Cow (film)
Encyclopedia
Cow is a 2009 Chinese film directed by Guan Hu
. A black comedy, Cow takes place during the midst of the Second Sino-Japanese War
. A villager, played by Huang Bo
, has been entrusted to care for a Dutch cow when a Japanese attack leaves him and the cow the only survivors.
The film premiered at the 66th Venice International Film Festival
as part of its Horizons program.
. A bumbling villager, Niu'er (Huang Bo
), is charged with caring for a Dutch cow
, considered an object of awe to the village given its larger size and ability to produce large amounts of milk. When the village is bombed by the Japanese, Niu'er flees from his home, only to return to devastation and a mass grave. The cow, however, has survived, and the two make their way across the landscape, avoiding Japanese troops and hungry survivors before eventually meeting with the Communist 8th Route Army.
for example, felt the firm was strong enough to deserve a competitive spot in the festival and extolled both the film's aesthetic and its lead performer in Huang. The Shanghai-based City Weekend
also praised the film, noting that as a return to film after five years in television, Guan Hu's Cow "couldn’t have turned out better." Notably, several critics favorably compared the film to Jiang Wen
's similarly themed black comedy, Devils on the Doorstep.
The reception in Asia was similarly positive. Given its small budget, the film's release in China was a strong 7.7 million RMB box office for the opening weekend, particularly in light of the film's competition, the highly publicized The Founding of a Republic
. Cow was also nominated in seven categories for Taiwan's 46th Golden Horse Film Awards
, including best director. The film would go on to win best actor for Huang Bo and best adapted screenplay for Guan Hu.
Guan Hu
Guan Hu is a sixth generation Chinese film director.- Career :A graduate of the class of 1991 of the prestigious Beijing Film Academy, Guan became the youngest director in the Beijing Film Studio. In the 1990s, Guan directed a handful of films making a name as an important voice of the sixth...
. A black comedy, Cow takes place during the midst of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. A villager, played by Huang Bo
Huang Bo
Huang Bo is a Chinese actor.Huang was born in Qingdao, Shandong. He graduated from Beijing Film Academy.-Filmography:* Crazy Stone * The Jimmy Hat * Big Movie * Air Diary * Two Stupid Eggs...
, has been entrusted to care for a Dutch cow when a Japanese attack leaves him and the cow the only survivors.
The film premiered at the 66th Venice International Film Festival
66th Venice International Film Festival
The 66th annual Venice Film Festival held in Venice, Italy, was opened on September 2, 2009 by Baarìa - La porta del vento. International competition jury, led by Ang Lee, awarded Leone d'Oro to Lebanon...
as part of its Horizons program.
Plot
The film takes its story from oral traditions of ShandongShandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
. A bumbling villager, Niu'er (Huang Bo
Huang Bo
Huang Bo is a Chinese actor.Huang was born in Qingdao, Shandong. He graduated from Beijing Film Academy.-Filmography:* Crazy Stone * The Jimmy Hat * Big Movie * Air Diary * Two Stupid Eggs...
), is charged with caring for a Dutch cow
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, considered an object of awe to the village given its larger size and ability to produce large amounts of milk. When the village is bombed by the Japanese, Niu'er flees from his home, only to return to devastation and a mass grave. The cow, however, has survived, and the two make their way across the landscape, avoiding Japanese troops and hungry survivors before eventually meeting with the Communist 8th Route Army.
Reception
The film was well received by English-language critics during its screening in Venice. Derek Elley of VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
for example, felt the firm was strong enough to deserve a competitive spot in the festival and extolled both the film's aesthetic and its lead performer in Huang. The Shanghai-based City Weekend
City Weekend
City Weekend is a free, bi-weekly entertainment event and venue listing magazine based out of China.. Its on-line edition is both autonomous and complimentary to the print magazine - City Weekend is "reader-powered" and sources most of its information directly from the expat community.City Weekend...
also praised the film, noting that as a return to film after five years in television, Guan Hu's Cow "couldn’t have turned out better." Notably, several critics favorably compared the film to Jiang Wen
Jiang Wen
Jiang Wen is a Chinese film actor and director. As a director, he is sometimes grouped with the "sixth generation" that emerged in the 1990s. Jiang is also well known internationally as an actor, having starred with Gong Li in Zhang Yimou's debut film Red Sorghum...
's similarly themed black comedy, Devils on the Doorstep.
The reception in Asia was similarly positive. Given its small budget, the film's release in China was a strong 7.7 million RMB box office for the opening weekend, particularly in light of the film's competition, the highly publicized The Founding of a Republic
The Founding of a Republic
The Founding of a Republic is a 2009 Chinese historical film commissioned by China's film regulator and made by the state-owned China Film Group to mark the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China...
. Cow was also nominated in seven categories for Taiwan's 46th Golden Horse Film Awards
46th Golden Horse Film Awards
-Best Feature Film:-Best Short Film:-Best Documentary:-Best Director:-Best Leading Actor:-Best Leading Actress:-Best Supporting Actor:-Best Supporting Actress:-Best New Performer:-Best Original Screenplay:-Best Screenplay Adaption:...
, including best director. The film would go on to win best actor for Huang Bo and best adapted screenplay for Guan Hu.
Style
Despite its seemingly simple story, Guan Hu's presentation of Cow has been described as both "hyper-realistic and surreal" and "magical-realist" by critics, particularly in its use of a non-linear narrative structure.External links
- Cow at the Chinese Movie Database