True cinephiles/film journalists Andrew Grant and Aaron Hillis are about to explore the oldest venue in the book. The started off with a DVD label and now they are throwing their hats into the theatrical distribution game with Benten Films acquiring Zheng Wei‘s directorial debut fresh from the Tribeca Film Festival. Fish Eyes as the press release states:
“is the first feature from China’s 29-year-old Zheng Wei. Set between the months of the Sichuan earthquake and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, it tells of a father, son, and a mysterious young woman who enters their lives. Richly subtle, the film traces the desires, tenderness, and cruelty of the unusual relationship that develops between the trio of characters, and achieves a remarkable eloquence through simple but precise editing and stunning cinematography. The film was shot in HD, and features a cast of non-professional actors. “When I first saw the film, I knew I had stumbled upon a major talent,” said Benten President Andrew Grant, adding, “It’s almost hard to believe that a film this beautiful and understated is the work of a newcomer. That it was shot in only eighteen days, and for less than $40,000, is staggering.”
Also worth noting in the release is that the director is “part of the thriving independent digital film movement in Beijing”. While Jia Zhangke and Wang Xiaoshuai are referenced as the “sixth Generation” filmmakers, with rules perhaps less tight politically and artisically – are we looking at what will be know as the 7th Generation movement? Only time will tell.
