The director is clearly a talent to monitor, but this isn’t his strongest work.
The film is at its very best in the earlier stages when the story and the camera focus on the insular world of the neighborhood courtyard. We get an intimate feel not only for the layout of the buildings but for many of the neighborhood residents included Liu, who winds up playing a large role in the narrative. Joan Chen seems somewhat wasted in her role, and none of the actors who portray Xiangyang really seem at ease in the role, though this may be more a function of the writing than anything else. Haiying Sun delivers a strong performance, albeit a one-note one. Give me angry; now give me angrier. Can you do "angry" now?
Video
The film is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer. Though interlaced (w/ the requisite instances of combing), this is a pretty solid transfer with good contrast and a natural color palette. The source print was obviously very strong as there´s virtually no sign of dirt or debris here.
Audio
The DVD is presented in both Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. Optional English subtitles support the Mandarin audio.
Extras
A "featurette" (15 min) which is inexplicably divided up into several smaller sections is the only feature on the DVD, but it´s a pretty good one. Zhang Yang and his cast discuss their personal connections to the film´s 30-year story.
Film Value
Zhang Yang hadn´t even turned 30 during production of this film, his fourth feature (he has since released a fifth.) I have only seen one of his previous films, "Shower", a comedy which I liked much more than this awkward family melodrama. "Sunflower" is not without its charms (particularly the 1976 segment), but a heavy-handed quality that exceeds the standards of the genre makes it fall flat in the end. The director is clearly a talent to monitor, but this isn´t his strongest work.
Video
The film is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer. Though interlaced (w/ the requisite instances of combing), this is a pretty solid transfer with good contrast and a natural color palette. The source print was obviously very strong as there´s virtually no sign of dirt or debris here.
Audio
The DVD is presented in both Dolby Digital 2.0 and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. Optional English subtitles support the Mandarin audio.
Extras
A "featurette" (15 min) which is inexplicably divided up into several smaller sections is the only feature on the DVD, but it´s a pretty good one. Zhang Yang and his cast discuss their personal connections to the film´s 30-year story.
Film Value
Zhang Yang hadn´t even turned 30 during production of this film, his fourth feature (he has since released a fifth.) I have only seen one of his previous films, "Shower", a comedy which I liked much more than this awkward family melodrama. "Sunflower" is not without its charms (particularly the 1976 segment), but a heavy-handed quality that exceeds the standards of the genre makes it fall flat in the end. The director is clearly a talent to monitor, but this isn´t his strongest work.
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[release]24230[/release]