Shattered (Lao tang tou)

A Xu Tong presentation. Produced by Han Lei. Directed, edited by Xu Tong.With: Tang Xixin, Tang Caifeng, Tang Yihong, Yang Yang, Lu Shiying. (Putonghua dialogue)A microcosm of China past and provide flows through Xu Tong's intimate docu "Shattered," in which the maverick indie filmmaker is constantly refine his techniques and concerns proven in the earlier "Wheat Harvest" and "Fortune Teller." Xu's capacity to build up on colorful figures is unerring, with loquacious Tang Xixin and also the sharp-tongued daughter Tang Caifeng (last noticed in "Fortune Teller") ruling the screen. Furthermore they repetition two different decades with engaging candor, vulnerable to spark interest from adventurous fest designers. "Some Guy Tang," as he's nicknamed (also the pic's original, less emphatic title), is certainly an 80-year-old widower and outdated vet in the railroads, they good-naturedly values in opening minutes. Living alone in the ramshackle house in northeast Hebei province, he finds themselves constantly hosting his grown children, though Xu helps it be abundantly apparent that although Tang barely tolerates nearly all his kids, he looks after a detailed relationship with Caifeng. You can realise why. As she shown in "Fortune Teller," Caifeng, operating inside the shady prostitution business but trying to broaden by getting a similarly illegal mining operation, is her lady and doesn't suffer fools happily. Hot-tempered Tang has managed to get their very own travails and never hesitates to see Xu (handling his characteristically up-close-and-personal camera and appear) exactly what's on his mind. Each, in by doing this, sees a manifestation inside the other. Tales of Tang's past, by extension China's, simply pour from him. Despite many bitter recollections (the Communist Party overlooked him when he rejected to go to work so he could cope with his ailing youthful daughter), Tang still keeps lovingly presented portraits on his living room wall of key communist heroes in the last century. Such particulars are crucial to Xu just like a filmmaker: When Caifeng runs some minor home improvements as well as the portraits are taken lower, it first appears the symbolic, moldy antiques may be put aside permanently but no, they're soon hung back around the repainted wall. The father's endless memory lane alternates while using daughter's more dangerous current efforts, including trying to assist her jailed goddaughter Yang Yang, boost business at her brothel, deal with the mine (which Xu apparently had little utilization of) in most cases stay a stride while watching law. While Caifeng seems to discover failure everywhere she turns, she nevertheless looks after a pluckiness and determination that belie the title's air of defeat. What's shattered, as seen using the prism from the complex family, can be a cultural continuity that was maintained in Chinese houses previously decades. Now, the elders still virtually stew formerly, because the youngsters must survive the benefit. Of course, Xu's HD lensing is rough and ready, hardly refined aesthetically but vibrantly immediate. Appear and subtitling are saved to the rough side.Camera (color, HD), Xu appear (stereo system system), Xu. Examined at Vancouver Film Festival (Dragons & Tigers), March. 1, 2011. (Also in Hong Kong, Rotterdam film festivals.) Running time: 105 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com