I currently live in Guangzhou (Canton). Although there is nothing especially false about the portrayal of a Chinese megalopolis I felt the flavor of life was missing. The crowding is so great I often feel that most of the 20 million residents actually live in my building, making noise, throwing garbage around, smoking inconsiderately, and driving like - well, as if only emperors owned cars and the lives of pedestrians were meaningless in the scheme of things. When so many people live in such close proximity things aren't the same as in the West. In fairness that isn't what this movie is about, yet it is one of the main reasons I like Zhang's films; getting an idea of what Chinese life is like.
This is one of the few movies I've watched more than once.
Movie Review: Forsaken, Brave China
Summary: 4 Stars
Don't kid yourself reviewers. There's a whole lot more here than meets the eye. You don't have to be a friendless blind girl in a city of ten million to appreciate human frailty and kindness. Yimou Zhang is a very fine director and his vision can be thoughtful and appreciated on several levels. China is still exotic to look at from my American standpoint. The colors are garish and bright. The modern city bustles, the young are hip and making it where they can. The old worker's, many victims of the poverty and cruelty caused by The Great Leap Forward and other catastrophic Marxist disasters, are still searching for happiness. Now, in their fifties, they look about and their old factories are rusting, glass office towers are going sky high.
I'm still not sure that the actress that played a blind teen is not actually blind. Either way, she's a genius. Her final scene, forsaken, blind, but brave China, venturing into the traffic. This is filmmaking.
Movie Review: [Anything but] Happy Times
Summary: 4 Stars
Despite the upbeat title, 'Happy Times' depicts anything but...abuse by a stepmother, abandonment by a natural father, massive structural unemployment, a future of limited hope for each of the protagonists.Through all of this despair, the natural goodness of Benshan Zhao's character (also called "Zhao") shines through. His ruses get more complicated and difficult to sort out, but in the second-half of the film, his growing care and concern for "Little Wu" (skillfully portrayed by Dong Jie) is obvious.
I defy anyone to watch 'Happy Times' without tears streaming down your cheeks by the end. I definitely recommend a rental/purchase, but you may want to pair it with something a bit more upbeat or comedic. This is a heartbreaking movie.
Movie Review: Desperately seeking love...
Summary: 4 Stars
A middle aged bachelor, Zhao is desperately seeking love and thinks he has found it in a woman who wants a large wedding. It appears that Zhao has promised more than what he can deliver to this woman, since he is rather poor. However, he fabricates a story that he is a co-owner of a hotel, and in the process is asked to help her blind stepdaughter, Wu Ying, to get a job at the hotel. As the story develops, the truth of Wu Ying is revealed, and it seems like Zhao is in over his head again. Happy Times is a comic tragedy that shakes the audience with both laughs and sorrow. The film offers a truly humane cinematic experience that will touch those who see this remarkable film.