Platform (2000) Zhantai (original title)

Director:

Zhang Ke Jia

Writer:

Zhang Ke Jia

Release Date:

2 August 2001 (Netherlands)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

Set in Fenyang, Shanxi Province, the film focuses on a group of amateur theatre troupe performers whose...

Plot Keywords:

1980s | Contemplative Cinema

Awards:

6 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Hongwei Wang	...	Minliang
Tao Zhao	...	Ruijuan
Jing Dong Liang	...	Chang Jun
Tian Yi Yang	...	Zhong Pin
Bo Wang	...	Yao Eryong
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sanming Han	...	Sanming

Directed by
Zhang Ke Jia

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Zhang Ke Jia

Produced by
Keung Chow	....	associate producer
Joël Farges	....	co-producer
Shozo Ichiyama	....	producer
Elise Jalladeau	....	co-producer
Kit Ming Li	....	producer
Masayuki Mori	....	executive producer
Nelson Yu Lik-wai	....	associate producer (as Yu Lik Wai)

Original Music by
Yoshihiro Hanno

Cinematography by
Nelson Yu Lik-wai		(as Yu Lik Wai)

Film Editing by
Jing Lei Kong

Art Direction by
Sheng Qiu

Costume Design by
Lei Qi
Xiafei Zhao

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Crystal Gong Chun	....	assistant director (as Gong Chun)
Gu Zheng	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Yang Zhang	....	sound mixer

Production Companies

• Artcam International
• Bandai Entertainment Inc.
• Hu Tong Communications
• Office Kitano
• T-Mark

Distributors

• Ad Vitam Distribution (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Artificial Eye (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• Contact Film Cinematheek (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Empire Pictures Inc. (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Primer Plano Film Group (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Moskwood Media (200?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• New Yorker Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Primer Plano Film Group Video (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Prodimag (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
• Slovenska Kinoteka (2002) (Slovenia) (all media)

Also Known As:

"Zhantai" - Hong Kong (original title)

Runtime:

154 min | Italy:193 min (Venice Film Festival) | Japan:185 min (Tokyo FILMeX 2000)

Country:

Hong Kong | China | Japan | France

Language:

Mandarin | Shanxi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:12 | Spain:13 | Argentina:13 | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud)

Filming Locations:

Fenyang, China

Company:

Artcam International

Trivia:

Chosen by "Les Cahiers du cinéma" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2001 (#06)

Movie Connections:

Features Awaara (1951)

The runaway youth

This is Jia's best film ever. I watched it twice. I was deeply touched twice by its poignant delineation of a bleak and still town in the 80's in Shanxi province, China. It seems nothing is changing in that nearly forgotten town. But with the collapse of Maoism and the influence of reforming in the country, the people there, especially those youngsters, are changing. They were like struggling in a very slow-moving turmoil, desires so much to change their lives but yet so helpless and knowing nothing about how to do it. They drifted away from there initial purposes, their friendship, and their love.

The cello appears 3 times during the whole film, which is almost heartbreaking. They were running towards the train, but the train just ran away. And gradually, you forgot what you've been chasing when you were young, you don't care about those inspiring songs like 'In the field of hopes' which is a symbol of those old days. Life always keeps moving on, like the brick of those ancient walls of Fenyang ever exists.

There are so many retrospective 'cultural reminders' in this film, e.g. those old songs, costumes, literal expressions, furniture and behaviors that bring you back to that time. I would say, if a western audience appreciate this film, he will appreciate double if he were Chinese, and even more.

Bravo, Jia Zhangke. The Chinese cinema is now filled with Hollywood-style huge investment martial art shitt and he is among the rare ones who are decent filmmakers.