Chinese Cinema
Devils On The Doorstep (Region 1) - Wen, JiangReleasedatum: 11 april 2005
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, this dark comedy by from director Jiang Wen takes a fresh look at life under occupation at the end of WWII. Jiang Wen also stars as Ma Dasan, a peasant who, one night a gunpoint is compelled to shelter two prisoners. One is a captured Japanese soldier who wants to be killed and the other his Chinese interpreter, who wants to stay alive. As the days turn into months, Ma Dasan and his fellow villagers keep their unwanted guests hidden from the Japanese forces, while deciding whether or not to execute them. The films rich, bold cinematography is matched only by its approach to the subject matter, which, in turn, attracted the unwanted attention of the Chinese censors who ultimately banned it from Chinese screens.
DVD Extra's:
Introduction by Steven Soderbergh. Reprinted interview with director Jiang Wen. Original theatrical trailer.
Chinese Cinema Archief
