Highlights the rebellious young generation of artists in China fighting for political emancipation, artistic freedom and creating a cultural golden age during the 1980s - a significant decade of transformational change. Interweaving six main characters' memories with the director's personal narration, the film embarks on an emotional journey and tells a story of being passionate and idealistic before dreams are dashed to pieces.
중국 연변과 북한 함경도를 사이에 둔 두만강 인근의 한 조선족 마을. 할아버지와 누이와 함께 사는 열 두 살 창호는 먹을 것을 구하려고 강을 넘나드는 또래의 북한 소년 정진과 우연히 친구가 된다. 처음엔 축구시합 출전 약속으로 시작된 거래였지만 어느새 의리가 생긴 것. 하지만 탈북자들이 마을 주민들에게 크고 작은 피해를 입히면서, 점점 소년들 사이에도 작은 균열이 생긴다. 그러던 어느 날, 누이 순희가 탈북자에게 겁탈당한 사실을 알게 된 창호는 분노한 나머지 정진을 때리며 매몰차게 내친다. 그럼에도 정진은 창호와 약속한 아랫마을 아이들과의 축구시합을 위해 또 다시 두만강을 건너 마을에 나타나는데…
Sitian, a Chinese American conductor, returns to China to give a concert and to find her three siblings again, after having been separated from them for years after the death of their parents.
Filmmaker Ning Ying returns to her favorite theme – the gradual decay of traditional Chinese values and culture at the dawn of the 21st century – in this low-key drama. Desi (Yu Lei) is a cab driver who has recently broken up with his wife. Lonely, Desi is searching for a new love, and as he drifts through Beijing in search of fares and a girlfriend, he sees a city that is increasingly bending to the influence of the West, with traditional pastimes and customs forced to make way for the onslaught of the free-market economy. Xia Ri Nuan Yangyang has been screened on the international film festival circuit in two different versions; the cut shown at the 2001 Rotterdam Film Festival ran 99 minutes, while the film was only 79 minutes when it appeared at the Berlin Film Festival that same year.
