UNKNOWN PLEASURES
by Jia Zhang-Ke
synopsis
In Northern China, not far from Mongolia, two friends Xiao Ji and Bin Bin, apparently oblivious to the world around them, spend most of their time lounging about. Their main aim is to do as they please, which is to say, not a lot. Intense Xiao Ji falls madly in love with beautiful Qiao Qiao, the region’s singing star. Bin Bin, who’s more reserved, tries to save his love affair with a young student in any way he can. Xiao Ji brazenly cruises Qiao Qiao, despite her manager’s presence. This tough, possessive man also happens to be her fiancé. Xiao Ji is vaguely aware that he is playing a dangerous game, but he doesn’t care, for he wants the girl. He is beaten up in a nightclub one evening but comes out of it unscathed, apparently indestructible. Qiao Qiao is touched by his stubbornness mixed with an angelic side. Lonely and isolated, she accepts to sleep with him, just once, in secret.
international title: | Unknown Pleasures |
original title: | Ren Xiao Yao |
country: | China, Japan, South Korea, France |
sales agent: | Celluloid Dreams |
year: | 2002 |
genre: | fiction |
directed by: | Jia Zhang-Ke |
film run: | 106' |
release date: | FR 22/01/2003, GR 16/05/2003, UK 11/07/2003, BE 23/07/2003, NL 13/11/2003 |
screenplay: | Jia Zhang-Ke |
cast: | Zhao Tao, Zhao Wei Wei, Wu Qiong |
cinematography by: | Yu Lik Wai |
film editing: | Keung CHOW |
art director: | Liang Jiang Dong |
producer: | Li Kit Ming |
production: | Lumen Films, Office Kitano (JP); Hu Tong Communications (CN); E-Pictures (KR) |
distributor: | Ad Vitam, Playtime (GR), Artificial Eye (UK), Cinéart (BE), A-Film Distribution (NL), Frenetic Films (CH), Indisa (ES), Atalanta Filmes (PT) |