Electric Shadows, 2005
Director: Jiang Xiao
Origin: China
Language: Mandarin
Running time: 93 min
Set in modern-day Beijing and 1970s Ningxia, director Xiao Jiang's debut feature explores the power of movies in launching dreams and creating memories. After a bicycle collision leaves Mao Dabing (Xia Yu) with a lump on his head, he promises Ling Ling (Qi Zhongyang), the girl he hit, that he'll care for her fish while she's recuperating. When he stumbles across her diary, he learns the truth about her past -- which rekindles his love of cinema. (from Netflix.com)
U.S. box office: $7,129
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Review of last week's film (Martha Marcy May Marlene, 4 stars)
Steven says: Anchored by a great performance by Mary-Kate and Ashley's younger sister, Elizabeth Olsen, this movie messes with your head. What's real? What's a memory? What is simply paranoia? One viewer compared it to Charles Manson's "Helter Skelter". While I don't always like flashbacks, they served real purpose in this film, a way for us to sympathize with the main character, even as those around her seem oblivious to her real needs. Lots of great interpretations for the ending, too.
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