Cinema
The Ballad of the Yellow River
黃河謠
Teng Wenji · 1989
Synopsis
Danggui, a jovial singer, follows a caravan of muleteers along the trails of the Yellow River. As a young man, he tries to flee across the river with Wu Mei, a young widow who was married as a child; they are caught on the ferry, and he is severely punished. A muleteer, Fangfeng, rescues him and teaches him the trade. Years later, during a drought, he sacrifices his animal to save a woman, Liu Lan, and her daughter, who have escaped from the lair of the bandit Hei Gutou, Liu Lan's husband.
Context
The film was produced in Xi'an. According to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, the music is by Chang Yuhong, and the caravan's songs tell of each person's hardships. Ge You, credited alongside Duan Xiu, plays the bandit. The story follows Danggui from youth to maturity, through his lost loves and fatherhood. According to TVmao, the film was shown at the Hong Kong and Gothenburg festivals.
Who it is for
A film one hour and thirty-eight minutes long, carried by the songs of the muleteers; no French release is established.
Prizes and reception
It won Teng Wenji the prize for direction at the Montreal festival in 1990, then an award from the Chinese Ministry of Film.
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