CHENG NAN JIU SHI (MY MEMORIES OF OLD BEIJING)
China, 1983, 96 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Yigung Wu.
Memories of Old Beijing is a charming memoir of a little girl. The film, made in the People's Republic of China, is accessible for western audiences. Filmed in attractive colour and Panavision, with sympathetic performances, the film is a personal story as well as a focus on social situations in China.
1. Entertaining? Charming memoir? Appeal for Chinese audiences? Universal appeal?
2. The work of the Chinese film industry: Panavision photography, colour photography, use of locations and atmosphere? Professional film craft? The musical score?
3. The devices for the memoir: the opening and the camels etc.? The voice-over and its tone? Happiness, wistfulness? The memoirs of a child of six and seven? The perception of a little girl - plus? The audience invited to share and feel?
4. The vitality of the girl: Her beauty, verve, expressions, bonds with people, relationships, experiences, puzzles, her doing good, her sadness?
5. The little girl as central character: relationship with her parents, love her questions, the beating, the detail of home life, her care for others, moving, learning, her sadness, Aunt Song and her care, the children, her being curious and visiting the mad mother, her little friend and their talking, her trying to help her friend normalise the home situation. Nin and the difficult daughter, the deaths, her being ill and wet, the moving - school and enjoyment, the football, the boys, her meeting the thief and friendship with him. sharing with him, the student arrest, his arrest after graduation and his talking and explanation, her blame? The illness, the grave, the farewell? The strengths and the charm of the girl as a character?
6. The parents seen in the light of the girl? The sternness of the father. her last memories of him? Reliance on her mother? The presence of her aunt ? and her disappointments especially about her daughter?
7. The mad girl and the memories of her daughter? The little girl's trying to supply her with a daughter? The tragedy of their going to their death?
8. The thief and the bond with the little girl. the graduation, the carnival, the arrest? Her giving information ? and its effect on her?
9. The small girl seeking her real parents?
10. Attractive detail of life: simplicity. family life, the town, education? A humane entertainment?
