She, a Chinese (2009)

56% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(139 ratings)

A young woman looking for kicks takes a long walk on the wild side of life in this drama from filmmaker Xiaolu Guo. Restless Li Mei (Huang Lu) was born and raised in a small village in Central China, but she longs for a more exciting life and when fate presents her the opportunity to move to the big… More A young woman looking for kicks takes a long walk on the wild side of life in this drama from filmmaker Xiaolu Guo. Restless Li Mei (Huang Lu) was born and raised in a small village in Central China, but she longs for a more exciting life and when fate presents her the opportunity to move to the big city of Chong-qing, she jumps at the chance. Li Mei lands a job in a factory, but the work bores her, and she falls into a romance with Spikey (Wei Yi Bo), a small-time gangster who occasionally serves as an executioner for his boss. When a hit goes wrong and Spikey is murdered, Li Mei realizes it's not safe for her in Chong-qing, so she grabs his bankroll and slips into London as an illegal immigrant. Between the weather, the food and having to learn English overnight, London doesn't live up to Li Mei's expectations, and while she's able to stay in the country thanks to a marriage of convenience with a good hearted teacher (Geoffrey Hutchings), she wants more and becomes the lover of a small-time restaurateur (Chris Ryman). Zhongguo Guniang (aka She, A Chinese) received its North American premiere at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Xiaolu Guo
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Dec 31, 2009 Wide
Studio: UK Film Council

Critic Reviews

Anna Smith, Empire Magazine
Curious and interesting in many respects but emotionally light-weight and unfulfilling.
Nina Caplan, Time Out
This would be depressing, except that Mei is a delight: a feisty, shrewd young woman, uneducated but intelligent and more than capable of surviving the brickbats life keeps throwing at her.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
There are few migrant clichÃ (C)s here, just an intimate portrait of a young girl trying to work out who she is and where she wants to be. The first part of the film is more successful than the rather meandering UK-based second half.
Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]
Bold and unparochial in a doggedly low-key style.
David Gritten, Daily Telegraph
Unhappily, thereâ(TM)s no dramatic arc here, just a series of encounters with unsuitable or undesirable men. Writer-director Xiaolu Guo puts her heroine through trying ordeals, but her character remains elusive.
Tom Seymour, Little White Lies
The sparse scaffholding of this film is at once enigmatic and illuminating, revealing a quiet political literacy.
Tom Dawson, Total Film
The functionally photographed She, A Chinese isn't at all lacking in thematic ambitions, but there's a disappointing sketchiness to the storytelling and Lu's opaque central turn hinders an emotional engagement in her character's quest.
Trevor Johnston, Radio Times
An intriguing, keenly observed journey, but one that demands too much patience from the audience.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
An engaging, impressively directed and fantastically acted drama that's well worth seeking out.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Cast

Chris Ryman

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