Ocean Heaven
Encyclopedia
Ocean Heaven is a 2010 Chinese
-Hong Kong
drama film
starring martial arts superstar Jet Li
in his first full drama role. It also co-stars Taiwanese actress Kwai Lun-mei
, who previously starred in Jay Chou
's Secret
. The movie was filmed in Qingdao
at the Qindao Polar Ocean World and received promotion from the Qingdao council.
It was announced that it was to be released in spring 2010, but the release date was pushed back to 24 June 2010, which opened the 2010 Shanghai International Film Festival
on 2 June. Jet Li wants this film to get a good message across and promote the works with autism as well as the works of his charity ‘The One Foundation
’.
Xue Xiaolu
, a teacher at the Beijing Film Academy, wrote and directed the 7 million yuan (one million U. S. dollars) movie.
The first-time director has been a volunteer for 14 years with Beijing Stars and Rain, a non-governmental educational organization for autistic children. The story was mostly based on her personal real life and experience, and years of life experience and accumulation. After learning that Jet Li agreed to play the role of the father, she truly was very excited and nervous. To turn a kung fu emperor into an ordinary but noble father was truly stressful for her, but at the same time it also became her motivation to make this film well. She said, "With the addition of actors like Kwai Lun-Mei and Wen Zhang, I am even more confident in the film production."
At first nobody was willing to take a risk on such a non-commercial script until film mogul Bill Kong, the man behind Hero
(Yingxiong) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
(Wohu Canglong) stepped in. It saw the inclusion of award winning cinematographer Christopher Doyle
(Hero
, 2046
, In the Mood for Love
), composer Joe Hisaishi
(Sprited Away, Departures
) and production designer Yee Chung-Man
(Anna Magdalena
, Curse of the Golden Flower
).
son Dafu (Wen Zhang
). Sam has single handedly brought up his son since his wife passed away 14 years ago and looks after him day and night attempting to help him learn basic tasks in order to care for himself, as well as searching for a home for his son before he passes away. As the story progresses, the growing relationship between father and son as well as the community around them become clearer. Ling ling (Kwai Lun-mei
) plays the role of a clown who is part of a small traveling circus (they perform in the aquarium for a short period of time) and who gets on well with Dafu, leading to a close friendship between them.
Though Dafu struggles to learn many basic tasks, Sam perseveres in teaching his son the tasks that he will need to know how to perform himself once his father dies. Meanwhile, a the principal of the boarding school for mentally challenged children that Dafu attended as a child finally recommends Dafu to a newly opened institution where he can stay after his father dies.
Dafu continues learning. Ling Ling, knowing that she is about to have to leave with her circus, teaches Dafu to pick up the phone in the aquarium when he hears it, and she will talk to him. Sam, for the first time, swims in the aquarium with his son, dressed up as a sea turtle, telling his son not to be afraid when he is gone; he will be like the turtles in the aquarium, always swimming close by with him.
Ling Ling leaves with her circus. Sam eventually dies, and his funeral is attended by close friends and family. After the funeral, Dafu is seen doing some of the things that his father struggled so much to teach him with success. He cooks by himself, knows how to ride the bus, and picks up the phone when Ling Ling calls. It is implied that from then on, Dafu will know how to lead his life on his own, though he still has Sam's old friends helping him along the way.
Jet Li also was quoted saying “Nowadays everyone is making blockbusters. Making a seven million Chinese yuan (1 million US dollars) movie requires a lot of sincerity,” Li told reporters in Hong Kong. “This movie is about sincerity. It shows that in this day and age that filmmakers are willing to do something for society.” The father's selfless love for his son touched Li, a father of four children himself. "I cried a lot when reading the script," Li .
“I hope everyone can examine what is the most important relationship in life – the relationship between parent and child,” he said.
“I met some autistic children last year when I was doing charity work. When I read the script, I cried,” Li said, “I hope to express gratitude to all the parents in the world through the film.”
