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Electric Shadows

Play trailer Poster for Electric Shadows 2004 1h 39m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Two children escape reality through cinema as China's Cultural Revolution rages.

Critics Reviews

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Derek Elley Variety Dec 16, 2005
Debuting writer-director Xiao Jiang shows she has the makings of a quality mainstream filmmaker. Go to Full Review
V.A. Musetto New York Post Dec 16, 2005
3/4
Dreamy lighting, soft colors and lilting music mix with an agreeable cast. Go to Full Review
Stephen Holden New York Times Dec 15, 2005
2.5/5
This fanciful Chinese tearjerker wants to be an Asian Cinema Paradiso but doesnt quite live up to its prototype. Go to Full Review
Susan Wloszczyna AWFJ.org Sep 8, 2022
Xiao Jiang’s 2004 feature debut Electric Shadows is akin to Italy’s 1989’s Oscar-winning Cinema Paradiso as it focuses on how a makeshift outdoor theater brings together a village of cinema lovers. Go to Full Review
Dorothy Woodend The Tyee (British Columbia) Aug 24, 2017
Director Xiao Jiang has a easy way with the proceedings in the beginning of the movie, but the film loses its way in the latter half when Ling Ling's mother marries Pan (Li Haibin), the guy who runs the local cinema. Go to Full Review
Maria Garcia Film Journal International Mar 1, 2007
In an astonishingly accomplished first feature, female filmmaker Xiao Jiang puts an entirely different face on China's Cultural Revolution. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Feb 21, 2014 If I knew Chinese would have probably liked better. But I found it an interesting film. Makes one think about why persons respond the way they do, often not even in their best interests. See more Apr 21, 2013 Carefully woven plot... I liked every moment of this movie although I would have chosen a different direction for the ending See more Sep 22, 2012 chinese cinema paradiso? not quite. it has fhe same awesome formula but executed poorly with rather predictable plot. still a great entertainment tho. See more Oct 15, 2011 Just wonderful, very very sweet. Yu Xia reminds me of an old friend of mine. See more Apr 11, 2011 I love this movie. This is Chinese Cinema Paradiso. Sappy and sentimental yes, but this is Asian drama. This is Asian drama at it's great. It's a beautiful movie and deserving of the 80% number. I recommend highly... See more Mar 21, 2011 Nostalgic, sweet, yet tragic story about how a woman, her daughter, and the boys and men in their lives are comforted by movies and buffeted by fate. Not exactly a Chinese "Cinema Paradisio", but similar in its love for film and its yearning for a lost innocence. Many reviewers have pointed out that the story rests upon a number of incredible coincidences; I think that this is intentional and is meant to echo the contrivances of the old movies the characters embrace. Well acted (especially the kids) well directed, and beautifully photographed. See more Read all reviews
Electric Shadows

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Two children escape reality through cinema as China's Cultural Revolution rages.
Director
Jiang Xiao
Producer
Tung-Shing Yee
Screenwriter
Qingsong Cheng, Jiang Ziao
Production Co
Beijing Dadi Century Limited
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Chinese
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.1K
Runtime
1h 39m
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