BALZAC AND THE LITTLE
CHINESE SEAMSTRESS
aka BALZAC ET LA PETITE TAILLEUSE CHINOISE

Year: 2002
USA: Empire Pictures
UK: Soda Pictures
Cast: Zhou Xun, Chen Kun, Lui Ye, Cong Zhijun, Wang Shuangbao, Wang Hong Wei
Director: Dai Sijie
Countries: China / France
Language: Mandarin (English subtitles)
USA: 111 mins
UK: 110 mins
UK Certificate: 12A contains one moderate sex scene
USA Release Date: 29 July 2005 (Limited Release - New York)
UK Release Date: 9 May 2003 (Limited Release)
US Distributor
(in French)

Synopsis

BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS opened the Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2002 and has received a nomination for the Best Foreign Film Golden Globe Award. It has also been an Official Selection at the Edinburgh, San Sebastian, Marrakech (in Competition) and Palm Springs International Film Festivals.

Based on the best-selling autobiographical novel of the same name (UK sales: 50,000 copies), written by the film's director Dai Sijie, the film is set in a remote area of Western China during the Cultural Revolution. The film follows two boys through their experience in a re-education camp in Sichuan Province and their love affair with books, music and the local tailor's granddaughter - the little Chinese seamstress. The film boasts commanding performances by all three leads, notably Zhou Xun (BEIJING BICYCLE, SUZHOU RIVER, EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN).