Country: China
Year: 2008
Duration: 92'
JALAINUR “Jalainur (a Mongolian word meaning ‘ocean-like lake’) is a colliery in the northernmost part of China where you can still see the unusual sight of steam trains in service. One hundred years of exploitation has made a huge pit in the ground of the colliery that now is almost empty; soon the steam trains will be retired, and a large number of colliery workers are facing the crisis of being laid off. The idea of this film comes from an old Chinese saying, ‘Even if I can accompany you for one thousand miles, finally we must bid farewell.’”
For over one hundred years, a steam engine railway has crossed the Jalainur colliery in Mongolia. The imminent closing of the mine threatens the friendship between the elderly engineer Zhu and his apprentice Zhizhong; the two are inseparable even in their free time. One morning, Zhu doesn’t show up at work and the young man realizes that he is on his way to his daughter and will never return. The young man catches up with Zhu, who would like to prevent him from coming along but it’s too difficult to say goodbye. Only when the daughter appears will Zhizhong leave his friend and start walking back alone.
Biography
film director
Ye Zhao
Zhao Ye (Beijing, China, 1979) graduated in 2004 from the Beijing Film Academy, where majored in the animation department and developed his passion for art, that was born in his high school years. He directed his first short, the animation movie Weed Picker, in 2004. His debut feature, Ma Wu Jia (2007), screened at numerous international film festivals
FILMOGRAFIA
filmografia/filmography
Cai wei (Weed Picker, cm, anim., 2004), Ma wu jia (2007), Zha lai nuo er (Jalainur, 2008), Last Chestnuts (mm, 2010).
Cast
& Credits
regia, sceneggiatura, montaggio, produttore/director, screenplay, film editing, producer
Zhao Ye
fotografia/cinematography
Zhang Yi
scenografia/production design
Chen Houquan, Zhen Hongge
costumi/costume design
Gong Ping
musica/music
Lin Zhaoyang
suono/sound
Chen Ting
interpreti e personaggi/cast and characters
Liu Yuansheng (Zhizhong), Li Zhizhong (l’anziano/Old Zhu)
produzione, vendita all’estero/production, world sales
Tianlin Film Productions, BJCN
Zhao Ye
fotografia/cinematography
Zhang Yi
scenografia/production design
Chen Houquan, Zhen Hongge
costumi/costume design
Gong Ping
musica/music
Lin Zhaoyang
suono/sound
Chen Ting
interpreti e personaggi/cast and characters
Liu Yuansheng (Zhizhong), Li Zhizhong (l’anziano/Old Zhu)
produzione, vendita all’estero/production, world sales
Tianlin Film Productions, BJCN
