Happy Times

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Happy Times

US One-sheet
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Produced by Zhao Yu
Yang Qinglong
Zhou Ping
Zhang Weiping
Written by Mo Yan (novel)
Starring Zhao Benshan
Dong Jie
Music by San Bao
Cinematography Hou Yong
Editing by Zhai Rui
Distributed by Canada:
Mongel Media
Japan:
Fox Japan
United States:
Sony Pictures Classics
Release date(s) China:
December 31, 2000
Pusan:
November 10, 2001
Berlin:
February 7, 2002
Running time 102 min
Country China
Language Mandarin
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Happy Times (traditional Chinese: 幸福時光; simplified Chinese: 幸福时光; pinyin: Xìngfú Shíguāng) is a 2000 tragicomedy film directed by the famed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou. It is based on the novel, Shifu: You'll Do Anything for a Laugh by Mo Yan.

Contents

[edit] Plot

In a big city, an old and laid-out factory worker (played by Zhao Benshan) seeks to marry an obese and divorced middle-aged woman (played by Dong Lifan), whom he hopes will bring him warmth and comfort in life. So he sets out desperately to find a way to make money for the rich wedding he promised to present. The hapless man decides to renovate a broken bus on top of a hill, popular for romantic couples. This small bus he turned into a small dwelling he named Happy Times Hotel, which will be rented to willing couples that visit the hill.

As he brags about his newly opened "hotel" and how much money he is making, he found himself entrusted with the care of the woman's emaciated, blind stepdaughter Wu Ying (played by Dong Jie), who is unwanted in the house. Not willing to expose his scheme and ruin his attempt to get married, the man enlists the help of his retired co-workers, who agree to do all they can to make the lonely girl happy at her new job as a masseur in the "hotel".

As the story unfolds, a touching friendship between the childless man and the dejected, orphaned girl under his care develops, leading to a moving and surprising conclusion.

[edit] Awards

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Films directed by Zhang Yimou
Red Sorghum (1987) • Codename Cougar (1989) • Ju Dou (1990) • Raise the Red Lantern (1991) • The Story of Qiu Ju (1992) • To Live (1994) • Shanghai Triad (1995) • Keep Cool (1997) • The Road Home (1999) • Not One Less (1999) • Happy Times (2000) • Hero (2002) • House of Flying Daggers (2004) • Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (2005) • Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)
v • d • e
Cinema of China
 This article related to Chinese film is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.