Lao An
Color/78min/DV/2008
Location: Beijing
By: Yang Lina
Festivals and Awards£º
2008 Vancouver International Film Festival
2008 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
Program Note:
At nearly ninety years of age, Lao An is a martial arts master. He has also forged a heated affair with his dancing partner at a public park Xiao Wei, a cause of bitter jealousy for his lifelong wife. When Lao An learns through friends that Xiao Wei died of a stroke, he is heartbroken, but also forced to seek out a new partner. In his attempt to present the unadulterated truth about the man¡¯s encounters, the director weaves a plot worthy of a classic soap opera. This is a vivid account of a life, full of joy and tragedy.
Director:
I like old people, including Lao An. He has a passion for life and isn¡¯t afraid to express himself. In his words, he spent most of his energy in youth on work and sports, and after a long and arduous path, has finally come to understand the meaning of freedom. There¡¯s nothing wrong with his love for Xiao Wei, as his relationship with his wife was at a dead end. While I was making the film I often ruminated on morality and self-examination, but that led to nothing. I even came to see Xiao Wei as fortunate, because she extended her love to him all the way to the gates of heaven.
Yang Lina
Originally a dance and stage performer, Lina Yang began making documentary films in 1996. Her work Old Men was awarded the Excellence Award in the New Asian Currents category at the 1999 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival, the ¡°Prix du jury¡± at the 2000 edition of Cin¨¦ma du r¨¦el, as well as the Golden Dove and Audience Award at the 2001 DOK Leipzig.
Filmography£º
Old Men (¡°Laotou¡±)£¨1999£©
Lao An (¡°Lao An¡±)£¨2007£©
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