As from Thursday 16 May, Shadow, a film by the Chinese grandmaster Zhang Yimou (Red Sorghum, Hero), will be screened at Concordia.
Also a film that is cinematographically very similar to brush painting, in 5,000 shades of gray and thus connected to the exhibition and course by Adelaide Lam. For example because the ink in all its diluted forms comes back in a lot of shots, if you look closely.
On presentation of your student card you only pay € 6.50 and the premiere day (16 May) even € 5!
Tickets can be purchased from 14 May via the Concordia website.
Beautiful film about a classic Chinese story.
More than a decade since Zhang Yimou’s last foray into the wuxia (martial arts) genre, the celebrated filmmaker returns with Shadow, a visually ravishing tale of intrigue and deception that stands proudly alongside his past triumphs Hero and House of Flying Daggers. Employing a washed-out monochrome aesthetic that recalls classical Chinese “shui-mo” water and ink paintings, and featuring compelling performances and rousing sequences of beautifully choreographed action, Shadow marks a welcome return to form for the director.
The film is set during China’s tumultuous Three Kingdoms period, with the rain-drenched Kingdom of Pei having lost the tactical stronghold of Jingzhou to a rival clan. The king (Zheng Kai) is at odds with his court as to how he should regain control, and plans to marry off his younger sister (Guan Xiaotong) to the son of rival General Yang (Hu Jun).
The plot to Shadow is downright Shakespearean, and we’re left guessing until the bitter end what everyone will do, and who they’ll believe. But all around the plot is the theme of balance. The symbol of the yin yang is always present, and a key part of the Commander’s training of his shadow.
Shadow is a tremendously enjoyable movie, if slow to start. While it does reach the heights of earlier Zhang, it hits its target and gives audiences a morality play with a brutal sense of humor.
Mandarin Spoken, Dutch Subtitles
