Archive of films Good Cats / Hao mao

China
2008, 103 min

Section: Forum of Independents - Competition
Year: 2008

The film’s protagonist apathetically observes the changes that rapid urbanisation has brought to the Chinese province of Sichuan. With similar impartiality and subtlety, the camera traces the impalpable paradoxes of human life and situations in which day-to-day life is permeated by events playing out on the border between reality, absurdity and hallucination.

Synopsis

The name of the film is taken from reformist politician Deng Xiaoping’s principle that it doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white – as long as it catches mice, it’s a good cat. The ends justifying the means mentality paints a picture of modern-day China tainted by a money-hungry rat race. Many Chinese films have dealt with this theme in recent years, but the work of director Ying Liang towers above them in the supreme originality of its interpretation. While it follows the irresponsible life of the main protagonist, a chauffeur for the head of a real-estate agency, it shows the changes that rapid urbanisation has brought to Sichuan. In the director’s vision, human existence is dominated by impalpable paradoxes, and day-to-day life is permeated with surreal events playing out on the border between reality, absurdity and hallucination. Imitating the lazy impartiality with which the protagonist views his world, the camera apathetically observes the mise-en-scene in which immediacy is wed with a fine-spun composition.

About the director

Ying Liang (b. 1977, Shanghai) is one of the most distinct artists of the young generation of contemporary Chinese filmmakers. He studied direction at the film academy in Chongqing and at Peking University. Since 1999 he has made several shorts, many of which were awarded at the prominent Beijing Student Film Festival. His first feature-length film, Taking Father Home (Bei yazi de nanhai, 2006), made with non-professional actors and a budget of 3,000 Euros, was extolled at the time as one of the most impressive debuts and, after its screening at the Tokyo FILMeX festival where it received a Special Jury Prize, the film circuited festivals all over the world. The director asserted his creative skills and distinctive style with his next film, The Other Half (Ling yi ban, 2006), and with his latest work, Good Cats (2008).

Contacts

90 Minutes Film Studio
, , Shanghai
China
Tel: +86 216 324 1821
Fax: +86 216 324 1821
E-mail: [email protected]

Tianlin Limited
, , Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Tel: +86 108 046 2805
Fax: +86 108 046 2805
E-mail: [email protected]

+ 1

About the film

Color, DV Cam
World premiere

Section:	Forum of Independents - Competition

Director:	Ying Liang
Screenplay:	Ying Liang, Peng Shan
Dir. of Photography:	Li Rongsheng, Ying Liang
Music:	Lamb Funeral
Editor:	Ying Liang
Producer:	Peng Shan
Production:	90 Minutes Film Studio
Cast:	Luo Liang, Peng Deming, Liu Xiaopei
Contact:	90 Minutes Film Studio, Tianlin Limited

Guests

Ying Liang

Film Director, Film Director

Peng Shan

Actress, Actress