Film review 'The Iron lady' (2011)

Female director Phyllida Lloyd emphases this film on Mrs. Thatcher's twilight years.  After all the glory days of being in power, she was nothing more than an lonely old lady who lived in the memories and the pining of her husband. Although in my opinion, this film is failed to make a full-scared judgement of her entire life, there are some highlights of strong emotional expression punches to the punchline in it. I used it as a reference in my project ' A perfect normal day'

Research study:The Way We Are (HK 2008)

'The way we are' is the winner of 28th Hong Kong film award by one of the most famous Chinese female director  Ann Hui.  "After years we shouted the slogan of the equality of men and women out load, film is still a world which men predominates. In the last 30 years in Hong Kong film industry, we can always see a figure stands among those men-- she might not be fast and effective, she never earns a lot of money, the only thing is: she wants to do this. Although the achievements of her films are mixed, in Hong Kong, even Asia, no one can compare with her." 【1】She directed more than 20 films, emphasing on the subjects of female, society and ageing of population. Nowadays film is deemed to a 'product' rather than a form of art, fewer and fewer directors are able to express themselves without being bothered by 'market' nor‘box office data'. Ann, however, keeps her passion on the story about 'trivia' life of ordinary people 

The story of 'The way we are' is about a single mother Kui who works in the fruit and veg section of a supermarket with a meager income.The life was repeating day after day, she goes back home after work, cooks simple meals, asks her son if there's a free pack of tissue with today's newspaper...There is no dramatic conflicts in the entire film, however, if we digest every details of this film, the undertones bring all colors back to it. It is like a landscape painting of this neighborhood Tin Sui Wei, with solid shape and the sentiments.

There are two leading female characters in this film, single mother Kui and her neighbor Huan Although life is not smooth for them, they hold different attitudes to it. Kui was born in a  poor family in Hong Kong, when she was young, she worked hard in order to sponsor her brothers' education, after 30 years when all her brothers have successful careers , she, however, doesn't enjoy a   experienced the pain of her husband's death and still living in a poky apartment in poor Tian Shui Wei. In the face of the tough situation, she never complains nor oppressed by the reality, she even tries to help Huan with life trivia. On the other hand, Huan suffers a deep depression of her premature death of her daughter. With the set of this fragrant contrast and delicacy plot line this film pays tributes to ordinary and kind-hearted people who toil up and down the hills of life. 

There are a variety of personalities of female characters in Chinese film history. Humans are social animals, no one can avoid to bring symptomatic of his or her own time.  In the early 30's, the traditional Chinese culture was under a inroad of western thoughts, democracy and science were first introduced to this archaic countries, women were inspired to pursue the rights which were deprived from them for more than 3000 years; 50s was the time of war, women were fashioned into warriors without any personal sentiments. However, when in the 1990s, life attributes to the plain, most of us spend a life long being mediocrities. Huan and Kui, as the microcosm of the society, reflect the mentalities of different generation. 

When I was writing the script of my project‘A perfect normal day', I used some of the part as the reference in order to convey the similar emotion of being loneliness, defensive but deep down she is craving for love and care.For instance there are about 10 different scenes of having meals.Seemingly,they are unnecessary and flat but all the important information that reveals the relations and the underlying disagreements, more importantly, the characterizations are drawn in an indeliberately way. In my script there are scenes of my character Ann does the daily routine such as shopping, cleaning, taking pills  and watch the photo album,highlighted her isolated inner world. 

                        Clip 1 Huan cooks and eats alone

clip 2 Kui helps Huan carry to TV 

             clip 3 Huan spents a sleepless night before meeting her son in law





Reference 
【1】<Hong Kong film> magazine the first issue 11/2007

A slow life (Practical work)

This is the experimental project of Diwen Xu ( another MA film practice student with Jools). The aim of this project is to show the natural life style of a person in slow motion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQAnvz6NBuM

A perfect normal day video

This is the first edit version of ‘The perfect normal day' project on vimeo (Link below)

Ann Russell   Anna Mottram

Postman   Michalis Bountoulousis


Script  Xiaoyu Liu

Director Xiaoyu Liu

Editing Xiaoyu Liu

Sound recording  Tango Zhang
                          Xiaoying Cao

Camera  Diwen Xu

Assistant  Meng Lian

Location  Una Lu






https://vimeo.com/72448083

A perfect normal day filming day photos

A perfect normal day film specification

Film location: 39 Watkin street, Nottingham (Location provide: Una Lu) 

Film Date: 07/08/2013 (Sunny day 08:00--16:00) 

Film equipments:( Supported by Nottingham Trent University) 

   Camere (Cannon 7D*2)

   Tripod*1

   cinerig*1

   2*300w Red head lighting kits*1

   Zoomcorder*1

   Shotgun microphone*1 

   Sound record boom *1

Cast

   Ann -- Anna Mottram

   Postman -- Michalis Bountoulousis


Crew

   Director&script&pros  Xiaoyu Liu
   
   Camera   Diwen Xu 

   Sound recording   Tango Zhang& Xiaoying Cao

   Assistant  Meng Lian 

   Supervisor  Phil Nodding  

" Broken spirits" -- Chinese families who lose their only child

The inspiration of my script “A perfect normal day" is from a a Chinese documentary about Chinese family who lose their only child and lifes of those parents. Belong is the link of the video and news report.

