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Information

A.k.a.
The World
Year
2004
Runtime
143 min.
Director
Zhangke Jia
Genre
Drama
Rating *
7.1
Votes *
2,065
Checks
802
Favs
57
Dislikes
13
Favs/checks
7.1% (1:14)
Favs/dislikes
4:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. Siskoid's avatar

    Siskoid

    The World may be Jia Zhangke's first state-sanctioned film, but it still portrays the same China I saw in Unknown Pleasures (the only other film of his I've seen to date), a China filled with poverty, migrant workers, and listless youth. The trick here is that it's shot in and around the World theme park in Beijing, which simulates the experience of travel without having to go anywhere, with airliner "rides" and smaller-scale monuments from around the world in front of which you can take your holiday snaps. The location adds an oddity to many scenes, and in a way makes the story more universal. It could happen anywhere, and seems to. But the bigger metaphor is that the characters are starved for travel, for achievement, for progress, but are stuck in place. But while I respect the premise, I'm not all that engaged in the stories of these park workers. Love affairs fraught with jealousy, a friend from home looking for work, a strange and kind of wonderful ending that's just a little too abrupt... It made ME listless. Oh well. 4 years 1 month ago
  2. chryzsh's avatar

    chryzsh

    Real slow cinema 8 years 5 months ago
  3. Ebbywebby's avatar

    Ebbywebby

    Felt like the state assigned the director to make a film promoting a national theme park, so he just improvised one. Scene by scene. I lasted about an hour before I couldn't bear it any longer. I keep hoping to see a film that encourages me to see MORE Chinese cinema rather than less. 4 years ago
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In 7 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #48 in BIFF's Asian Cinema 100
    BIFF's Asian Cinema 100's icon

    BIFF's Asian Cinema 100

    48
  2. This movie ranks #61 in Tom Vick's Asian Cinema: A Field Guide
    Tom Vick's Asian Cinema: A Field Guide's icon

    Tom Vick's Asian Cinema:…

    61
  3. This movie ranks #146 in Eureka!'s The Masters of Cinema Series
    Eureka!'s The Masters of Cinema Series's icon

    Eureka!'s The Masters of…

    146
  4. This movie ranks #155 in TSPDT's 21st Century's Most Acclaimed Films
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    TSPDT's 21st Century's M…

    155
  5. This movie ranks #170 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2500
    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films: 1001-2500's icon

    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    170
  6. This movie ranks #411 in Cahiers du Cinéma's Annual Top 10 Lists
    Cahiers du Cinéma's Annual Top 10 Lists's icon

    Cahiers du Cinéma's Annu…

    411
  7. This movie ranks #1051 in Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema
    Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema's icon

    Jonathan Rosenbaum's Ess…

    1051
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