Platform
Seen it?2001 | 155 min | Drama, History
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (80% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved Air, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- Unhurried and epic, at 2 hr 35 min.
- What might put you off
- It's long: 2 hr 35 min.
- It's in Chinese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
China’s rapid changes from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, as seen through the lives of four performers in a theater troupe.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
80% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 20K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Jia Zhangke
- Zhao TaoYin Ruijuan
- Wang HongweiCui Minliang
- Liang JingdongChang Jun
- Yang LinaZhong Pin
- Han SanmingSanming
- Wang BoYao Eryong