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Ju Dou

January 01, 1970

Ju Dou (Chinese: 菊豆; pinyin: Jú Dòu) is a 1990 film directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang, starring Gong Li as the title character. The film, based on the novel Fuxi, Fuxi (伏羲伏羲) by Liu Heng,[3] is a tragedy that revolves around Ju Dou, a beautiful young woman sold as a wife to Jinshan, an elderly cloth dyer. The film was produced using the vivid Technicolor process, long after it had been abandoned in the United States.[4][5] It became the first Chinese film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[6][7]

Ju Dou
Directed by
Based onFuxi Fuxi
by Liu Heng[3]
Produced by
  • Zhang Wenze
  • Yasuyoshi Tokuma
  • Hu Jian[2]
Starring
Edited byDu Yuan[1]
Music byZhao Jiping[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byDaiei (Japan)[1]
Running time
95 minutes[1]
Countries

Upon its release, Ju Dou faced a ban in China,[8] which was eventually lifted in July 1992.[9]

Plot edit

Ju Dou is set in the early 20th century in rural China. Yang Tianqing (Li Baotian) returns from a journey to sell silk for his adoptive uncle, Yang Jinshan (Li Wei). Jinshan, a fabric dyer, is notorious for his cruelty. Upon Tianqing's return, another worker is fired by Jinshan. This worker informs Tianqing that Jinshan has recently acquired a new wife, having previously beaten his two wives to death when they failed to bear him a son. Ironically, Jinshan is impotent.

When Tianqing meets the new wife, Ju Dou (Gong Li), he becomes infatuated with her. At night, Jinshan subjects Ju Dou to torture. Tianqing discovers Ju Dou's bathing area and secretly observes her. Unbeknownst to him, Ju Dou is aware of his presence. Initially, Tianqing voyeuristically watches, but Ju Dou transforms his gaze by revealing her bruises and weeping, compelling him to see her as a human being rather than just a sexual object.[10]

Eventually, their passion becomes uncontrollable, and Tianqing and Ju Dou engage in a sexual relationship. When Ju Dou discovers she is pregnant with Tianqing's child, she and Tianqing deceive Jinshan by pretending the child is his. Jinshan suffers a stroke that leaves him paralyzed from the waist down. After Ju Dou confesses the truth to him, Jinshan attempts to kill the child and set the house on fire. Tianqing restrains Jinshan by suspending him in a barrel, rendering him a powerless witness to their usurpation. Aware that society would never accept her infidelity, Ju Dou seeks an abortion at a nunnery. Jinshan continues to exert influence over the child, Tianbai, whom he named, and when the child addresses Jinshan as "Father," Jinshan interprets it as psychological revenge against his wife and nephew. One day, Jinshan falls into a dye vat and drowns, leading to his funeral.

Seven years later, Ju Dou and Tianqing still operate the dye mill, but Tianbai (Zheng Ji'an) has become an angry teenager. Rumors of his parents' infidelity drive him to nearly kill a local gossipmonger. In a fit of rage, Ju Dou reveals the truth about his parentage to Tianbai. Overwhelmed, she and Tianqing decide to have one final encounter but succumb to exhaustion and fall asleep in a cellar with limited air supply. Upon discovering his parents in a weakened state in the cellar, Tianbai drags them out and drowns Tianqing. Ju Dou, in turn, sets fire to the mill as the film concludes.

Adaptation edit

In the original novel, Tianqing is Jinshan's biological nephew, and the story revolves around a taboo relationship based on affinity. However, the creators of the film adaptation chose to exclude the incestuous element. In the film, Tianqing and Jinshan are portrayed as unrelated by blood, and Ju Dou initiates her relationship with Tianqing only after discovering their non-biological connection.[11]

Cast edit

  • Gong Li, as Ju Dou (S: 菊豆, T: 菊荳, P: Jú Dòu);
  • Li Baotian, as Yang Tianqing (S: 杨天青, T: 楊天青, P: Yáng Tiānqīng), Ju Dou's lover and Yang Jinshan's adopted nephew;
  • Li Wei, as Yang Jinshan (S: 杨金山, T: 楊金山, P: Yáng Jīnshān), the owner of the dye mill and Ju Dou's husband;
  • Yi Zhang, as Yang Tianbai (S: 杨天白, T: 楊天白, P: Yáng Tiānbái) as a child; Ju Dou and Tianqing's son;
  • Zheng Ji'an, as Tianbai as a youth.

