Trouble Makers
Encyclopedia
Trouble Makers is a 2006 Chinese black comedy
film written and directed by Cao Baoping
. It was Cao's solo directorial debut, though Cao had previously co-directed the film Absolute Emotion in 2001. Based on Que Diwei's novella, "Village Operation," which was published in a magazine in 2000, Trouble Makers had difficulty traversing the Chinese censors and often found itself lacking funds until 2005. As a result, Cao eventually inserted a happy ending that differed from ending in the original novella.
province) who decide to finally run the criminal Xiong Brothers out of their homes. The Xiongs have managed to build a criminal "empire" in the small town even managing to elect themselves the mayor and official accountant of Black Well Village. Two other brothers enforce the Xiongs' will with violence and intimidation. The brothers, known by the political-infused moniker, the Gang of Four
, smuggle salt and generally terrorize the villagers of Black Well.
When Ye Guangrong, the nerdy and nervous local party secretary has had enough, he rounds up several other oppressed villagers including Tugua, an account, and Dawang, whose wife was raped by one of the brothers, to clean up the village.
Guangrong and his vigilante's quickly find themselves over their heads. Hiring less than savory characters like "Dog Balls," a kung-fu obsessed buffoon, Guangrong and his men give themselves officious sounding military titles. As events spiral out of control, a confrontation between the dangerous Xiong Brothers and Guangrong's vigilantes seems inevitable.
on June 30, 2007. The year before, the film also premiered at several other boutique festivals, including the International Thessaloniki Film Festival, which focuses on first and second features. At the 2006 Shanghai International Film Festival
, Trouble Makers won the jury prize at the Asia New Talent side-competition.
Black comedy
A black comedy, or dark comedy, is a comic work that employs black humor or gallows humor. The definition of black humor is problematic; it has been argued that it corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor; and that, as humor has been defined since Freud as a comedic act that anesthetizes...
film written and directed by Cao Baoping
Cao Baoping
Cao Baoping is a Chinese film director. He has emerged in recent years as a figure in China's "midrange" cinema industry. Some industry watchers, like Variety, have situated directors like Cao between the older fifth generation directors, such as Chen Kaige or Zhang Yimou, who have achieved major...
. It was Cao's solo directorial debut, though Cao had previously co-directed the film Absolute Emotion in 2001. Based on Que Diwei's novella, "Village Operation," which was published in a magazine in 2000, Trouble Makers had difficulty traversing the Chinese censors and often found itself lacking funds until 2005. As a result, Cao eventually inserted a happy ending that differed from ending in the original novella.
Plot
Trouble Makers tells the story of four simple men living in Black Well Village (in rural YunnanYunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
province) who decide to finally run the criminal Xiong Brothers out of their homes. The Xiongs have managed to build a criminal "empire" in the small town even managing to elect themselves the mayor and official accountant of Black Well Village. Two other brothers enforce the Xiongs' will with violence and intimidation. The brothers, known by the political-infused moniker, the Gang of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
, smuggle salt and generally terrorize the villagers of Black Well.
When Ye Guangrong, the nerdy and nervous local party secretary has had enough, he rounds up several other oppressed villagers including Tugua, an account, and Dawang, whose wife was raped by one of the brothers, to clean up the village.
Guangrong and his vigilante's quickly find themselves over their heads. Hiring less than savory characters like "Dog Balls," a kung-fu obsessed buffoon, Guangrong and his men give themselves officious sounding military titles. As events spiral out of control, a confrontation between the dangerous Xiong Brothers and Guangrong's vigilantes seems inevitable.
Cast
- Li Xiaobo as Xiong Brother No. 1, the eldest of the four brothers who terrorize Dragon Well Village.
- Kong Qingsan as Xiong Brother No. 2, the second eldest of the brothers, he has appointed himself as the village accountant.
- Wan Yanhui as Xiong Brother No. 3, the village's "mayor."
- Zhi Yu as Xiong Brother No. 4, the youngest of the brothers, and a spikey haired punk he serves as the brothers' enforcer.
- Wu GangWu GangWu Gang, or Wu Kang, is a character in Chinese folklore and Taoism. He is known for endlessly cutting down a self-healing Bay Laurel on the Moon. The story has often been associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival...
as Party Secretary Ye Guangrong, the a nervous low-level Communist official who leads the opposition to the gang - Wang Shujun as Tugua, a cowardly accountant.
- Li Changyuan as Dawang, another villager who has been terrorized by the Xiongs
- He Yunqing as Shuigen
- Pu Xiaohu as Dog Balls, a local recruited by Guangrong who is obsessed with kung fu.
Release
Trouble Makers was premiered first in the small village in Yunnan where it was filmed. From there, it was screened at numerous interntanional film festivals and received its United States Premiere at the New York Asian Film FestivalNew York Asian Film Festival
The New York Asian Film Festival was first held in 2002, growing out of the previous year's New York Korean Film Festival...
on June 30, 2007. The year before, the film also premiered at several other boutique festivals, including the International Thessaloniki Film Festival, which focuses on first and second features. At the 2006 Shanghai International Film Festival
2006 Shanghai International Film Festival
The 2006 Shanghai International Film Festival was the ninth such festival to be held, and took place over the course of two weeks between June 17 and June 25, 2006....
, Trouble Makers won the jury prize at the Asia New Talent side-competition.