"My Left Hand"
(China)
A Tianjin Film Studio, August First Film Studio, Chinese Armed People's Police Force Political Department production. (International sales: August First, Beijing.) Produced by Liu Yuchun. Executive producers, Ma Hongfei, Zhang Buwang, Ming Zhenjiang. Directed by Chen Guoxing, Qiao Heping. Screenplay, Huang Dan, Zhou Jinxiang; adaptation, Qian Bin, Wang Chen, Liu Jianwei, Chen.
With: Ma Yue, Xu Jun, Lee Youbin, Peng Yu, Song Yuncheng, Guo Haolun, Li Shaofei, Chen Dawei.
Looking like a Chinese army propaganda pic on paper, one-armed soldier drama "My Left Hand" develops some real emotional smarts via strong performances and smooth production values. Further proof, after the enoyable action-drama "Night Raid," that the People's Liberation Army-funded studio August First is upping its game on a tech and story level, pic, co-helmed by Chen Guoxing ("Colors of the Blind"), won't go much further than film weeks but is worth a look by Sinophiles.
Based on the true story of Ding Xiaobing, here renamed Hu Xiaojun, the film opens with Hu (Ma Yue) almost killed during the '80s war against Vietnam and awakening in a hospital to find his right arm missing. Initially ornery, he slowly accepts his fate but won't give up proving he can still be a soldier, or pursuing Fan Chunxiao (Xu Jun), the cute nurse who cared for him. Ma and Xu exhibit a real chemistry -- with one remarkable, six-minute scene, conducted over the phone, in which she fesses up to her real feelings -- while Lee Youbin is also strong as Hu's tough but understanding commanding officer.
Camera (color), Wang Xiaolie; editor, Liu Qing; music, Wang Liguang; art director, Yang Haoyu. Reviewed at Shanghai Film Festival (Panorama), July 21, 2008. Original title: Wode you shou. Running time: 114 MIN.
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