Durian Durian
| Durian Durian | |
|---|---|
 Movie poster for Durian Durian | |
| Literally | Durian fluttering in the wind |
| Directed by | Fruit Chan |
| Written by | Fruit Chan, Chan Wai-Keung, Zhi Min Sheng |
| Produced by | Carrie Wong |
| Starring | Mak Wai Fan, Qin Hailu |
| Cinematography | Lam Wah-Chuen |
| Edited by | Tin Sam-Fat |
| Music by | Chu Hing-Cheung, Lam Wah-Chuen |
Release date | 2000-11-16 |
Running time | 116 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Languages | Cantonese Mandarin |
| Box office | HK$523,015.00[1] |
Durian Durian (Chinese: 榴槤飄飄) is a 2000 Hong Kong film directed by Fruit Chan. The film portrays the experiences of a young girl, Fan (Mak Wai-Fan), and her sex worker neighbour, Yan (Qin Hailu), in Hong Kong.
Plot
Yan is a prostitute from the mainland in Hong Kong, living near Fan and her family, who is staying in the area illegally. Yan meets Fan in a laneway behind Portland Street and become friends after Yan's pimp is assaulted in front of Fan by an assailant wielding a durian fruit.
Yan services dozens of clients per day and showers compulsively.[2] After her 3-month-stay in Hong Kong, Yan returns to her family and her ex-fiancé in Northeast China to invest what she has earned.[3] Yan remains in contact with Fan, receiving a durian from her as a gift.
Connection to Fruit Chan's other work
Fan was featured in Little Cheung, a film which also deals with poverty and life as an immigrant. This film also centres upon Portland Street in Kowloon.[4]
Awards
At the 20th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2001, Durian Durian was nominated for the Best Film, Best Director (Fruit Chan), Best Screenplay (Fruit Chan), Best Actress (Qin Hailu), Best New Performer (Qin Hailu) and Best Art Direction (Tin Muk) awards. It won the awards for Best Film and Best New Performer.[5] It was awarded Best Film at the 2001 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards. The film also won the Best Picture award at the 38th Golden Horse Awards, with Qin winning the Best Actress and Best New Performer awards.[6]
Reception
In addition to numerous awards, the film has received critical acclaim. Reviews have praised director Fruit Chan and actresses Qin Hailu and Mak Wai-Fan, and emphasise themes of contrast, urban squalor, youthful optimism, and alienation.[3][7] The film has been called "deliberate and brooding".[8]
See also
References
- ^ "Durian, Durian". HKMDB. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "World/Independent Film: Durian Durian". about.com. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
- ^ a b Kraicer, Shelly. "Durian Durian: a Review". chinesecinemas.org. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
- ^ Zhang 2004
- ^ "第二十屆香港電影金像獎得獎名單(Winners of the 20th Hong Kong Film Awards)". Hong Kong Film Awards. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ "China's filmmakers invade Taiwan". Taipei Times. 9 December 2001. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
- ^ Mitchell, Elvis (5 April 2001). "FILM REVIEW; Escaping Hong Kong's Streets, Aided by an 8-Year-Old". movies.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
- ^ Cowan, Noah. "Durian Durian Review (posted on official site)". Contemporary World Cinema. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
Zhang, Yingjin (2004). Chinese National Cinema. Routledge. ISBN 0-415-17289-6.
