{{Infobox film | name = A Lingering Face | image = A Lingering Face.jpg | caption = | director = Lu Xuechang | producer = Han Sanping<br />Tong Gang<br />Cao Wei<br />Tian Yuping | writer = Lu Xuechang<br />Li Jixian | starring = Ma Xiaoqing<br />Pan Yueming<br />Li Min<br />Ge Yaming<br />He Xi<br />Cheng Lianzhong<br />Shi Xiaojun<br />Gao Xilu | music = Nathan McCree | cinematography = Wang Yu | editing = Kong Leijin | distributor = China Film Group | released = {{Film date|2000|08|03|Locarno}} | runtime = 94 minutes | language = Mandarin | country = China | budget = | native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none| s = 非常夏日 | t = 非常夏日 | p = Fēicháng xiàrì}} }} '''''A Lingering Face''''' ({{lang-zh|c=非常夏日|p=Fēicháng xiàrì|l=A curious summer day}}) is a 2000 Chinese film directed by Lu Xuechang. The film is Lu's second after 1997's ''The Making of Steel''. Compared to that earlier film, which was plagued with censorship problems, ''A Lingering Face'''s production and release was relatively free of problems or obstacles.<ref name=var>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117787993.html| title=A Lingering Face Review|magazine=Variety |author=Elley, Derek| date=2000-09-05| accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref>
== Plot == ''A Lingering Face'' follows an everyman named '''Lei Haiyang''' (Pan Yueming), who has recently broken up with his girlfriend. Deciding to go to Beijing, he hitches a ride with a driver (Li Min) and a fellow hitchhiker, '''Yanzi''' (Ma Xiaoqing). Waking up from a nap, Haiyang finds the truck parked in the woods and the driver raping Yanzi. Hiding in the undergrowth, Yanzi sees Haiyang (the titular "lingering" face), but does not reveal his hiding position. Terrified, Haiyang runs away.
In Beijing, Haiyang sees a news report of a female corpse found in the woods. Later, while walking in the streets, Haiyang chances upon a woman who looks exactly like Yanzi. She denies it, but the two embark on a friendship which blossoms into romance. Soon, Haiyang will discover what happened on that curious summer day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/v212178|title=Feichang Xiari (2000) - Lu Xuechang {{!}} Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related {{!}} AllMovie|website=AllMovie|access-date=2016-04-22}}</ref>
==Reception== In his review of ''A Lingering Face'' for Variety, Derek Elley commented: ... "Set in average, non-touristy Beijing locations, ... the movie has a genuinely offbeat character, without any heavy underlining or condescending to the viewer. Script keeps several well-drawn characters ... on the boil throughout, and the plot continues to spring surprises right to the very end".<ref name=var/>
== See also == * ''Suzhou River'' and ''Lunar Eclipse'', two contemporary Chinese films that also deal with plots involving the double identities of women.
== References == <references/>
== External links == * {{IMDb title|id=0257664|title=A Lingering Face}} * [http://www.dianying.com/en/title/fcx2000 ''A Lingering Face''] at the Chinese Film Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lingering Face, A}} Category:2000 films Category:Films set in Beijing Category:Films directed by Lu Xuechang Category:Chinese mystery drama films Category:2000s mystery drama films Category:2000 drama films Category:2000 Chinese films
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