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Chinese Box

  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
Home Video Trailer from Trimark
Play trailer1:57
1 Video
24 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
6.2/10
3.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Wayne Wang
  • Writers
    • Jean-Claude Carrière(screenplay)
    • Larry Gross
    • Rachel Ingalls(Jean's story inspired by "Last Act: The Madhouse")
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Irons
    • Gong Li
    • Maggie Cheung
Top credits
  • Director
    • Wayne Wang
  • Writers
    • Jean-Claude Carrière(screenplay)
    • Larry Gross
    • Rachel Ingalls(Jean's story inspired by "Last Act: The Madhouse")
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Irons
    • Gong Li
    • Maggie Cheung
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 44User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Chinese Box
    Trailer 1:57
    Chinese Box

    Photos24

    1 sheet
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)
    Gong Li and Jeremy Irons in Chinese Box (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeremy Irons
    Jeremy Irons
    • Johnas John
    Gong Li
    Gong Li
    • Vivianas Vivian
    Maggie Cheung
    Maggie Cheung
    • Jeanas Jean
    Michael Hui
    Michael Hui
    • Changas Chang
    Emma Lucia
    • Amanda Everheartas Amanda Everheart
    Ken Bennett
    • Rickas Rick
    Rubén Blades
    Rubén Blades
    • Jimas Jim
    • (as Ruben Blades)
    Chaplin Chang
    • Homeless Manas Homeless Man
    Russell Cawthorne
    • New Year's Party MCas New Year's Party MC
    Emotion Cheung
    Emotion Cheung
    • William Wongas William Wong
    Harvey Stockwin
    • Weeksas Weeks
    Jonathan Midgley
    • Jonathanas Jonathan
    Bruce Walker
    • Bruceas Bruce
    Angelica Lofgren
    • Baby-Linas Baby-Lin
    Julian Chang
    • Dr. Changas Dr. Chang
    • (as Dr. Julian Chang)
    Ruichao Jian
    • Businessman #1as Businessman #1
    • (as Jian Rui Chao)
    Sing Chau Wai
    • Businessman #2as Businessman #2
    • (as Wai Sing)
    Hung Lu
    Hung Lu
    • Businessman #3as Businessman #3
    • (as Lo Hung)
    • Director
      • Wayne Wang
    • Writers
      • Jean-Claude Carrière(screenplay) (story)
      • Larry Gross
      • Rachel Ingalls(Jean's story inspired by "Last Act: The Madhouse")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    John is an English photojournalist who has spent over a decade in Hong Kong; his friend Jim often crashes in his cramped apartment. John's unrequited love is Vivian whom he aches for but has not the nerve to possess. Concurrent with England's transfer of Hong Kong back to the Chinese, John discovers that he has a rare form of leukemia and has only months to live. So John, Jim, and the disfigured proto-hippy Jean grab a digital video camera and prowl the streets, seeking to document the "real" Hong Kong one last time. —Fred Goodridge
    • hong kong
    • unrequited love
    • video camera
    • new year
    • love
    • 174 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language and some sexual content
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      When John and Jim stop during the motorcycle ride up the hill, the shadow of a cameraman is visible.
    • Quotes

      John: You must get a piece of jade, and keep it close. Then your blood will go into the stone, and the stone will get into your blood. The blood will then become stone, and you will stop bleeding.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Object of My Affection/Paulie/Nightwatch/Suicide Kings/Wild Man Blues/Chinese Box (1998)

    User reviews44

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Much better than many people say.
    I don't know why, but people on imdb and elsewhere have been very critical of this film. Personally, as someone living in Hong Kong, I think it is both a well made and important film. At the end, the analogy of Gong Li's character starting again, as Hong Kong is starting again, worked well. I think perhaps the only drawback is Maggie Cheung's character, as it seems a little pointless. However, I like nearly everything Jeremy Irons is in - he is really one of the world's best actors. His characters are always people that I can somehow empathise with - they're always very believable and he really carries the film's themes. The idea of setting the film in the six months leading up to Hong Kong's July 1, 1997 handover works well. As Irons' character dies, so does British sovereignty - the Union Jack goes down, the last Governor cries, Gong Li shakes off her long-time sugar daddy. It's a captivating and well-told story of which the Director should be proud, although I read an interview with him a while ago, and he didn't want to talk about the film, since it's upset some people in Hong Kong, I think. This film is certainly better than most rubbish that's made in Hong Kong. I urge you to find a copy and see it.
    helpful•23
    3
    • daodao
    • Jul 10, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 17, 1998 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Japan
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Cantonese
    • Also known as
      • La caja china
    • Filming locations
      • Hong Kong, China
    • Production companies
      • Canal+
      • NDF International
      • Pony Canyon Theatrical Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,178,160
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $97,916
      • Apr 19, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,178,160
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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