Jet Li did not take any pay for the film but was said to have taken a cut from the profits.
For an actor who could have easily demanded more than a hundred million yuan to appear in a film, what could have caused Jet Li to accept a role in Ocean Heaven, which had a budget of a mere seven million? The story, for one thing — Jet Li hopes it will inspire people to pay more attention and dedicate their compassion to charity. (Appropriately, TIME magazine named Jet Li one of its Most Influential People this year for his work with his One Foundation
.) He also reveals that four or five years ago, his nephew had been diagnosed with autism. His nephew is now better, but this incident made him realize how important it is to offer attention and care to those who are affected.
He also admits that it was not easy to interpret his character. Because Jet Li’s father died when he was two years old, he didn’t understand the concept of the word “father” for a long time. When he was filming The Shaolin Temple, there was a line where he had to yell bà ba (dad), which he found himself unable to say: “In the end, the director changed it to diē (another word for dad). I thought diē had nothing to do with me, so I could say it. It wasn’t until I became a father that I clearly understood what this role of a father meant.” Another difficulty is that Li can't swim, but he eventually swam as the story required.
(playing Dafu) went swimming every day. He previously did not know how to swim, but because swimming and diving are his character’s strong points, he became an expert swimmer. He also visited an autism school every day, working to understand the students’ way of thinking.
The film also received a high 4/5 from the China Post site with a detailed and heart filled review
Cinema of China
The Chinese-language cinema has three distinct historical threads: Cinema of Hong Kong, Cinema of China, and Cinema of Taiwan. Since 1949 the cinema of mainland China has operated under restrictions imposed by the Communist Party of China's State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and...
-Hong Kong
Cinema of Hong Kong
The cinema of Hong Kong is one of the three major threads in the history of Chinese language cinema, alongside the cinema of China, and the cinema of Taiwan...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
starring martial arts superstar Jet Li
Jet Li
The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce...
in his first full drama role. It also co-stars Taiwanese actress Kwai Lun-mei
Kwai Lun-mei
Kwai Lun-Mei is a Taiwanese actress. She started her acting career in the movie Blue Gate Crossing as Meng Ke Rou. Lun-Mei then appeared in a few more movies before she went on to gain more recognition in the movie Secret directed by Jay Chou, which Kwai acted as the female lead, Lu Xiao Yu with...
, who previously starred in Jay Chou
Jay Chou
Jay Chou is a Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer, actor and director who has won the World Music Award four times. In 1998 he was discovered in a talent contest where he displayed his piano and song-writing skills. Over the next two years, he was hired to compose for...
's Secret
Secret (2007 film)
Secret , is a 2007 Taiwanese romance film. It is the directorial debut feature film of Taiwanese musician Jay Chou, who also stars as the male lead and co-wrote the movie.The Secret Original Soundtrack was released by JVR Music on 13 August 2007....
. The movie was filmed in Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
at the Qindao Polar Ocean World and received promotion from the Qingdao council.
It was announced that it was to be released in spring 2010, but the release date was pushed back to 24 June 2010, which opened the 2010 Shanghai International Film Festival
2010 Shanghai International Film Festival
The 2010 Shanghai International Film Festival is the 13th such festival devoted to international cinema to be held in Shanghai, China. It was held from June 12-20, 2010....
on 2 June. Jet Li wants this film to get a good message across and promote the works with autism as well as the works of his charity ‘The One Foundation
One Foundation
The One Foundation , also called Red Cross Society of China Jet Li One Foundation Project, was founded by Chinese Red Cross ambassador Jet Li in April 2007...
’.
Xue Xiaolu
Xue Xiaolu
Xue Xiaolu, a teacher at the Beijing Film Academy, wrote and directed the 7 million yuan movie Ocean Heaven. The first-time director has been a volunteer for 14 years with Beijing Stars and Rain, a non-governmental educational organization for autistic children.-External links:*...
, a teacher at the Beijing Film Academy, wrote and directed the 7 million yuan (one million U. S. dollars) movie.
