Genre: Comedy, Romance
Category: Mainland Drama
Film Date: April, 2010
Popular Chinese actress, director, writer and celebrity blogger Xu Jinglei returns to screens both in front of and behind the camera with the topical urban comedy “Go Lala Go!”. The film sees her diverging from the art house leanings of “Letter from an Unknown Woman” for something more spirited, flashy and commercial, and which is very much in the style of recent Western chick-lit blockbusters such as “The Devil Wears Prada”. Based on the popular novel “A Story of Lala’s Promotion” by Li Ke, and designed specifically to appeal to the hip young Chinese market, the film was a massive hit at the domestic box office, pulling in more than 100 million yuan. Xu plays the titular Du Lala, a woman in her late twenties who finally manages to land a job as a lowly secretary in the sales department of a prestigious international firm. Hard working, dedicated, and overflowing with ideas and energy, she quickly catches the eye of her superiors, in particular that of sales director Huang Wei (Taiwanese popstar Stanley Huang). Lala’s efforts pay off as she rises quickly up the corporate ladder, and even manages to win the notoriously tough and grumpy man’s heart in the process. Unfortunately, there are still a number of obstacles in her way, both on the job and off, as Huang Wei’s ex (Karen Mok, “Tempting Heart”), who just happens to be another company director, looks to make trouble for her new love rival. The most obvious point of comparison for “Go Lala Go!” is Zhang Ziyi’s recent romantic comedy “Sophie’s Revenge”, though within just a few minutes it becomes fairly apparent that Xu Jinglei is aiming for style rather than substance. The film certainly goes all out in this respect, with its attractive cast being clad in bright and fashionable clothes, and with all of the sets, offices and apartments having been interior designed with clear attention to hip urban detail. Xu’s direction is fittingly bright and kinetic, with lots of visual flourishes, cartoonish touches and fast editing, giving it an almost manic feel at times. She makes good use of the different locations, with the film switching gratuitously, though pleasantly, between the hustle and bustle of the big city and the glorious beaches of Thailand.
Su Qi-Er, a wealthy man living during the Qing Dynasty who loses his fortune and reputation as a result of a conspiracy against him. After being forced out onto the streets, Su dedicates his life to martial arts and reemerges as a patriotic hero known as the “King of Beggars.”
Year: 2009
In 1905, Sun Yat-sen (called “Sun Wen” in the film) intends to come to Hong Kong (then a colony of the British Empire) to discuss his plans for revolution with fellow Tongmenghui members to overthrow the corrupt and crumbling Qing Dynasty. Empress Dowager Cixi sends a group of assassins led by Yan Xiaoguo to kill Sun. Revolutionary Chen Shaobai arrives in Hong Kong a few days before Sun’s arrival, to meet Li Yutang, a businessman who provides financial aid for the revolutionaries. As Sun Wen’s arrival day draws near, trouble begins brewing in Hong Kong as Chen Shaobai’s acquaintances are murdered and Chen himself is kidnapped by the assassins during a raid. Li Yutang decides to officially declare his support for the revolutionaries after the newspaper agency is closed by the British authorities, who maintain a policy of laissez-faire towards China’s political situation. Li rallies a group of men, including rickshaw pullers, hawkers and a beggar, to serve as bodyguards for Sun Wen when he arrives. Li’s son Li Chongguang is chosen to act as a decoy for Sun Wen to divert the assassins away while Sun attends the meeting and leaves Hong Kong safely.