Ebisuno92's Weekend Movie Picks Takakura's Go-ichi Takata is a fisherman living in a village on the northwest coast of Japan who is summoned to Tokyo by his daughter-in-law when his long-estranged son Ken-ichi (Kiichi Nakai) falls ill and is soon diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. When Ken-ichi refuses to see his father, Takata, overcome with a sense of failure as a parent, decides that he must complete a mission for his dying son. A Tokyo University Asian folk arts specialist, Ken-ichi had recently travelled to a remote mountain village in southern China's Yunnan province to film the celebrated opera star Li Jiamin (who, in effect, plays himself). Since Li was too ill at that time to perform his famous "Riding Alone" role, Ken-ichi promised he would return to film him the following year. (Source: AsianWiki) ~~ Co-production with Japan. Edit Translation
- English
- Ελληνικά
- Türkçe
- Українська
- Native Title: 千里走单骑
- Also Known As: Qian Li Zou Dan Qi , 千里走單騎
- Screenwriter & Director: Zhang Yi Mou
- Screenwriter: Zou Jing Zhi
- Director: Furuhata Yasuo
- Genres: Drama, Documentary
Cast & Credits
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![Takakura Ken in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)]( "Takakura Ken in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)")
Takakura Ken Main Role -
![Terajima Shinobu in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)]( "Terajima Shinobu in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)")
Terajima ShinobuTakata RieSupport Role -
![Qiu Lin in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)]( "Qiu Lin in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)")
Qiu LinLingoSupport Role -
![Jiang Wen in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)]( "Jiang Wen in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)")
Jiang WenJasmineSupport Role -
![Yang Zhen Bo in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)]( "Yang Zhen Bo in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)")
Yang Zhen BoYang YangSupport Role -
![Li Jia Min in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)]( "Li Jia Min in Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles Chinese Movie (2005)")
Li Jia MinLi Jia MinSupport Role
Photos
Reviews
Truly brilliant across the board. As the special feature said, since he'd made these world-renowned blockbuster films, he could pretty much do what he wanted with what cast he wanted. The big names were mostly from the Japanese side of the cast, but the Chinese used virtually all amateurs. Even actual tour guides. And it was incredible. Yimou Zhang is officially a genius, in my mind. It made for a very natural and beautiful feeling. I really can't even describe how moved I was by this film.
Takakura Ken was absolutely incredibly. He reminds me of a couple of older men I know, and probably will you too. Those rough, silent men that struggle to express themselves. And the quietly powerful emotion this actor gets across is simply mind-blowing. Not to mention the great acting from the little boy.
I also was able to see parts of China that I didn't realize existed. Very rough country that reminds me a lot of different places I've visited in western U.S, but unique at the same time.
I would describe this as a quiet film but with so, so much depth. This is not a movie I will easily forget and will end up purchasing before too long. Don't miss this one!
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Asides from that, true to his style, Yimou has once again succeeded in making a very visually beautiful movie. As usual, just like in his previous works House of the Flying Daggers, Hero, or Raise the Red Lanterns, the cinematography presented on this movie is also breathtaking and dazzling.
And then there's Takakura Ken, which one can consider as one of the "giants" in Japanese cinema. He brilliantly portrays Takata-san as a quiet and likeable man who’s drowning in sorrow. But it is unfair to focus solely on his performance, because everyone else in the cast was amazing. I was especially captivated by the bright young actor who plays Yang Yang. His mischivieous, distrustful stubborn-smudged face, is ironically so loveable that you just wanna hug him and pinch his cheeks.
For me, this is by far, the best of Yimou's movie that I have watched, and it’s a worthy addition to my list of favourite films.
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