The first-time director has been a volunteer for 14 years with Beijing Stars and Rain, a non-governmental educational organization for autistic children. The story was mostly based on her personal real life and experience, and years of life experience and accumulation. After learning that Jet Li agreed to play the role of the father, she truly was very excited and nervous. To turn a kung fu emperor into an ordinary but noble father was truly stressful for her, but at the same time it also became her motivation to make this film well. She said, "With the addition of actors like Kwai Lun-Mei and Wen Zhang, I am even more confident in the film production."
At first nobody was willing to take a risk on such a non-commercial script until film mogul Bill Kong, the man behind Hero
Hero (2002 film)
Hero is a 2002 wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou. Starring Jet Li as the nameless protagonist, the film is based on the story of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin in 227 BC....
(Yingxiong) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film. An American-Chinese-Hong Kong-Taiwanese co-production, the film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors, including Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen...
(Wohu Canglong) stepped in. It saw the inclusion of award winning cinematographer Christopher Doyle
Christopher Doyle
Christopher Doyle is a cinematographer. He has won the AFI Award for cinematography, the Cannes Technical Grand Prize, Golden Osella, the Golden Horse awards , and Hong Kong Film Award . Doyle is an affiliate of the Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers.-Biography:Doyle was born in Sydney,...
(Hero
Hero (2002 film)
Hero is a 2002 wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou. Starring Jet Li as the nameless protagonist, the film is based on the story of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin in 227 BC....
, 2046
2046 (film)
2046 is a 2004 Hong Kong film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai. It is a loose sequel to the 1991 Hong Kong film Days of Being Wild and the 2000 Hong Kong film In the Mood for Love...
, In the Mood for Love
In the Mood for Love
In the Mood for Love is a 2000 Hong Kong film directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung...
), composer Joe Hisaishi
Joe Hisaishi
, known professionally as , is a composer and director known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.While possessing a stylistically distinct sound, Hisaishi's music has been known to explore and incorporate different genres, including minimalist, experimental electronic,...
(Sprited Away, Departures
Departures
Departures is an adventure travel television series. An original Canadian production, the show aired on OLN from March 17, 2008 to June 19, 2010. The show is hosted by Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach, produced by Jessie Wallace and Steven N...
) and production designer Yee Chung-Man
Yee Chung-Man
Kenneth Yee Chung-Man is a Chinese production designer, art director, costume designer and film director. He was awarded Best Costume and Make Up Design for Curse of the Golden Flower at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2007....
(Anna Magdalena
Anna Magdalena
Anna Magdalena is a 1998 Hong Kong film starring Kelly Chen, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Aaron Kwok. It was the directorial debut of production designer Yee Chung-Man.-Title:...
, Curse of the Golden Flower
Curse of the Golden Flower
Curse of the Golden Flower is a 2006 Chinese epic drama film directed by Zhang Yimou.With a budget of US$45 million, it was at the time of its release the most expensive Chinese film to date, surpassing Chen Kaige's The Promise...
).
Plot
Ocean Heaven is about a terminally ill father, Sam Wong (Jet Li) as he works his job in an aquarium and struggles to look after his 21 year old autisticAutism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
son Dafu (Wen Zhang
Wen Zhang
Wen Zhang is a Chinese actor.After graduating from China's Central Academy of Drama in 2006, he starred in many popular TV dramas including You Are Smiling, While I am Weeping, Bloom of Youth and The Song of Youth.During 2007 and 2008, Wen became well known for his roles as Xiang Nan in hit TV...
). Sam has single handedly brought up his son since his wife passed away 14 years ago and looks after him day and night attempting to help him learn basic tasks in order to care for himself, as well as searching for a home for his son before he passes away. As the story progresses, the growing relationship between father and son as well as the community around them become clearer. Ling ling (Kwai Lun-mei
Kwai Lun-mei
Kwai Lun-Mei is a Taiwanese actress. She started her acting career in the movie Blue Gate Crossing as Meng Ke Rou. Lun-Mei then appeared in a few more movies before she went on to gain more recognition in the movie Secret directed by Jay Chou, which Kwai acted as the female lead, Lu Xiao Yu with...
