Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Chinese Box (1997)
Chinese Box
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Chinese Box (1997) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 17 | slideshow) Videos
Chinese Box (1997) -- The story of Hong Kong, from New Year's Day to June 30th, 1997, when the British left their colony and turned it over to the People's Republic of China.

Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   1,797 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 40% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Wayne Wang
Writers:
Jean-Claude Carrière (screenplay)
Jean-Claude Carrière (story)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Chinese Box on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 April 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Plot:
The story of Hong Kong, from New Year's Day to June 30th, 1997, when the British left their colony and turned it over to the People's Republic of China. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
1 win & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Our Prayers Are Answered
 (From New York Post. 19 September 2008, 9:33 AM, PDT)

Wayne Wang Offers His New Film Online, for Free
 (From Cinematical. 26 August 2008, 2:03 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
Interesting but not compelling more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jeremy Irons ... John
Li Gong ... Vivian

Maggie Cheung ... Jean
Michael Hui ... Chang

Rubén Blades ... Jim

Jared Harris ... William
Chaplin Chang ... Homeless Man
Noel Rands ... John's Friend at New Year's Party
Emma Lucia ... Amanda Everheart
Ken Bennett ... Rick
Russell Cawthorne ... New Year's Party MC
Emotion Cheung ... William Wong
Harvey Stockwin ... Weeks
Jonathan Midgley ... Jonathan
Bruce Walker ... Bruce
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language and some sexual content.
Runtime:
99 min
Country:
France | Japan | USA
Language:
English | Cantonese
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Filming Locations:
Hong Kong, China
Company:
Canal+ more

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
John: Just a week ago all I wanted was to tell Vivian how much I loved her. But now I see that's the one thing I mustn't do. I can't offload my illness onto her, or Jim, or Mary and the kids. I don't want the look in their eyes to remind me I'm dying. I wonder if I can hold out longer than the British. Not that I could be described as an empire. more
Movie Connections:
References Chung Hing sam lam (1994) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful:-
Interesting but not compelling, 5 August 1999
7/10
Author: YakSmurf from Oregon

I understand what they were going for with this, but somehow it failed to move me very much. The artfulness is enjoyable, but for some reason, perhaps the acting or the perennially bouncing camera, I never was released into flowing with the movie. Instead, it felt like acting, and thus I couldn't help but feel a manipulated instead of moved.

It's a nice try, however. Irons is fun to watch, if not as well done as in others. Gong Li is more enjoyable on her deeper roles (such as Temptress Moon and Raise the Red Lantern), as opposed to the shallow one turned in here, due to playing a shallow character (as with Shanghai Triad), or one which does not seem to break out into the foreground, perhaps compounded by being clumsily mashed into an English-speaking role. She didn't look comfortable the entire film. No one did, ever. Perhaps that itself is a facet of Hong Kong, and an effect that I failed to catch.

Then again, truly moving art films are hard to make. While it didn't score anywhere near off the charts with me, like the far more graceful Temptress Moon, it was still much enjoyed over the usual local (Hollywood) fare.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Chinese Box (1997)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Reuben Blades esale1
Gong Li malpaso99
films set against the '97 handover of HK damo_wceagles
i know this might sound stupid . . . prtychick7
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Sleeping Dictionary Behind That Curtain Hong Kong 97 Orlando Tomorrow Never Dies
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb France section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.