Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Journey to the Western Xia (1997)
Director: Lu Wei
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
The directorial debut of Lu Wei, who scripted Farewell My Concubine, is another historical drama, this time set in the 11th century. A group of warlike 'tax-collectors' from the Tangut tribe in the province of Xixia forcibly take ten boys from a defenceless Chinese village as their tithe; when one of the infants disappears, the leader abducts a pregnant woman to avert the Emperor's wrath. But the cost of duty is high. Making splendid use of the north western landscapes (though the camerawork is raw and gutsy rather than abstract and picturesque), this is a vigorous if slightly predictable tale of barbarism modified by respect, sympathy and suffering.Author: GA
Cast & crew
Director: Lu Wei
Producer: Zhang Peimin
Cast: Ni Dahong, Badema, Wang Ning, Gong Qujia full cast
Genre(s): Period/Swashbucklers
Duration: 99 mins
Top Stories
Ridley Scott interview
Director Ridley Scott tells Cath Clarke why he's making a science fiction comeback
Cannes Film Festival 2012: half-time report
Dave Calhoun reports on the hits, misses and a shocking new masterpiece from Michael Haneke
What do you think?
Post your review now