Lost Indulgence
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''Lost Indulgence'' () (also known as ''Lost, Indulgence'' or ''Lost·Indulgence'') is a 2008 Chinese film directed by
Zhang Yibai Zhang Xiaoling, better known by his stage name Zhang Yibai () (born 14 April 1963, in Chongqing, China) is a Chinese film director, screenwriter and producer. Directorial career Zhang began his career in television and music videos before dir ...
and written by Zhao Tianyu. Like Zhang's earlier film, '' Curiosity Kills the Cat'', ''Lost Indulgence'' takes place in the central Chinese city of
Chongqing ChongqingPostal Romanization, Previously romanized as Chungking ();. is a direct-administered municipality in Southwestern China. Chongqing is one of the four direct-administered municipalities under the State Council of the People's Republi ...
. The film is a family drama about the relationship between a mother and son (
Jiang Wenli Jiang Wenli (, born 20 June 1969) is a Chinese actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. A native of Tianjin, she graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1992. Li ranked 52nd on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2014. In 2008, she ...
and
Tan Jianci Tan Jianci ( zh, s=檀健次, t=, p= Tán Jiàncì; born October 5, 1990), also known by his stage name ''JC-T'', is a Chinese actor, singer, and dancer. He is the youngest member of the Chinese idol group M.I.C. Tan Jianci is active as an actor ...
) after the sudden death of the father (
Eric Tsang Eric Tsang Chi-wai ( zh, t=曾志偉; born 14 April 1953) is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, and television host, best known for hosting the variety show ''Super Trio series'' on the Hong Kong television network Television Broadcasts ...
). ''Lost Indulgence'' navigated a complicated series of schedules and cancellations before it was allowed to screen abroad, at the
Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by Tribeca Enterprises. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive programming. The festival ...
in April 2008.


Plot

Upon the apparent death of his taxi-driver father (
Eric Tseng Eric Tsang Chi-wai ( zh, t=曾志偉; born 14 April 1953) is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, and television host, best known for hosting the variety show ''Super Trio series'' on the Hong Kong television network Television Broadcasts ...
), Xian-chuen (
Tan Jianci Tan Jianci ( zh, s=檀健次, t=, p= Tán Jiàncì; born October 5, 1990), also known by his stage name ''JC-T'', is a Chinese actor, singer, and dancer. He is the youngest member of the Chinese idol group M.I.C. Tan Jianci is active as an actor ...
) and his mother Li (
Jiang Wenli Jiang Wenli (, born 20 June 1969) is a Chinese actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. A native of Tianjin, she graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1992. Li ranked 52nd on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2014. In 2008, she ...
) take in his father's last fare, Su-Dan (
Karen Mok Karen Joy Morris (; born 2 June 1970), better known as Karen Mok, is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She is considered one of the leading East Asian pop singers and actresses with a career spanning three decades. Mok is the first female Hong Kong ...
), a bar girl, to fulfill the family's obligations. The father, Wu Tao drove his cab into the
Yangtze River The Yangtze or Yangzi ( or ) is the longest river in Eurasia and the third-longest in the world. It rises at Jari Hill in the Tanggula Mountains of the Tibetan Plateau and flows including Dam Qu River the longest source of the Yangtze, i ...
, breaking Su-Dan's leg and potentially paralyzing her for life, though his body was not recovered. The son, a bereaved and sullen teenager, does not take to the crippled Su-Dan at first, his thoughts preoccupied with a school crush and the sudden death of his father. As time goes on, however he warms to her presence (and her ever-exposed legs). Su-Dan, restricted to a wheelchair sees the boy as a substitute little brother. Meanwhile, Li, who works as a medic at a factory, is forced to work double shifts at a veterinarian hospital to help make ends meet. There she meets a handsome stranger (
Eason Chan Eason Chan Yick-shun ( zh, s=陈奕迅, t=陳奕迅, first=t, p=Chén Yìxùn; born 27 July 1974) is a Hong Kong singer and actor. He is one of the most popular and influential singers in both Cantopop and Mandopop. Besides holding the record ...
) who brings in his injured dog, and a tentative romance begins to form.


