Perspective - Chinese Cinema Today and Tomorrow
Lucky Dog
(Erduo Da You Fu) by ZHANG Meng
China / Korea / Comedy / 2007 / 110'
Starring: FAN Wei, CHENG Shubo, ZHANG Jibo, ZHANG Wenyi, ZHANG Shunan
Synopsis
Lucky Dog is the first film by Zhang Meng. In 2002, he screened a short documentary at the Berlin Film Festival, which was the inspiration for Lucky Dog. ZHANG Meng said he was influenced by Italian neo-realism.
The actor Fan Wei, who plays WANG Kangmei, is a famous Chinese actor who plays also in the excellent film The Road by Zhang Jiarui. Role for which he won the best actor award at the Cairo Festival in 2006.
The film is inspired by his uncle's life. In a town in north-east China, FAN Wei interprets WANG Kangmei, a recently retired railroad worker with talent and humor. For him, life is not easy: his wife is in a hospital, his daughter wants to divorce and his son is idle. His brother cannot treat their elderly father, and WANG's pension is too meager to pay the medical expenses. On a market day, WANG is predicted a future by a computer programm. According to the Chinese proverb the fact of having big ears means good luck... The machine predicts a bright future... Then, he goes to look for a job to make his life easier... He tries with courage and tenacity to be hired as a singer, a shoeshiner and many other small jobs... This is an opportunity for Zhang Meng to draw a lucid portrait of ordinary people with a lot of humor and affection.