THE WORLD

Director: Jia Zhangke
Cast: Zhao Tao, Taisheng Chen
Runtime: 143 minutes
Country: China/Japan/France
Language: Mandarin with English subtitles
Rating: PG (No advisory)

"The movie is long and slow. Either you will fall into its rhythm, or you will grow restless."

Roger Ebert , Chicago Sun-Times

The latest film by acclaimed filmmaker Jia Zhangke (PLATFORM, UNKNOWN PLEASURES), THE WORLD is a lush masterpiece that has been dazzling crowds at festivals the world over, including the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival7.

As the title suggests, THE WORLD is set in a fascinating, miniaturized version of our planet: a 114-acre theme park in Beijing, China that features replicas of major sites and spectacles from around the world, including the Eiffel Tower, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Taj Mahal. Against this backdrop, the film explores the lives of several of the park's employees, including the riveting Zhao Tao, who works as a dancer in the park's nightly performances celebrating the cultures of the world, and her boyfriend Taisheng Chen, a security guard on the sprawling compound.

An exploration of the difficulty of communicating in a modern, globalized world, the film takes an in-depth look at the workings of the theme park, but moves even closer to focus on several characters' attempts to find companionship, human connection and love. This is no easy task in an isolating environment marked more by cell phone use than by face-to-face intimacy.

Jia beautifully weaves together the lives of people who face loss and crumbling dreams while putting on a happy face for the theme park's patrons.

The gorgeous cinematography perfectly captures the vastness of the colourful yet superficial space that has come to replace the real world as a tourist destination. This expertly directed film is sure to be remembered for a long time to come.

"... the first great film of the year."

Jesse Wente - The Andy Barrie Show, CBC Radio