) plays the role of a clown who is part of a small traveling circus (they perform in the aquarium for a short period of time) and who gets on well with Dafu, leading to a close friendship between them.
Though Dafu struggles to learn many basic tasks, Sam perseveres in teaching his son the tasks that he will need to know how to perform himself once his father dies. Meanwhile, a the principal of the boarding school for mentally challenged children that Dafu attended as a child finally recommends Dafu to a newly opened institution where he can stay after his father dies.
Dafu continues learning. Ling Ling, knowing that she is about to have to leave with her circus, teaches Dafu to pick up the phone in the aquarium when he hears it, and she will talk to him. Sam, for the first time, swims in the aquarium with his son, dressed up as a sea turtle, telling his son not to be afraid when he is gone; he will be like the turtles in the aquarium, always swimming close by with him.
Ling Ling leaves with her circus. Sam eventually dies, and his funeral is attended by close friends and family. After the funeral, Dafu is seen doing some of the things that his father struggled so much to teach him with success. He cooks by himself, knows how to ride the bus, and picks up the phone when Ling Ling calls. It is implied that from then on, Dafu will know how to lead his life on his own, though he still has Sam's old friends helping him along the way.
Cast
| Cast | Role |
| Jet Li Jet Li The fame gained by his sports winnings led to a career as a martial arts film star, beginning in mainland China and then continuing into Hong Kong. Li acquired his screen name in 1982 in the Philippines when a publicity company thought his real name was too hard to pronounce... |
Sam Wong / Wang Xincheng |
| Wen Zhang Wen Zhang Wen Zhang is a Chinese actor.After graduating from China's Central Academy of Drama in 2006, he starred in many popular TV dramas including You Are Smiling, While I am Weeping, Bloom of Youth and The Song of Youth.During 2007 and 2008, Wen became well known for his roles as Xiang Nan in hit TV... |
David / Dafu |
| Kwai Lun-mei Kwai Lun-mei Kwai Lun-Mei is a Taiwanese actress. She started her acting career in the movie Blue Gate Crossing as Meng Ke Rou. Lun-Mei then appeared in a few more movies before she went on to gain more recognition in the movie Secret directed by Jay Chou, which Kwai acted as the female lead, Lu Xiao Yu with... |
Ling |
| Zhu Yuanyuan | Madam Chai |
| Dong Yong | Director Tang |
| Gao Yuanyuan Gao Yuanyuan Gao Yuanyuan is a Chinese actress.-Biography:Gao was born in Beijing on October 5, 1979 and entered the entertainment industry in 1996. Known for her fresh looks and chaste spirit, Gao, unlike other mainland Chinese actresses, did not graduate from any drama academic institutions... |
Sam Wong's deceased wife/Dafu's mother |
| Yan Minqiu | Principal Liu |
| Chen Rui | Xia Ya |
| Ashton Chen Ashton Chen Ashton Chen , is a Mainland Chinese actor and martial artist. He has been a disciple of Shi Yongxin, the current abbot of the Shaolin Temple, since he was two years old. Originally known as "Chen Xiao-long" , Ashton was given a Dharma name-- "Shi Xiao-long" by the abbot... |
|
| Cao Bingkun | |
| Ma Zihan | |
Jet Li
Jet Li promoted the movie by visiting the dolphins at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park with a small group of mentally handicapped and autistic adults.Jet Li also was quoted saying “Nowadays everyone is making blockbusters. Making a seven million Chinese yuan (1 million US dollars) movie requires a lot of sincerity,” Li told reporters in Hong Kong. “This movie is about sincerity. It shows that in this day and age that filmmakers are willing to do something for society.” The father's selfless love for his son touched Li, a father of four children himself. "I cried a lot when reading the script," Li .
“I hope everyone can examine what is the most important relationship in life – the relationship between parent and child,” he said.
“I met some autistic children last year when I was doing charity work. When I read the script, I cried,” Li said, “I hope to express gratitude to all the parents in the world through the film.”
Jet Li did not take any pay for the film but was said to have taken a cut from the profits.
For an actor who could have easily demanded more than a hundred million yuan to appear in a film, what could have caused Jet Li to accept a role in Ocean Heaven, which had a budget of a mere seven million? The story, for one thing — Jet Li hopes it will inspire people to pay more attention and dedicate their compassion to charity. (Appropriately, TIME magazine named Jet Li one of its Most Influential People this year for his work with his One Foundation
One Foundation
The One Foundation , also called Red Cross Society of China Jet Li One Foundation Project, was founded by Chinese Red Cross ambassador Jet Li in April 2007...
.) He also reveals that four or five years ago, his nephew had been diagnosed with autism. His nephew is now better, but this incident made him realize how important it is to offer attention and care to those who are affected.
He also admits that it was not easy to interpret his character. Because Jet Li’s father died when he was two years old, he didn’t understand the concept of the word “father” for a long time. When he was filming The Shaolin Temple, there was a line where he had to yell bà ba (dad), which he found himself unable to say: “In the end, the director changed it to diē (another word for dad). I thought diē had nothing to do with me, so I could say it. It wasn’t until I became a father that I clearly understood what this role of a father meant.” Another difficulty is that Li can't swim, but he eventually swam as the story required.
Wen Zhang
In order to portray this character well, Wen ZhangWen Zhang
Wen Zhang is a Chinese actor.After graduating from China's Central Academy of Drama in 2006, he starred in many popular TV dramas including You Are Smiling, While I am Weeping, Bloom of Youth and The Song of Youth.During 2007 and 2008, Wen became well known for his roles as Xiang Nan in hit TV...
(playing Dafu) went swimming every day. He previously did not know how to swim, but because swimming and diving are his character’s strong points, he became an expert swimmer. He also visited an autism school every day, working to understand the students’ way of thinking.
Shanghai Media Awards
CCTV Movie Channel Media Awards 2010- Won Best Film: Ocean Heaven 2010
- Won Best New Director: XUE Xiaolu 2010
- Won Best Actor: Wen Zhang 2010
- Nominated for Golden Goblet award
Theme songs
- "Said Goodbye" (說了再見) by Jay ChouJay ChouJay Chou is a Taiwanese musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer, actor and director who has won the World Music Award four times. In 1998 he was discovered in a talent contest where he displayed his piano and song-writing skills. Over the next two years, he was hired to compose for...
- "Ocean Heaven" (海洋天堂) by Kwai Lun-meiKwai Lun-meiKwai Lun-Mei is a Taiwanese actress. She started her acting career in the movie Blue Gate Crossing as Meng Ke Rou. Lun-Mei then appeared in a few more movies before she went on to gain more recognition in the movie Secret directed by Jay Chou, which Kwai acted as the female lead, Lu Xiao Yu with...
- Gui Lunmei "Ocean Heaven" composed by Joe HisaishiJoe Hisaishi, known professionally as , is a composer and director known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.While possessing a stylistically distinct sound, Hisaishi's music has been known to explore and incorporate different genres, including minimalist, experimental electronic,...
Reception
Oceans Heaven has had particularly good reviews getting very high ratings. On IMDb, it received a rating of 7.9/10.The film also received a high 4/5 from the China Post site with a detailed and heart filled review
External links
- Hong Kong Cinemagic - Ocean Heaven
- http://yellowcranestower.blogspot.com/2010/06/ocean-heaven-beijing-premiere.html
- http://hktopten.blogspot.com/2010/05/20100506-jet-lis-new-film-calls-for.html
- ジェット・リーの『海洋天堂』を日本で観たい！ [Japanese]