Takashi Miike-Chûgoku no chôjin (’The Bird People in China’) (1998)

Published by Ice Zero | Filed under Video

Wada, a Japanese businessman, has been dispatched by his boss to track down a cache of fabulous jade in Yun Nan where the most distant part of China. Ujiie, a short-tempered Yakuza, has also been sent to make sure the mob gets its proper share of the treasure. They are to be guided by the perpetually jolly but somewhat seedy Shen, who has been to the Jade Village before. Three mismatched men finally reach their destination but soon find something even more precious than jade. There is a fascinating mystery of “Bird People”, people believed their ancestors could fly and that they too posses this ability. In a remote village, Wada meets a blue-eyed Chinese girl who teaches the village children to fly? Artsmagic







A lyrical, visually stunning work that deviates considerably from Takashi Miike’s signature gorefests, BIRD PEOPLE IN CHINA nonetheless explores many of his unifying themes; these include that of outsiders in pursuit of happiness in a foreign land, and a complex and unlikely relationship, played out this time between a mobster and a quiet businessman. Yesasia







Wada is a handsome salaryman who works for a jade company interested in mining a recently-discovered vein that runs through a remote village in China. The company sends Wada to investigate its purity, and en route he encounters a yakuza intent on securing a share of the company’s profits for the mob. Together they set out for the village, guided by Shen, an old Chinese man whose sense of direction is doubtful. Yesasia







But Wada and the Yakuza are in constant conflict, irritating each other at every opportunity. Upon their eventual arrival in the village, they discover a picturesque idyll where the children receive instruction in flying, and during their stay the visitors each gain valuable insights into themselves, ultimately wondering if they should ever leave. The depth of the characters, the breathtaking scenery, and the slow, dreamlike pacing make this film a magical, poetic experience that is sure to enchant and haunt its audiences. Yesasia