Zhou Yu de huo che (2002)

Director:

Zhou Sun

Writers:

Cun Bei (novel)
Zhou Sun (writer)

Release Date:

1 August 2002 (China)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A woman torn between a man and a memory

Plot:

Zhou Yu, a ceramic artisan in China's rural Northwest, has a deep rapport with Chen Qing, a shy sensitive poet...

Plot Keywords:

Love | Train | Locomotive | Teacher | Loneliness

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Li Gong	...	Zhou Yu
Tony Leung Ka Fai	...	Chen Qing
Honglei Sun	...	Zhang Qiang
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Zhixiong Li

Also Known As:

Zhou Yu's Train (Hong Kong: English title) (USA) (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexuality.

Runtime:

Germany:96 min | USA:97 min | Argentina:97 min | Canada:92 min | Japan:93 min

Country:

China | Hong Kong

Language:

Mandarin

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Spain:13 | Singapore:PG | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Canada:PG | UK:PG

Company:

China Film Co-Production Corporation

Goofs:

Continuity: When Zhou Yu and Zhang get off the train at the deserted Xan Hu Station she is wearing brown shoes. They set off to look for Xan Hu Lake. While walking on the grassy slopes looking for the Lake, Zhou Yu is now wearing sneakers with blue tops and thick white rubber soles. When they get back to the train station, she is wearing brown shoes again. Her pocketbook is very flat and not fat enough to hold a spare pair of footwear.

Quotes:

Zhang Qiang: [subtitled version] I know my lake is artificial, but at least it's full of water!

"Train" Fair

ZHOU YU'S TRAIN is the type of film that may require repeat viewing in order for the casual viewer to take in all the thia story has to offer: if you blink -- much like the effect of the quickly passing scenery out the window of any train -- you might miss a plot line, a character moment, or a perspective that would better be explored, as the climax to this evenly and perhaps-too-leisurely-paced romance shows.

Zhou Yu (the lovely Gong Li) plays a young painter who falls in love with a shy poet, Chen Ching (played by Tony Leung Ka-Fai). Twice a week, Zhou Yu rides the train to be with him. On the train, however, a humorous veterinarian (played Sun Honglei) sees, approaches, and flirts with her. While she initially resists his desire, she eventually gives in to an indescribable curiosity which forces all of them to examine their various roles in one another's lives.

While one could hardly argue with the notion that there are parts of TRAIN that appear uneven and, at least, forced, the film still manages to deliver a perspective worth a single view: who does Zhou Yu love and why? Torn between these two men for wildly conflicting reasons, she can't make sense of her dilemma. Instead of running from one of them, she inevitably chooses aspects of both for her affection, but this choice only forces her further and further into confusion.

As a result, TRAIN explores more than one budding relationship, making the film as uneven as it is unpredictable. In fact, one could make the argument that what truly is transpiring here cannot be fully understood and appreciated until the film's final few moments .. but even then the viewer is left with many unanswered questions. Is that the message of the film, that life brings more questions than answers? Or is it merely a comment on how Zhou Yu chose to live her life? Or is it something even more?

Regardless, what is clear is Zhou's desire to seek the answers to questions of the various loves in her life (two men, friendship, art, etc.), and the narrative clearly appears to be a device through which an exploration of the female mind and heart is undertaken. Whether you reach a destination is left entirely up to the viewer.

Of course, the best scenery is Gong Li. She plays even utter confusion with beautiful conviction. If you're a fan of her work, then TRAIN is definitely for you.