Cast

*
Jiang Wenli Jiang Wenli (, born 20 June 1969) is a Chinese actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. A native of Tianjin, she graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1992. Li ranked 52nd on ''Forbes'' China Celebrity 100 list in 2014. In 2008, she ...
as Li, the mother in the family. She takes on her husband's last passenger before his death. *
Tan Jianci Tan Jianci ( zh, s=檀健次, t=, p= Tán Jiàncì; born October 5, 1990), also known by his stage name ''JC-T'', is a Chinese actor, singer, and dancer. He is the youngest member of the Chinese idol group M.I.C. Tan Jianci is active as an actor ...
as Xian-chuen, Li and Wu Tao's sullen teenage son. *
Eric Tseng Eric Tsang Chi-wai ( zh, t=曾志偉; born 14 April 1953) is a Hong Kong actor, film director, producer, and television host, best known for hosting the variety show ''Super Trio series'' on the Hong Kong television network Television Broadcasts ...
as the father, Wu Tao, a taxi-driver, Li's husband and Xian-chuen's father, early in the film he is killed when his taxi plunges off a bridge into a river. *
Karen Mok Karen Joy Morris (; born 2 June 1970), better known as Karen Mok, is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She is considered one of the leading East Asian pop singers and actresses with a career spanning three decades. Mok is the first female Hong Kong ...
as Su-Dan, a crippled bar girl who was Li's husband's last passenger. *
Eason Chan Eason Chan Yick-shun ( zh, s=陈奕迅, t=陳奕迅, first=t, p=Chén Yìxùn; born 27 July 1974) is a Hong Kong singer and actor. He is one of the most popular and influential singers in both Cantopop and Mandopop. Besides holding the record ...


Release

''Lost Indulgence'' navigated a complicated series of schedules and cancellations before it was allowed to screen abroad. Originally scheduled to premiere at the 2008
Hong Kong International Film Festival The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is one of Asia's oldest international film festivals. Founded in 1976, the festival features different movies and filmmakers from different countries, and takes place in Hong Kong. HKIFF screens ...
, the film was pulled at the last moment by its producers due to failure to gain Chinese censor approval. For many in the industry, the decision to withdraw the film was fallout from the decision by the
State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) is a ministry-level executive agency controlled by the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Its main task is the administration and supervision of state-own ...
to ban director
Lou Ye Lou Ye (), born 1965, is a Chinese screenwriter-director who is commonly grouped with the " Sixth Generation" directors of Chinese cinema. In June 2018, Lou was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Care ...
and producer
Nai An Nai or NAI may refer to: Music * Nai (album), ''Nai'' (album), an album by singer Anna Vissi * Nai (pan flute), a wind instrument, also known as a pan flute (Romania and Moldova) * Nai (song), "Nai" (song), a 2007 CD single by Irini Merkouri Orga ...
for improperly screening their 2006 film ''
Summer Palace The Summer Palace () is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces in Beijing. It was an imperial garden during the Qing dynasty. Inside includes Longevity Hill () Kunming Lake and Seventeen Hole Bridge. It covers an expanse of , three-quar ...
'' at the
Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...
without permission. Others saw the heightened concern as a result of public criticism and controversy surrounding
Ang Lee Ang Lee (; born October 23, 1954) is a Taiwanese filmmaker. His films are known for their emotional charge and exploration of repressed, hidden emotions. During his career, he has received international critical and popular acclaim and List o ...
's sexually explicit ''
Lust, Caution ''Lust, Caution'' ( zh, t=色,戒, p=Sè, Jiè, j=Sik1Gaai3) is a 2007 erotic film, erotic Spy film, spy romance film, romantic mystery film directed by Ang Lee, based on Lust, Caution (novella), the 1979 novella by Eileen Chang. ''Lust, Cau ...
'' and Feng Xiaogang's allegorical war story '' Assembly''. The withdrawal of the film was also seen as a sign of the growing influence that the Chinese Film Bureau has had on Hong Kong productions (or in this case co-productions). ''Lost Indulgence'' missed a second scheduled screening at the Udine East Asian Film Festival, when a screening was again canceled due to failure to obtain official permission. Upon this second cancellation, critics speculated that producers were taking extra care before the Olympics rather than seeing the delays as a clear cut case of censorship. Despite these setback, the film eventually did get its international premiere at the 2008
Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Festival is an annual film festival organized by Tribeca Enterprises. It takes place each spring in New York City, showcasing a diverse selection of film, episodic, talks, music, games, art, and immersive programming. The festival ...
on April 25, 2008.


Critical reception

The film opened to mixed reviews. Perry Lam of ''Muse'' Magazine called the movie 'an object lesson in how bad casting can skew a movie irredeemably.'


References


External links

*
''Lost Indulgence''
at the Chinese Movie Database {{Zhang Yibai 2008 films 2008 drama films 2000s Mandarin-language films Films set in Chongqing Films directed by Zhang Yibai Chinese drama films 2000s Chinese films