The leading “clown” role in a renowned theatre troupe passes on and is welcomed into the Underworld. As he relives his vivid memories one last time before entering the afterlife, 50 years of art, struggle, and love play out against the background of 20th century China’s tumultuous history…
Based on the life of the director’s grandfather, the ambitious sweep of the saga is presented in a craft approach, using a cartoon-strip idiom to capture the atmosphere of the period, in a ‘naïve’ work inspired by the joy of the birth of cinema and nurtured by the tradition of silent film.
Screening Schedule
Market Screening
Aug. 8 (Sun.) 11:00 Cinema Rialto 3
Press Screening
Aug. 12 (Thur.) 14:00 Teatro Kursaal
First Public Screening
(Presentation and Q&A)
Aug. 13 (Fri.) 14:00 Palexpo (FEVI)
Repeat Screening
Aug. 14 (Sat.) 14:00 Palexpo (FEVI)
Repeat Screening
Aug. 14 (Sat.) 18:00 PalaCinema 1
About the director:
QIU Jiongjiong is an active Chinese contemporary artist and filmmaker.
His experiments with cinematic language and aesthetics in documentary film-making have earned him a reputation as one of China’s most important independent directors.
His experimental/documentary feature MR. ZHANG BELIEVES (2015) premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival. JIAO MA TANG HUI is his first fiction feature.
Director/Screenplay/Production Designer
QIU Jiongjiong
Cast
YI Sicheng, GUAN Nan, QIU Zhimin, XUE Xuchun, GU Tao
Producer
DING Ding, YANG Jin
FENG Yuchao “Robbin”
Sound Designer
WANG Ran
Music
DIAO Lili
Art Director
LV Xin
Production
Uluka Productions
Co-production
Midnight Blur Films
Hippocampe Productions