THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 28, 1995 TAG: 9507280055
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
VIRGINIA BEACH is not the only place that holds fireworks competitions.
In turn-of-the-century China there are also fireworks show-downs, but on a more personal level - and with much higher stakes.
``Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker'' is an epic romance with the kind of sweeping force that is now regarded as ``old-fashioned'' in Hollywood. It concerns that old stand-by, ``forbidden love.''
Set in the years leading up to the 1911 revolution, the film concerns a powerful Chinese family with no male heir. The Cai family rules a vast territory in Northern China with huge profits from its fireworks empire. With no heir, the eldest daugher, Chun Zhi, is reared as a male, forced to suppress her femininity and, at age 19, expected to take the role of absolute ruler.
In the simplest, and thinnest of plots, it is inevitable that she will meet the male rebel who makes her drop the masquerade. In this case, he is an itinerant artist she hires to decorate the mansion.
The wooing, however, is anything but indiscreet. Marred by a jealous foreman, the romance unveils in layers of emotion that would be the envy of any strip-tease artist.
Ning Jing and Wu Gang are earnest, but distant, lovers in the lead roles. Director He Ping keeps everything visual here. He flashes to the raging Yellow River at intervals to symbolize passions raging beneath the surface.
In the end, there is a fireworks competition which, according to tradition, is a kind of mating ritual. Males compete in dangerous fireworks displays with explosives draped about their bodies. To the winner goes the bride.
For the most part, this unique movie is lyrical poetry with few words spoken. Lovers of all ages should find its explosives a very different brand from those at other theaters this summer. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
MOVIE REVIEW
``Red Firecracker,
Green Firecracker''
Cast: Hing Jing, Wu Gang
Director: He Ping
Screenplay: Da Ying
MPAA rating: Not rated (Sexual situation)
Mal's rating: Three stars
Locations: Naro in Norfolk
by CNB