East Palace West Palace (Dong gong xi gong) (Behind the Forbidden City) (1996)

60% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
56% of users liked it
(801 ratings)

This sequel to A Kid in King Arthur's Court follows the adventures of a teenage pizza delivery driver who finds a magic lamp and soon has a genie on his side. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Zhang Yuan
Genres: Drama, Kids & Family, Art House & International

In Theaters: Jun 13, 1998 Wide
On DVD: Jul 28, 1998
Studio: Strand Releasing

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though too verbose and static, it's the first film to deal explicitly with gay life in China, and as such adds a panel to the growing body of movies about sexual politics in rigid societies.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Sua inegável relevância política e social (especialmente à época de seu lançamento) infelizmente não se traduz em qualidade narrativa.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Feels like a stage play with two characters in a single room, but the way the story delicately unfolds keeps us gripped.
Kevin Lally, Film Journal International
[Has] a sophistication and haunting complexity that would be the pride of any open Western auteur.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The Chinese authorities were not pleased with this work, supposedly the first openly gay film to come out of Red China.