CHINESE BOX

US, 1998, 99 minutes, Colour dot
Jeremy Irons, Gong Li, Ruben blades, Mackie Cheong, Jared Harris, Michael Hui.
Directed by Wayne Wang.

Chinese Box was written by Jean- Claude Carriere, the prolific screenwriter since 1961, with screenplays for top directors including Buñuel (Bell to shore, The Phantom of liberty, Diary of a Chambermaid) and as diverse as Taking of and. The film has been directed by Wayne Wang, born in Hong Kong and filming their but taking up residence in the United States with films like maid in Manhattan and Because of Win Dixie.

This film was made in the context of the handover of Hong Kong by the British to China in 1997. This background is filled in with information, images of the period, conversations in the dialogue. Ultimately, the ritual of handover is included in the film.

The story, however, focuses on an expatriate journalist, played by Jeremy Irons. He has proven himself a successful journalist and author but it is in something of a decline. His voice-over tells the story about himself, about his photographer friend Jim, Ruben Blades, who periodically comes to stay with him and shares his quest for images of the transition. But Jack is infatuated with a Chinese woman, played by Shang him lose star of the 1990s, Gong Li. She shown to have a shady background, has worked in a club in the bar, as a Chinese patron, Michael we, and has a relationship with Jack, on and off and enigmatic.

Along with the background of the handover, there is a great deal of attention to expatriate’s in Hong Kong and their interactions with each other, with the visitors from other countries, with the residence of Hong Kong themselves anticipating the handover.

With the handover long established, that part of the film is of historical interest. Later audiences will be focused on the story of Jack and his relationship with Vivien.

1. The film, topical at the time, with the hand over of Hong Kong by the British to China? 1997?


2. The preparations for the handover, the role of the British, the visuals of the surrender? The Chinese? New Year 1997?

3. The film is a story around this reality? Symbolic? The title? Musical score?

4. The film moving backwards and forwards in time? 1996-1997, the story, Jack, the presence of Jeremy Irons in this role? As a journalist, photos, his books? His interviews? The party, the guests? His relationship with Chang? The importance of Vivien in his life? Jim coming to stay in his apartment? The sense of realism?

5. Jack’s voice-over, his appearance, his life, this puzzles, his drinking, Vivien? His illness?

6. Jim, the stories, the photos?

7. Pre-1997, Jack, Vivien in the bar, the attraction, the patronage of Chang? Her love for Jack not? Marrying Chang? The past, the voters, her occupation, the girls?

8. Jean, the encounter, her disfigurement? Discussions, the cafe? Jack asking to do a story on her, her agreement? Avoiding human? Jack seeing her, the chase, in the back streets of Hong Kong, the story of her past, the family, at school, a love for William?

9. Jack arranging for William to come, his reaction to Jean, his not having memories about her, William construct and in her imagination? Taking, watching, Jim and his comments?

10. 1997, the discussions, the British, the expatriate, the role of China, the fears, economy and politics, change or not?

11. Jack and his collapse, going to the doctor, the tests, the news, his reactions?

12. The encounter with Vivien? The sexual relationship? How we’ll, how much in his imagination?

13. The finale for Hong Kong, the expatriates, staying at leaving, the British withdrawal and the picture of Prince Charles? The inhabitants of Hong Kong? The new foreigners? Corruption, new legislation, the ritual handover?