I Am Not Madame Bovary 我不是潘金莲
Showtime: Nov 21, 2018 – 6:40PM
128 min.
Director: Xiaogang Feng
Writer: Zhenyun Liu based on his novel
Starring: Bingbing Fan, Chengpeng Dong, Wei Fan
Rated 14A
Mandarin with English subtitles.
I Am Not Madame Bovary had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival where it was screened as a special presentation and went on to win the FIPRESCI prize from the International Federation of Film Critics.
“Bovary” tells the contemporary tale of a peasant woman who feels wronged by China’s justice system in her divorce case, and stubbornly attempts multiple appeals through lower courts, with city mayors and onward to Beijing. As she doggedly pursues justice, she wreaks havoc along the ladder of petty bureaucrats and officials who are far more interested in self-advancement and toadying to their superiors, or simply seek to maintain superficial social harmony.
Feng Xiaoganga is China’s highest profile and most commercially successful director — three of Feng’s previous films have earned China’s selection for the foreign language Oscar. “Bovary” features superstar Fan Bingbing proving her acting abilities in an astonishingly unglamorous role.
On the festival circuit this film has won 16 awards including 2 for best film, an Audience Choice Award and the FIPRESCI prize. Bingbing Fan’s portral of Li Xuelian earned her the Best Actress award at 4 festivals. Feng Xiaoganga’s work on this film earned him 3 Best Director awards.
“Like the fighter she plays, Fan Bingbing holds her own against a big all-male cast who are all against her, and shows off her gifts as a comedienne in a surprisingly low-key role.” -Hollywood Reporter
“It’s a pleasure to look at the screen and to watch the artistry of the entire creative team.” – Sheila O’Malley, RogerEbert.com