Release and reception edit

Ju Dou was released by Miramax Films in March 1991.[1]

Critical response edit

Ju Dou has an approval rating of 100% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 20 reviews, and an average rating of 8.3/10.[12]

Awards edit

Accolades edit

Home media edit

Ju Dou was initially released on DVD in the United States as an all-region disc on the Pioneer label, Geneon Entertainment, on June 29, 1999. The disc included English subtitles.[17]

The film was re-released by Razor Digital Entertainment on February 14, 2006 as part of the new Zhang Yimou collection to capitalize on Zhang's recent international successes of Hero and House of Flying Daggers. The new edition was Region 1 and included English, simplified Chinese, and traditional Chinese subtitles. Despite the DVD box stating that the film is presented in widescreen, it is actually presented in full frame.[18]

See also edit

References edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Galbraith IV 1996, p. 239.
  2. ^ a b Galbraith IV 1996, p. 238.
  3. ^ a b Kuoshu, Harry (2002). Celluloid China: Cinematic Encounters with Culture and Society. SIU Press. p. 151. ISBN 9780809324569. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  4. ^ Bonet, Christopher (18 December 2006). "The Glory that is Gong Li". IFC News. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
  5. ^ Ebert, Roger (12 April 1991). . Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on 5 April 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2007.
  6. ^ Neo, David (September 2003). . Senses of Cinema. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  7. ^ "The 63rd Academy Awards (1991) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  8. ^ Zhang Yimou. Frances K. Gateward, Yimou Zhang, Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2001, pp. 26–7.
  9. ^ Zhang Yimou. Frances K. Gateward, Yimou Zhang, Univ. Press of Mississippi, 2001, p. 42.
  10. ^ Larson, Wendy (2017). Zhang Yimou: Globalization and the Subject of Culture. Amherst, New York: Cambria Press. pp. 77–104. ISBN 9781604979756.
  11. ^ Gateward, Frances K. Zhang Yimou: Interviews (Conversations with filmmakers series, ISSN 1556-1593). University Press of Mississippi, 2001. ISBN 1578062624, 9781578062621. p. 159.
  12. ^ https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ju_dou
  13. ^ "Festival de Cannes: Ju Dou". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Journey of Hope" Wins Foreign Language Film: 1991 Oscars
  15. ^ "100 best Chinese Mainland Films". Time Out. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  16. ^ "The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  17. ^ Amazon.com: Ju Dou
  18. ^ Amazon.com: Ju Dou

