Happy Times Movie Review 2000

Underneath this light comedy hides an intimate tale of an aging loser and his unexpected relationship with a young, blind teenager. When Zhao (Bensham) tries to woo plus-sized divorcee (Lihua) by pretending to be a rich hotel owner, she demands that he give her blind stepdaughter Wu Ying (Jie) a job, unaware that Zhao's only experience in hotel management was renting out a dilapidated bus to couples by the hour. With the help of friends, Zhao sets up an elaborate ruse: outfitting an abandoned factory as the "hotel" where Wu, a masseuse, employs her craft on Zhao's friends posing as clients who pay her in phony money. Zhao finds redemption of a sort in the sullen but honest Wu, who in turn blossoms in her new job. Acclaimed Chinese director Yimou elicits excellent performances in his scaled-down allegory. In Mandarin with subtitles.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 106 minutes.
Originally from Chinese.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Otherwise Engaged, Blindness, Stepparents, China, Workin' for a Livin', Masseurs

Screenplay

Giu Zi

Cast

Benshan Zhao, Jie Dong, Xuejian Li, Lifan Dong, Qibin Leng, Biao Fu, Ben Nu

Cinematography

Hou Yong

Director

Zhang Yimou

Music

San Bao

Other

Wu Lala, Zhai Ru, Cao Jiuping, Dong Huamiao

Producer

Zhao Yu, Qinglong Yang, Weiping Zhang, Guangxi Film Studio, Beijing New Picture Film Company, Zhuhai Zhenrong Co., Sony Pictures Classics