Presented By: Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies
LRCCS Film Series | "Up & Down" and "When Night Falls"
Professor Markus Nornes will introduce the films
Up & Down 《上下》 (dir. Wang Wo, 12 min., 2007)
Up & Down exemplifies experimental filmmaker Wang Wo’s love of form and design. The film is split down the middle from beginning to end, both vertically and horizontally. The initial split features a traveling shot out a car on top, and another moving in the other direction from subway. Those familiar with the geography of Beijing will recognize that both have a similar trajectory, Tiananmen Square, where the split screen plays with the symmetrical built space of premodern and modern China— cleverly undercutting the awe that architecture is meant to inspire.
When Night Falls 《我还有话要说》 (dir. Ying Liang, 70 min., 2012)
A literal translation for this film’s title is “I still have something to say.” It is based on the Yang Jia incident, where a young man invaded a Shanghai police station and murdered six policemen with a knife. Yang was driven by revenge for being arrested and beaten by police for riding an unlicensed bicycle. The film focuses on the man’s mother and her own treatment by police, as well as the controversial trial that led to Yang’s execution. It was one of three films produced by the Jeonju International Film Festival. The Chinese government attempted to purchase the rights of the film to prevent its public release, a deal the festival refused.
About the Directors
Wang Wo (王我) was born in Hebei Province, and is currently living in USA. He studied graphic design at the Central Academy of Arts and Design, and received an MA in Arts and Design from Tsinghua University. He began making films in 2004, establishing himself as one the innovative of the independent documentary filmmakers. His experimental documentaries include Outside (2005), Noise (2007), Zhe Teng: According to China (2010), The Dialogue (2014) and Filmless Festival (2015). Along with his filmmaking, Wang established himself as an artist and graphic designer. His powerful posters for the Beijing Independent Film Festival are admired the world around.
Ying Liang (应亮) is a feature film director currently living in Hong Kong. He was born in Chongqing, and studied filmmaking at Chongqing Film Academy and Beijing Normal University. He began his career making short films, before making his first feature, Taking Father Home, in 2005. His other major films include The Other Half (2006), Condolences (2009), Good Cats (2008) and When Night Falls (2012). The latter film led to his current exile in Hong Kong, when the government refused to allow his re-entry after an international film festival visit. Ying is also the founder of the Chongqing Independent Film and Video Festival, which started in 2007 and was the first film festival in Western China.
Up & Down exemplifies experimental filmmaker Wang Wo’s love of form and design. The film is split down the middle from beginning to end, both vertically and horizontally. The initial split features a traveling shot out a car on top, and another moving in the other direction from subway. Those familiar with the geography of Beijing will recognize that both have a similar trajectory, Tiananmen Square, where the split screen plays with the symmetrical built space of premodern and modern China— cleverly undercutting the awe that architecture is meant to inspire.
When Night Falls 《我还有话要说》 (dir. Ying Liang, 70 min., 2012)
A literal translation for this film’s title is “I still have something to say.” It is based on the Yang Jia incident, where a young man invaded a Shanghai police station and murdered six policemen with a knife. Yang was driven by revenge for being arrested and beaten by police for riding an unlicensed bicycle. The film focuses on the man’s mother and her own treatment by police, as well as the controversial trial that led to Yang’s execution. It was one of three films produced by the Jeonju International Film Festival. The Chinese government attempted to purchase the rights of the film to prevent its public release, a deal the festival refused.
About the Directors
Wang Wo (王我) was born in Hebei Province, and is currently living in USA. He studied graphic design at the Central Academy of Arts and Design, and received an MA in Arts and Design from Tsinghua University. He began making films in 2004, establishing himself as one the innovative of the independent documentary filmmakers. His experimental documentaries include Outside (2005), Noise (2007), Zhe Teng: According to China (2010), The Dialogue (2014) and Filmless Festival (2015). Along with his filmmaking, Wang established himself as an artist and graphic designer. His powerful posters for the Beijing Independent Film Festival are admired the world around.
Ying Liang (应亮) is a feature film director currently living in Hong Kong. He was born in Chongqing, and studied filmmaking at Chongqing Film Academy and Beijing Normal University. He began his career making short films, before making his first feature, Taking Father Home, in 2005. His other major films include The Other Half (2006), Condolences (2009), Good Cats (2008) and When Night Falls (2012). The latter film led to his current exile in Hong Kong, when the government refused to allow his re-entry after an international film festival visit. Ying is also the founder of the Chongqing Independent Film and Video Festival, which started in 2007 and was the first film festival in Western China.
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