Sources edit

  • Galbraith IV, Stuart (1996). The Japanese Filmography: 1900 through 1994. McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-0032-3.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
chinese, 菊豆, pinyin, dòu, 1990, film, directed, zhang, yimou, yang, fengliang, starring, gong, title, character, film, based, novel, fuxi, fuxi, 伏羲伏羲, heng, tragedy, that, revolves, around, beautiful, young, woman, sold, wife, jinshan, elderly, cloth, dyer, fi. Ju Dou Chinese 菊豆 pinyin Ju Dou is a 1990 film directed by Zhang Yimou and Yang Fengliang starring Gong Li as the title character The film based on the novel Fuxi Fuxi 伏羲伏羲 by Liu Heng 3 is a tragedy that revolves around Ju Dou a beautiful young woman sold as a wife to Jinshan an elderly cloth dyer The film was produced using the vivid Technicolor process long after it had been abandoned in the United States 4 5 It became the first Chinese film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film 6 7 Ju DouDirected byZhang Yimou Yang Fengliang 2 Based onFuxi Fuxiby Liu Heng 3 Produced byZhang Wenze Yasuyoshi Tokuma Hu Jian 2 StarringGong Li Li Baotian Li Wei Zhang YiEdited byDu Yuan 1 Music byZhao Jiping 1 ProductioncompaniesChina Film Co Production Corporation China Film Export and Import Corp Tokuma Shoten Tokuma Communications 1 Distributed byDaiei Japan 1 Running time95 minutes 1 CountriesChina Japan 1 Upon its release Ju Dou faced a ban in China 8 which was eventually lifted in July 1992 9 Contents 1 Plot 2 Adaptation 3 Cast 4 Release and reception 4 1 Critical response 4 2 Awards 4 3 Accolades 5 Home media 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Footnotes 7 2 Sources 8 External linksPlot editJu Dou is set in the early 20th century in rural China Yang Tianqing Li Baotian returns from a journey to sell silk for his adoptive uncle Yang Jinshan Li Wei Jinshan a fabric dyer is notorious for his cruelty Upon Tianqing s return another worker is fired by Jinshan This worker informs Tianqing that Jinshan has recently acquired a new wife having previously beaten his two wives to death when they failed to bear him a son Ironically Jinshan is impotent When Tianqing meets the new wife Ju Dou Gong Li he becomes infatuated with her At night Jinshan subjects Ju Dou to torture Tianqing discovers Ju Dou s bathing area and secretly observes her Unbeknownst to him Ju Dou is aware of his presence Initially Tianqing voyeuristically watches but Ju Dou transforms his gaze by revealing her bruises and weeping compelling him to see her as a human being rather than just a sexual object 10 Eventually their passion becomes uncontrollable and Tianqing and Ju Dou engage in a sexual relationship When Ju Dou discovers she is pregnant with Tianqing s child she and Tianqing deceive Jinshan by pretending the child is his Jinshan suffers a stroke that leaves him paralyzed from the waist down After Ju Dou confesses the truth to him Jinshan attempts to kill the child and set the house on fire Tianqing restrains Jinshan by suspending him in a barrel rendering him a powerless witness to their usurpation Aware that society would never accept her infidelity Ju Dou seeks an abortion at a nunnery Jinshan continues to exert influence over the child Tianbai whom he named and when the child addresses Jinshan as Father Jinshan interprets it as psychological revenge against his wife and nephew One day Jinshan falls into a dye vat and drowns leading to his funeral Seven years later Ju Dou and Tianqing still operate the dye mill but Tianbai Zheng Ji an has become an angry teenager Rumors of his parents infidelity drive him to nearly kill a local gossipmonger In a fit of rage Ju Dou reveals the truth about his parentage to Tianbai Overwhelmed she and Tianqing decide to have one final encounter but succumb to exhaustion and fall asleep in a cellar with limited air supply Upon discovering his parents in a weakened state in the cellar Tianbai drags them out and drowns Tianqing Ju Dou in turn sets fire to the mill as the film concludes Adaptation editIn the original novel Tianqing is Jinshan s biological nephew and the story revolves around a taboo relationship based on affinity However the creators of the film adaptation chose to exclude the incestuous element In the film Tianqing and Jinshan are portrayed as unrelated by blood and Ju Dou initiates her relationship with Tianqing only after discovering their non biological connection 11 Cast editGong Li as Ju Dou S 菊豆 T 菊荳 P Ju Dou Li Baotian as Yang Tianqing S 杨天青 T 楊天青 P Yang Tianqing Ju Dou s lover and Yang Jinshan s adopted nephew Li Wei as Yang Jinshan S 杨金山 T 楊金山 P Yang Jinshan the owner of the dye mill and Ju Dou s husband Yi Zhang as Yang Tianbai S 杨天白 T 楊天白 P Yang Tianbai as a child Ju Dou and Tianqing s son Zheng Ji an as Tianbai as a youth Release and reception editJu Dou was released by Miramax Films in March 1991 1 Critical response edit Ju Dou has an approval rating of 100 on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 reviews and an average rating of 8 3 10 12 Awards edit Cannes Film Festival 1990 Luis Bunuel Special Award Palme d Or nominated 13 Valladolid International Film Festival 1990 Golden Spike Chicago International Film Festival 1990 Gold Hugo Norwegian International Film Festival 1990 Best Foreign Feature Film Amanda 63rd Academy Awards 1991 Best Foreign Language Film nominated 14 Accolades edit Time Out 100 Best Chinese Mainland Films No 21 15 Included in The New York Times s list of The Best 1000 Movies Ever Made in 2004 16 Home media editJu Dou was initially released on DVD in the United States as an all region disc on the Pioneer label Geneon Entertainment on June 29 1999 The disc included English subtitles 17 The film was re released by Razor Digital Entertainment on February 14 2006 as part of the new Zhang Yimou collection to capitalize on Zhang s recent international successes of Hero and House of Flying Daggers The new edition was Region 1 and included English simplified Chinese and traditional Chinese subtitles Despite the DVD box stating that the film is presented in widescreen it is actually presented in full frame 18 See also editList of submissions to the 63rd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film List of Chinese submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language FilmReferences editFootnotes edit a b c d e f g Galbraith IV 1996 p 239 a b Galbraith IV 1996 p 238 a b Kuoshu Harry 2002 Celluloid China Cinematic Encounters with Culture and Society SIU Press p 151 ISBN 9780809324569 Retrieved 14 March 2016 Bonet Christopher 18 December 2006 The Glory that is Gong Li IFC News Archived from the original on 25 January 2013 Retrieved 13 April 2007 Ebert Roger 12 April 1991 Ju Dou Chicago Sun Times Archived from the original on 5 April 2007 Retrieved 13 April 2007 Neo David September 2003 Red Sorghum A Search for Roots Senses of Cinema Archived from the original on 27 April 2007 Retrieved 28 April 2007 The 63rd Academy Awards 1991 Nominees and Winners Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Retrieved 12 September 2015 Zhang Yimou Frances K Gateward Yimou Zhang Univ Press of Mississippi 2001 pp 26 7 Zhang Yimou Frances K Gateward Yimou Zhang Univ Press of Mississippi 2001 p 42 Larson Wendy 2017 Zhang Yimou Globalization and the Subject of Culture Amherst New York Cambria Press pp 77 104 ISBN 9781604979756 Gateward Frances K Zhang Yimou Interviews Conversations with filmmakers series ISSN 1556 1593 University Press of Mississippi 2001 ISBN 1578062624 9781578062621 p 159 https www rottentomatoes com m ju dou Festival de Cannes Ju Dou festival cannes com Retrieved 5 August 2009 Journey of Hope Wins Foreign Language Film 1991 Oscars 100 best Chinese Mainland Films Time Out Retrieved 14 March 2016 The Best 1 000 Movies Ever Made The New York Times Retrieved 14 March 2016 Amazon com Ju Dou Amazon com Ju Dou Sources edit Galbraith IV Stuart 1996 The Japanese Filmography 1900 through 1994 McFarland ISBN 0 7864 0032 3 External links editJu Dou at IMDb nbsp Ju Dou at AllMovie Ju Dou at Rotten Tomatoes Ju Dou at Box Office Mojo Excerpt Portals nbsp China nbsp Film Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ju Dou amp oldid 1219658606, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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