Duli shidai (A Confucian Confusion) (1. Taiwanese society is closely examined in this complex political drama that includes elements of black comedy. The underlying thesis is a call for nouveau riche Asian countries to expand their horizons and reconsider their traditional ways. The relationships within the film are quite convoluted. All the characters are somehow connected by blood, friendship, or sexual chemistry.
Du li shi dai / A Confucian Confusion (1994)Mandarin 1994 A Confucian Confusion: Other awards; Best Director Award (Cannes Film Festival) 2000 Yi Yi: Edward Yang (Chinese.
The story revolves around Molly, a well- born young woman who helms a PR company which is backed by Akeem, her rich boyfriend (to whom Molly's talk show host sister was formerly engaged). Molly's best friend and personal assistant is Qiqi, a former schoolmate from the lower middle class who is to marry Ming, a low- level government employee.
Larry, Molly's business manager and friend of Akeem, runs Molly's company. Feng wants to be an actress, and works for Molly while waiting for her big break (she also romances Larry). Birdy is an avante- garde playwright trying to produce his first commercial play.
A Confucian Confusion Information, A Confucian Confusion Reviews, Synonyms: D Casting et infos sur l' A Confucian Confusion (1994) 2 hours 5 min. After firing a colleague, the head of a PR company begins to question her lifestyle and values.
Things heat up when Molly reevaluates her life after firing Feng over a disagreement.
A Confucian Confusion . This challenging, multicharactered rondo on aspects of contempo Taiwan society should find plenty of play on the festival circuit but looks unlikely to broaden Yang’s B.
O. Declaration of Human Rights on the basis of cultural differences. Basic message of Yang’s movie is that it’s time for newly wealthy (Confucian- influenced) Asian societies, like Taiwan, to stop limiting themselves and rethink traditional molds. Almost a dozen characters are introed in the movie’s opening reel, with backgrounds, connections and relationships often obscure, despite yards of dialogue. Molly’s good- hearted assistant, Qiqi, is a lower- middle- class pal from school days who’s engaged to fellow classmate Ming, a low- rung government bureaucrat who lives with his parents.
Molly’s business manager, Larry, is a buddy of Akeem and basically runs the company. Molly’s elder sis, once engaged to Akeem but now married to an existential writer, hosts a top- rated TV talkshow. Aspiring actress Feng is biding her time in Molly’s company till her big break, in between romancing Larry.
And that’s just the main players. Qiqi quits and worsens things by introducing Feng to Birdy, who’s ever keen to take on a new actress. Akeem, meanwhile, is finding it harder and harder to pin down Molly to a wedding date. Latter sequence, played as ripe comedy in a crowded nighttime street with a bozo cab driver, is the movie’s philosophical nut — that it’s time to cut through the structured Confucianism and go for honest, upfront relating. But whereas the equally complexly constructed “A Brighter Summer Day,” set during Taiwan’s underdeveloped early ’6.
Confucian Confusion” pivots on the special characteristics of Taiwan’s recent economic miracle and may prove simply too arcane in its resonances for non- specialists. Though the pic is always solidly cinematic, there’s also a legit feel to the loquacious script that perhaps reflects the helmer’s detour into penning two plays (“Likely Consequence,” 1. Period of Growth,” 1. Day.” Thesp Ni Shujun, who’s had uneven parts since her recent bounce- back, is terrific in the key Molly role, all yuppie dress code and uptight insecurities. Newcomer Chen Xiangqi, from Yang’s two recent plays, shadows Ni perfectly as her best friend and all- round nice person who’s content to go with the flow.
There’s not a weak link in the rest of the cast, with Wang Weiming solid as the moralistic Ming and Chen Limei strong as Molly’s talkshow host sister. Music, sparely used, is pointed. Though sound on mono print unspooled at Cannes is fine, pic will be available with a Dolby soundtrack beginning in August. Executive producer , David Sun. Directed, written by Edward Yang. Crew. Camera (color), Arthur Wong, Zhang Zhan, Li Longyu, Hong Wuxiu; editor, Chen Bowen; music, Antonio Lee; production design, Tsai Chin, Yang, Ernest Guan, Yao Reizhong; sound, Du Duzhi; associate producer, Zhan Hongzhi; assistant director, Chen Yiwen.
Reviewed at Cannes Film Festival (competing), May 1. Running time: 1. 33 min.
With. Qiqi - Chen Xiangqi. Molly - Ni Shujun. Ming - Wang Weiming. Akeem - Wang Zhongzheng. Birdy - Wang Yeming. Larry - Danny Deng.
Molly's brother- in- law - Yan Hongya. Feng - Richie Li. Molly's sister - Chen Limei. Liren - Chen Yiwen.