The Bird People in China (1998)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Reid V

  
  Miike's film tells a story of wonder, of finding yourself in the most unlikely of places, and of the encroachment of modernity. While most people praise this film for its lack of brutality which permeates most of the other films in Miike's cannon, as a stand alone film I… More
  Miike's film tells a story of wonder, of finding yourself in the most unlikely of places, and of the encroachment of modernity. While most people praise this film for its lack of brutality which permeates most of the other films in Miike's cannon, as a stand alone film I found it a little underwhelming. While I enjoyed many of the themes that this film explored, I found myself at a distant from what the characters were experiencing. There is a sense of serenity that flows over much of the film. While this makes for some beautiful moments, it unfortunately makes some of the more pivotal scenes feeling lifeless and hard to really immerse yourself in. Maybe it is a cultural thing. Could it be that all of the melodrama I ingest on a daily basis has rendered me unable to really appreciate emotions that are a little more understated? Who knows? But until I grow up a little bit or give this film another viewing, I will sadly be remembering this film with little enthusiasm.

• Jonathan H

  
  For those who question Miike's versatility, I present Exhibit A, The Bird People in China. Genre-bending, insightful and poetic, this film displays the great humanistic touches that contradict Miike's reputation as hyper violent and sexual filmmaker. Bird People begins as a… More
  For those who question Miike's versatility, I present Exhibit A, The Bird People in China. Genre-bending, insightful and poetic, this film displays the great humanistic touches that contradict Miike's reputation as hyper violent and sexual filmmaker. Bird People begins as a quirky, gently comic adventure story and gradually morphs into an intriguing exploration of the very nature of human emotion, loaded with symbolism, a deep, true warmth and some utterly terrific imagery. To analyze the film's rabid lust-for-life philosophy and examine the complexities of the script would take another article entirely, but in short, Miike's wild directorial flair continually pushes the question of whether technological progress, modern day civility and even spoken language itself are adversaries or allies to man's untamed desire to be free. This is achieved through a variety of reasons, but a few worth mentioning: the graceful nature in which it was shot, and Miike's trademark humor--self-deprecating, occasionally misanthropic and surreal, but ultimately biting. Perhaps what I liked most about the film was that it resisted the urge to draw a line in the sand with regards to the themes it developed. Is the film for or against the influx of technology and modernization? I think you can make a good case for both sides. That wisely keeps The Bird People in China from being too moralizing, and more... well, human.

• Arash X

  
  This kind of movies are hardly my type but TBPIC's approach is fun, adoring & impressive, Somehow loses its focus near the end but that's ok, This along with Happiness of Katakuris & Gozu totally changed my mind about Miike & I'll definitely check his other… More
  This kind of movies are hardly my type but TBPIC's approach is fun, adoring & impressive, Somehow loses its focus near the end but that's ok, This along with Happiness of Katakuris & Gozu totally changed my mind about Miike & I'll definitely check his other works

• Saskia D

  
  I'm sorry to say it, but I was a little disappointed after seeing this. Although the movie has a beautiful message, it didn't quite tap into the magic it promises in the trailer and the potential the story in itself has. This could be because I had different expectations… More
  I'm sorry to say it, but I was a little disappointed after seeing this. Although the movie has a beautiful message, it didn't quite tap into the magic it promises in the trailer and the potential the story in itself has. This could be because I had different expectations of it or because of the choices the director (Miike) made on the 'kind' of movie it should be. I've only seen a few of Miike's movies, but this one is pretty serious if you line it up next to the others. I'm curious on how the movie would turn out if somebody else rearranged an directed it, suggestions anybody?

• Stella D

  
  a lovely film and not at all what one expects from the director of ichi the killer and audition. a young japanese businessman and a crazy yakuza are sent on a road trip to a remote part of china, looking for jade and finding a mystery. it's funny and touching and haunting and a… More
  a lovely film and not at all what one expects from the director of ichi the killer and audition. a young japanese businessman and a crazy yakuza are sent on a road trip to a remote part of china, looking for jade and finding a mystery. it's funny and touching and haunting and a beautiful tribute to the power of dreams. bravo!

• El Hombre I

  
  Those who know Japanese cult director Takashi Miike only through his shock and gore films, such as Ichi the Killer and Audition which are both absolute classics of the genre, will be in for a surprise with The Bird People of China. Bird People stands as absolute proof that, although… More
  Those who know Japanese cult director Takashi Miike only through his shock and gore films, such as Ichi the Killer and Audition which are both absolute classics of the genre, will be in for a surprise with The Bird People of China. Bird People stands as absolute proof that, although Miike will likely always be best known for his more extreme films, the man has a surprising degree of depth to him and is more than capable of turning out world class serious film. It's the sort of film that stands out in any director's filmography, but even more in Miike's catalog. It shows his versatility while telling a story, and focuses highly on visuals with characters who are full of depth and humor, built upon layer by layer, emotionally drained one by one and built back together in one film. Of all of Miike's dramas I have seen, it's the best and says so much for him as a director that it shouldn't be missed. If you consider yourself an admirer of Takashi Miike, there's no excuse for missing this film. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view&current=BirdPeople.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/BirdPeople.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Tsubaki S

  
  A much calmer film from Miike, showing he can do much more things than most people give him credit for. Surprisingly enough the film avoids cheap sentimental tricks that you would expect from a crowd-pleaser affair. The story and characters unfold in a sincere way, the change the… More
  A much calmer film from Miike, showing he can do much more things than most people give him credit for. Surprisingly enough the film avoids cheap sentimental tricks that you would expect from a crowd-pleaser affair. The story and characters unfold in a sincere way, the change the two main characters have when they encounter the village is beliavable. All this makes "Bird People" something more than just a typicall road movie. A shame that this would not make a single sound in most people radars, either because they think Miike is only good at doing carnages or because this hasn't won any big shot award in some redundant film festival. Must see.

• Lesley N

  
  Japanese businessman and Japanese yakuza travel into remote China looking for jade and finding children with wings instead. Not at all the kind of film Takashi Miike is known for, and all the better for that

• Anthony V

  
  This isn't a typical Takashi Miike shock fest, but actually a touching human drama. Wonderful performances and beautiful photography.

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