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One Second

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7.5/10 • 103

2020-11-271h 44m

DramaHistory

A movie fan escapes from a labour camp during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and strikes up a relationship with a homeless female vagabond.

Directors
Zhang Yimou
Writters
Zhang Yimou, Zou Jingzhi
Editors
Du Yuan

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Liu Haocun

    Liu Haocun

    Orphan Liu

  2. Zhang Yi

    Zhang Yi

    Zhang Jiusheng

  3. Fan Wei

    Fan Wei

    Fan Film

  4. Yu Ailei

    Yu Ailei

    Secretary Cui

  5. Shaobo Zhang

    Shaobo Zhang

    Brother Liu

  6. Li Xiaochuan

    Li Xiaochuan

    Chef

  7. Cao Rui

    Cao Rui

    Fan Film's son

  8. Ziyue Tang

    Ziyue Tang

    Hooligan

  9. Liu Yunlong

    Liu Yunlong

    Security

Reviews2

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Apr 16, 2025

7/10

“Zhang” (Yi Zhang) manages to escape from a forced labour camp just as the Chinese cultural revolution is in full swing. His plan is to make it back to his remote home where he hopes to see a screening of a short propaganda newsreel extolling the merits of socialism that features his young daughter. The thing about these multi-reel movies, though, is that they are constantly being circulated, damaged, stopped and stolen - so actually finding it in a working condition near somewhere capable of exhibiting it is no mean feat for this increasingly malnourished and frustrated gent. Then he encounters the wandering “Liu” (Haocun Liu) who also requires the film - but for an entirely different, and probably more practical purpose, so whilst trying to obtain it from her and stay one step ahead of the pursuing authorities, his work is cut out for him. As his quest proceeds, we are introduced by way of flashbacks, to just who he is, who she is, and why we are all chasing this moment encapsulated in nitrate. This reminded me, in many ways, of “Cinema Paradiso” (1988) insofar as it really emphasises just how important cinema was to a small town community. At how revered, almost, the projectionist- in this case “Mr. Movie” (Wei Fan) - was, and despite the fact that the screen was little better than a king sized bed sheet, and just how the population gathered to see whatever the authorities deemed fit for their consumption with eagerness and zeal. It’s thinly veiled critique on all things “party” is disguised in some really quite dark humour with some down right disrespectful dialogue that ridicules the very principles of any one doctrine state, ostensibly benign or just plain authoritarian. The scenes with Wei Fan, especially towards the end, do raise a smile and then there’s the slight futility to it that works well, too. At times the photography gives up quite a powerful degree of intimacy and at other times it stands back and allows us to enjoy, or query, this man’s travails as you begin to wonder will he ever see the film and just what did he ever do to merit such persistent attempts to recapture him! It can be a little sluggish at times, but the last half hour make it worth a watch.

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Status
Released
Original Language
Chinese
Budget
$1,250,000.00
Revenue
$10,791,301.00
Keywords
based on novel or book