Er Dong

  • 150'
  • China
  • 2008
The young Chinese film maker Yang Jin (1982), trained as a photographer and director, made his début in 2004 with the prize-winning The Black and White Milk Cow. In this sober story about a teacher in a poor district of China, Yang's commitment to those who seem have missed out on economic progress is clearly visible. His second feature, named after the protagonist Er Dong (‘winter child’), looks like a documentary. Yet the story about several years from the life of a simple country boy looking for his roots adopts almost epic forms.
Er Dong lives alone with his mother in a small village and will come to no good. At the end of his tether, his mother takes him to a Christian school in the hope that here Er Dong will find rules, order and God and will also hopefully learn a trade. But he only finds a girlfriend, Chang’e. They are sent down from school and start an uncertain life together. It turns out to be difficult to earn your living. Then the past also starts playing up: who was Er Dong's father?
The film Er Dong, is supported by the Hubert Bals Fund is regarded by some as the best narrative ‘indie’ of the year. The film shows how independent directors with little money, simple means and an amateur cast but with a maximum of carefully chosen everyday details and sets can examine life in today's China. (GT)

  • 150'
  • China
  • 2008
Director
Yang Jin
Premiere
European premiere
Country of production
China
Year
2008
Festival Edition
IFFR 2009
Length
150'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
Language
Mandarin
Producer
Cui Zi'en
Production Company
HI Film
Sales
HI Film
Screenplay
Yang Jin
Cinematography
Situ Zhixia
Editor
Yang Jin, Ma Sai
Production Design
Zhang Jun
Sound Design
Zhang Xiao, Feng Zhe
Cast
Bai Lijun, Yang Mingjuan
Local Distributor
Hubert Bals Fund
Director
Yang Jin
Premiere
European premiere
Country of production
China
Year
2008
Festival Edition
IFFR 2009
Length
150'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
Language
Mandarin
Producer
Cui Zi'en
Production Company
HI Film
Sales
HI Film
Screenplay
Yang Jin
Cinematography
Situ Zhixia
Editor
Yang Jin, Ma Sai
Production Design
Zhang Jun
Sound Design
Zhang Xiao, Feng Zhe
Cast
Bai Lijun, Yang Mingjuan
Local Distributor
Hubert Bals Fund