Special Jury Award
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also known as Dixia de tiankong
The Shaft2008
In a poor mining town in western China, the stories of a father and his two children intersect and intertwine, illuminating complicated relationships hidden beneath the community’s hardened exterior. Accused of an affair with her manager, the attractive daughter of the household finds herself spurned by her boyfriend and forced to accept an arranged marriage. Her brother dreams of being a singer. But after an unforeseen stint in prison, he reluctantly heads into the mines like his father who spends his days searching for the wife who left him many years ago. Writer-director Zhang Chi’s wise and poetic debut delicately expresses the turmoil of emotion and expectation wrought by a calloused and difficult existence.
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What makes this film worth watching?
1 member likes this review
Terrific movie! While it concerns itself with the life of only one family it shifts perspective between the three family members and in essence it becomes a film with three intertwined stories.
It features first-rate acting and gorgeous cinema photography.
This movie emanates universal themes of love, humanity, and family bonds.
Watch it !
top reviewer
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Starring
- Li Chen - Song Daming
- Luo Deyuan - Ding Baogen
- Qiya Gong
- Siting Guan
- Zheng Luoqian - Ding Jingshui
- Huang Xuan - Ding Jingsheng
- Xiang Zhou
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Member Reviews (4)
top reviewer
Terrific movie! While it concerns itself with the life of only one family it shifts perspective between the three family members and in essence it becomes a film with three intertwined stories.
It features first-rate acting and gorgeous cinema photography.
This movie emanates universal themes of love, humanity, and family bonds.
Watch it !
1 member likes this review
top reviewer
beautiful film_wonderful story_the kids are great the dad is great_you feel everything_beautiful cinematography_glad i don't work in a mine
Great acting (currently the boyfriend and son from this movie are chinas TOP actors), great cinematography, great cultural references. Notice how even in this deadend town there are always jobs, there is always food, in fact there is opportunity for everyone. BUT what does any of that matter when there is no "hope". Therein lies the rub :)
A solid, well-made work which maintains its interest through shifting viewpoints. There is a richness to this film, a strong sense of humanity.