Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker

Starring:Jing Ning, Gang Wu (II), Xiaorui Zhao, Yang Gao, Xu Zhengyun, Liang Zhao, Ju Xingmao, Yusheng Li, Lu Hui, Wang Liyuan, Bolin Zhang
Director: Ping He
Studio: Live / Artisan
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

This is an initially fascinating but ultimately wearying tale of forbidden love along the Yellow River in turn-of-the-century China. Niu Bao (Wu Gang), a talented but immature artist, is hired by the heir of a fireworks empire to restore paintings in the family's grand factory-compound. Bao obliges the "master," who is actually a young woman named Chunzhi (Jing Ning). The film's inherent, powerful metaphors--a fireworks dynasty literally sitting on a massive powder keg, a violent river that isolates Chunzhi's citadel from the rest of the world--are tremendously compelling. By the middle of the script, however, there isn't much left to say about Bao and Zhi's doomed affair; yet director Ping He keeps saying it over and over again. --Tom Keogh

Description

Set against the close of the Ching Dynasty at the turn of the century, this tale of forbidden love and loyalty ignites the screen with passion. With no male heirs to run their fireworks factory, the Chai family's beautiful daughter has been groomed for the role of master. Renounced of her femininity, she is clothed like a man and forbidden to marry, a role which she dutifully accepts until a rebellious young artist becomes employed at the factory. He unleashes in her an unbridled passion that challenges her loyalty to her ancestral heritage and threatens the tradition that has bound her family with the people of the factory, leading to an explosive climax that will change their lives forever.

Customer Reviews:

A Firecracker of Any Other Color............2000-08-22

One of my many recent excursions to the Foreign section at the video store found what I hoped would yet further encourage my new love for Chinese film. Not having much experience with them before, I was delighted that there was more to it than Bruce Lee. After saturating myself with Gong Li movies, I took home "Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker", and fell in love with it right up to the end. I felt I had been cheated, that it was a cop-out. Every time he went away, either she ran after him or he ran back to her. Cinematic, sensual, and romantic, this film still disappointed. There was no right answer for this couple's predicament, and there was no compromise... on anyone's part. I want to give this movie two ratings. For the entire movie up to the last four minutes, The movie can have 4 stars. For the ending, the movie can have 1 star.

Confusion reigns.........2000-07-05

The best aspect of this movie is the location and the scenery. Beautiful filming but a plot with too many blanks and questions. I won't give away the ending but it was stupid and by that time I didn't care what happened to the hero. I usually love Chinese dramas but this one missed with its plot of unrequited love being dragged out too long, and not making much sense.

Breathtaking love story!.......2000-04-30

This a beautiful story of unrequited love,passion felt and denied,jealousy,rivalry,and sacrifice.The actress who played"The Master"brings an incredible sensitivity to her role.I felt for Niu Bao as he falls in love with the unattainable. My utter contempt for Mann grew with each passing moment! Well worth seeing again and again!

Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker was a beautiful movie.......1999-11-07

It told a story of love lost in a way that makes everyone think about how it would be to live in those times and not be able to choose who you want to be with.

The ending will blow you away.......1999-10-27

This was really an interesting and intense story of illicit love during the turn of the century in China. The camera work and colors were spellbinding. As with most chinese films with english subtitles, you must view it at least 2-3 times to really appreciate it. I guess I really liked this film because not only did it seem historically accurate but also the characters were really believable. The fireworks competition at the end was as suspenseful as a gunfight. And the ending is not your everyday hollywood sugar coated junk.

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