Trouble Makers

For the 1948 Bowery Boys film, see Trouble Makers (1948 film).
Trouble Makers
Directed by Cao Baoping
Produced by Zhang Yaoli
Sun Yang
Wang Ping
Cao Baoping
Written by Cao Baoping
Que Diwei (novella)
Starring Li Xiaobo
Kong Qingsan
Wu Gang
Music by Liu Qing
Cinematography Tao Shiwei
Edited by Cao Baoping
Distributed by Infotainment China
Release dates
Shanghai:
June 21, 2006
New York:
June 30, 2007
Running time
100 min.
Country China
Language Mandarin

Trouble Makers (simplified Chinese: 光荣的愤怒; traditional Chinese: 光榮的憤怒; pinyin: Guāngróngde fènnù; literally: "Glorious Indignation") is a 2006 Chinese black comedy film written and directed by Cao Baoping. It was Cao's solo directorial debut, though Cao had previously co-directed the film Absolute Emotion in 2001. Based on Que Diwei's novella, "Village Operation," which was published in a magazine in 2000, Trouble Makers had difficulty traversing the Chinese censors and often found itself lacking funds until 2005.[1] As a result, Cao eventually inserted a happy ending that differed from ending in the original novella.[2]

Plot

Trouble Makers tells the story of four simple men living in Black Well Village (in rural Yunnan province) who decide to finally run the criminal Xiong Brothers out of their homes. The Xiongs have managed to build a criminal "empire" in the small town even managing to elect themselves the mayor and official accountant of Black Well Village. Two other brothers enforce the Xiongs' will with violence and intimidation. The brothers, known by the political-infused moniker, the Gang of Four, smuggle salt and generally terrorize the villagers of Black Well.

When Ye Guangrong, the nerdy and nervous local party secretary has had enough, he rounds up several other oppressed villagers including Tugua, an account, and Dawang, whose wife was raped by one of the brothers, to clean up the village.

Guangrong and his vigilante's quickly find themselves over their heads. Hiring less than savory characters like "Dog Balls," a kung-fu obsessed buffoon, Guangrong and his men give themselves officious sounding military titles. As events spiral out of control, a confrontation between the dangerous Xiong Brothers and Guangrong's vigilantes seems inevitable.

Cast

Release

Trouble Makers was premiered first in the small village in Yunnan where it was filmed. From there, it was screened at numerous international film festivals and received its United States Premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival on June 30, 2007.[3] The year before, the film also premiered at several other boutique festivals, including the International Thessaloniki Film Festival,[4] which focuses on first and second features. At the 2006 Shanghai International Film Festival, Trouble Makers won the jury prize at the Asia New Talent side-competition.[5]

References

  1. Elley, Derek (2006-06-06). "Trouble Makers review". Variety. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  2. Ishizuka, LiAnn (2007-11-02). "Toil and Trouble". Asia Pacific Arts. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  3. "Trouble Makers". New York Asian Film Festival. 2006. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  4. Hoffman, Katja (2006-11-10). "Thessaloniki circles globe". Variety. Retrieved 2008-12-31.
  5. Elley, Derek (2006-06-27). "Shanghai fest puts local pix in spotlight". Variety. Retrieved 2008-12-31.

External links

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