The Grief of Chinese Parents Who Lose Their Only Childre

Note: The bombings at the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, struck close to home for us. Our team is based in Boston; our office is just a block away from where the attacks took place. Thank you for praying for our city and particularly for the victims and their families. Please continue to hold them in prayer.

Last week we learned that the attacks in Boston brought immeasurable grief to a family in China.

Lu Lingzi, a 23-year-old Boston University graduate student, was one of three people killed in the Boston Marathon attacks on April 15. She was a native of Shenyang, China, and she was her parents’ only child.

ABC News described her parents’ grief after speaking with Lu’s father:

Speaking through sobs, Lu's father told ABC News in a telephone interview today from his home in northeast China, "This is an extremely painful time for our family."

He said the family has declined several interview requests because, "Every time we speak about this, it is like a dagger in our hearts."

Lu's father said he is in the process of obtaining a visa so he can travel to the United States to claim his daughter's body. She was the only child in a family that adhered to China's one-child policy, he said.

Lu’s parents had scraped together savings in order to help her pursue a graduate degree in statistics in Boston. Her father told of her numerous academic achievements with pride, making it clear that she had embraced every opportunity her parents’ sacrifices had given to her.

Like other only children in China, Lingzi Lu embodied all of her parent’s future hopes and their legacy. She was their promise for wellbeing in old age, too—in China, a child is a parent’s “Social Security”.

Now, Lu’s parents are childless. As Dr. Toni Falbo, a professor at the University of Texas, told ABC: “Everyone is devastated by the loss of a child, but this is like pulling the rug out from under them, without any obvious sense of recovery.”

Sadly, Lingzi Lu’s parents aren’t the only ones in China to face an uncertain future after losing an only child.

Chinese State Media Discusses Plight of Parents who Lose an Only Child

Late last month, over a hundred bereaved parents gathered in Shanghai to release balloons in memory of their children. The Shanghai Daily, a branch of China’s state-run media, covered the occasion and noted the reason for their unusual circumstance.

These parents experience grief, but they also struggle with an added frustration unique to China.  They are among at least 7,000 couples in Shanghai who have lost the only child they were permitted to have under the nation’s One-Child Policy.

According to Tang Chenjia, a social worker who helps such parents, most would have had more children if not for the policy. The Shanghai Daily wrote:

“We hope these parents could turn sorrow into hope through prayer," said Tang Chenjia, a social worker with Shanghai Star Harbor Center, an organization that helps parents whose children died. Tang said the parents usually turn pessimistic. Some became shut-ins or lose their health while others become neighborhood troublemakers.

Tang’s organization is asking the Chinese government to do more for parents who lose their only child. “Most of the parents are in their 50s and 60s, and had only one child due to China's one-child policy,” Tang told the Shanghai Daily.

Right now, the city government gives a stipend to bereaved parents of only children. Yet many do not meet the strict eligibility requirements—for instance, the Shanghai Daily noted that parents are only eligible for a stipend if their child dies after reaching 16 years of age. Even parents who do get this stipend find that it does little to ensure their care in old age. Shanghai gives parents a one-time payment of 5,000 RMB (about $810 USD), and then 150 RMB (about $24 USD) monthly per parent once the parents reach retirement age. In Shanghai, where the cost of living is soaring, the Star Harbor Center is pushing for the government to more—and it’s encouraging to see that the state media is publicizing their efforts.

Please keep Lu Lingzi’s family, and every other bereaved Chinese family, in your prayers.

Top Image: Parents release balloons in honor of their lost children. (Shanghai Daily)

Bibliography

http://www.allgirlsallowed.org/blog/posts/grief-chinese-parents-who-lose-their-only-children （04-08-2013）

A perfect normal day script version 7-- reviewed language

Reviewed by my actress Anna Mottram to make language more natural.

EXT. STREET OF NOTTINGHAM DAY

It’s a typical cloudy and moody Wednesday morning in a quiet

neighborhood in Nottingham UK. ANN, 67, just goes back home

with two bags of groceries in her hands.

A young couple walks pass her, they are Ann’s neighbor Mr.and

Mrs. Li.

MRS.LI

Hi Mrs. Russell,How are you?

