Director: Cheng Er
Screenwriter: Cheng Er
Starring: Ge You / Zhang Ziyi / Asano Tadanobu / Du Chun / Zhong Xintong / Ni Dahong / Zhao Baogang / Yuan Quan / Yan Ni / Han Geng / Huo Siyan / Du Jiang / Wang Chuanjun / Zhong Hanliang / Ma Xiaowei / Lü Xing / Qiao Xiaoxiao / Liu Tianyang / Zhao Haitao / Ye He / Zhou Jingfeng / Yang Lulu / Songfeng Lili / Matsuura Keizhi / Yasuyuki Hirata / Zhang Xiaolong / Guo Xiaoxiao / Xiao Hei
Film Synopsis /From Douban
A group portrait drama in the old Shanghai of the 1930s - a gang boss who is in the limelight, a social flower who is not willing to be lonely, a Japanese brother-in-law who speaks authentic Shanghainese, a killer who only charges transportation fees, a snubbed but loyal aunt, a movie queen with a glamorous appearance, an unfathomable housekeeper in the courtyard of a deep house, an occasional sneaky movie emperor, a gang brother with hormones overflowing his brain, a virgin who wants to break the place, a kind prostitute, a star husband who goes with the flow, a second brother who joins the Japanese gang, and Mr. Dai who takes time out of love every day.
Under the war, the prosperity was over. Gang bosses flee to Hong Kong, social flowers disappear, Japanese brother-in-law dies in Shanghai, the movie queen is abandoned by her husband, the virgin meets a prostitute, and the aunt kills the second brother. The war was fierce, and the war was finally over.
The prototypes of several characters in the film are derived from Du Yuesheng, Jin Rong and Zhang Xiaolin in the old Shanghai Beach.
But the main line of the story contradiction and climax is the Japanese brother-in-law of "Du Yuesheng", and everything else is paving the way.
In the context of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the brother-in-law of a Chinese gang boss was a Japanese. Marry and have children in Shanghai, speak authentic Shanghainese, authentic Shanghainese attire and dress. When it comes to Japan, it is categorically said that Japan does not have a good thing, and I am not Japanese, but a Shanghainese. Everyone believed it, but it was strange, and it didn't make sense from the human level.
Just like in ancient times, someone killed his own child and sacrificed it to the emperor to show his loyalty, he could even kill his own children, what could he do?
Behind the extremely anti-human behavior, it is supported by some ulterior motive. The behavior of this Japanese brother-in-law in the back is also chilling.
When no one is around, he will put on a Japanese kimono alone, talk to a cat in Japanese, cook Japanese meals for himself, and use Japanese table rituals and etiquette.
It turned out that he was an undercover agent sent by Japanese militarists to the Shanghai gang bosses, waiting for the Japanese to occupy Shanghai. He's been in disguise, he's been hiding, he's been patient.
He was no longer in Japan at all times, and he was loyal to the emperor all the time.
Later, he designed the scene of his own death, kidnapping the aunt played by Zhang Ziyi and hiding her in the cellar for three years, letting her wear a Japanese kimono and feeding her to vent his desires. Who would have thought of such an anti-human operation?
But he also has remnants of humanity, and he did not kill "Du Yuesheng" because he and his wife had their own flesh and bones, two children. He wants "Du Yuesheng" to take care of his children. Waiting for one day to triumph and take them back to Japan to play in Hokkaido.
After the war, the truth came out. Defeated, he said triumphantly: I know you too well Chinese, my children are also your sister's children, and you absolutely cannot kill these two children. I am a prisoner of war, and you cannot kill me or my children.
But he did not expect that the other party did not hesitate to shoot and kill his child, no matter what blood is thicker than water.
This is the anti-humanity of the other side, and it is forced.
I'd rather kill flesh and blood than let you get away with it.
Where did these incredible anti-human operations arise, because war distorted human nature.
In the face of war, talk about what romanticism.