Ann gives them a brush off, she keeps her head down, walks

even faster.

IN. ANN’S HOUSE DOORWAY DAY

She fishes out keys from her pocket, opens the door.

ANN

I'mAm home. I got Ravioli today. That

check out boy was...( roll eyes and

sigh) The voucher had onlyjust expired

two days ago. God thisthe room is

filthy.

Ann takes off her coat, starts to do the cleaning. She wipes

the dinning table, mops the floor and waters the plants on

the table. (MONTAGE SEQUENCE)

ANN

At long last someone came to pick

up that dog. How many times has

that stupid animalmutt ruined your orchid

and yet that Greek woman just

wittersrattles on about how isn’their

little Bobby so adorable? (mimic

her voice) You know what...Guess what,she had a

stroke and may not be able to walk

again. (gloating)

Ann sits on the sofa, takes several pills out from a box on

the tea table and swallows them. She looks out of the

window, sighs.

INT.ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY

Someone’s knocking at the door.

ANN

Who is it?

JOEY

Postman, could youopen the door please.

Ann slowly walks towards the door and opens it with a

impatient countenance on her face. Outside is a postman,

JOEY, 30. Today is the first day of work in this

neighborhood.

JOEY

Good morning

ANN

I don’t know you. where has

MR.Miller gone?

JOEY

MR.Miller retired last week.He

asked me to keep an eye on you and

I am ... I'm Joey..., nice to see you.

ANN

I don’t like you young man.

Hang on a minuteWait..You look familiar.You must be

one of thosesome kind of wanted menman on the tele!

JOEY

No no no madam I am definitely

not.I am Joey[U+FF0C]Joey Smith.

Nice to meetsee you.

Joey doesn’t seem to be upset with the comment,instead, he

looks at Ann with a gentle smile.

ANN

Oh my God stop smiling like thatthat smile.You’d

better watch out young man, I don’t

think you want to up setwanna mess up with my

husband....,isn't that right Martin?

Ann pauses for half minute, but there is no response. She

then grabs the box and shuts the door.

Ann opens the box, it appears to be a silk scarves from her

niece Rachel.

(CONTINUED)

ANN

Guess what is it Martin? silk

scarves from Rachel. Oh right she

went to Italy with her husband for

honeymoon. Have you ever heard of a

man who was allergic allergies to everything? Last

time they came over for dinner a

cockroach scared him half to deaththe hell out of

him.ennn.. Does it suit me?

INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM EVENING

Ann is sitting on the sofa with an old photo album on her

hands,the television is on.

ANN

Look at you in that uniform, what

year was that? 1963? It really has

been a long time.

CAMERA ZOOM IN, CLOSE UP TO ANN’S FACE. IT IS TENDERNESS IN

HER FACE WHEN SHE LOOKS AT THE OLD PHOTO FROM ALBUM.

The camera moves on the wall, there’s a old newspaper

clipping with the headline: "Local fire fighter,37,died

after saving 3 people’s lifes"

Fade to black

INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY

ANN opens the door, Joey is standing outside with a big

piece of cake on his hand.

JOEY

Morning Mrs.Russell.

ANN

What?

JOEY

My mum made this...its strawberry cheese

cake, please have a trysome

Mrs.Russell!

ANN

You call thatit cake? Don’t make me

laugh young man. I don’t wanna end

up in hospital.

Ann shuts the door. Joey looks at the cake, shrugs

INT. ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY

Ann is standing by the window, Joey walks pass.

JOEY

Good morning Mrs.Russell

Ann doesn’t reply, she turns around and draws the curtains.

EXT.THE PAVEMENT OUTSIDE ANN’S HOUSE DAY

Ann is on her way back home with two bags of groceries on

her hands. She is a little short of breath. Joey

JOEY

Let me help you Mrs. Russell.

Joey takes the bags before Ann responds him. Ann looks at

him, feels touched.

INT.ANN’S LIVING ROOM DAY

Ann’s watching at the newspaper. Someone knocks at the door.

Ann opens the door, Joey stands outside with a painful face.

JOEY

HiHello Mrs. Russell, I just fell down

and hurt my ankle, can I sit down for a while? awhile

in your home?

ANN

Come on in. I got something for

you.

JOEY

Thank you Mrs.Russell.

ANN

You can call me Ann.

The kettle is boiling. Ann makes tea for Joey. They sit on

the sofa, start chatting.(With background music) Ann seems

less defensive and for the first time in years, she smiles.

FADE TO BLACK

Type words

"It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn’t make

everything all right. It didn’t make anything all right.

Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in

the wake of a startled bird’s flight.

But I will take it. With open arms. Because when spring

comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I

just witnessed the first flake melting."

’The kite runner’--Khaled Hosseini

A perfect normal day story board