{{short description|2001 film directed by Li Yu}} {{Infobox film | name = Fish and Elephant | image = Fish_Elephant.jpg | caption = | director = Li Yu | producer = Cheng Yong | writer = Li Yu | starring = Shitou<br />Pan Yi | music = He Wen | cinematography = Fei Xiaoping | editing = Li Yu | distributor = | released = {{Film date|2001}} | runtime = 106 minutes | language = Mandarin | budget = | native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none| s = 今年夏天 | t = 今年夏天 | p = Jīn nián xià tiān}} }} '''''Fish and Elephant''''' ({{lang-zh|c=今年夏天|p=Jīn nián xià tiān|l=This summer}}) is documentary filmmaker and former TV hostess Li Yu's feature film directorial debut. The film is also often referred to as the first mainland Chinese film to broach the topic of lesbian relationships in China.<ref name=Kraicer>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinesecinemas.org/fishandelephant.html|title=Fish and Elephant: review by Shelly Kraicer|author=Kraicer, Shelly|publisher=Chinesecinemas.org|access-date=2008-01-29|date=2002-05-23|archive-date=2018-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910193308/http://www.chinesecinemas.org/fishandelephant.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ADI>{{cite web|url=http://www.asianlife.com/ext/magazine/viewArticles/id/23641052|title =China's First Lesbian Film Wins Praise |author=DeGroat, T. J.|publisher= Asian Diversity, Inc.| access-date=2008-02-02}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
The story follows the elephant keeper in the Beijing Zoo who maintains an aquarium of fish in her home (hence the two-animal title), and her lesbian lover, a fabric saleswoman in an outdoor market. Her relationship is tested, however, when her recently divorced mother returns to town in the hope of setting her daughter up in marriage. Further complicating matters is one of Xiaoqun's ex-lovers also returning to her life with the law in pursuit.
The film was produced by Cheng Yong Productions and was an "underground" production (in that it was not made with official support). Moreover, the film was cast entirely with non-professional actors and actresses.<ref name=Kraicer/>
==Cast== * '''Pan Yi''' as '''Xiaoqun''', the elephant keeper at the Beijing Zoo. * '''Shitou''' as '''Xiaoling''', Xiaoqun's girlfriend, she sells clothes she makes in a market stall. * '''Zhang Qianqian''' as '''Junjun''', Xiaoqun's ex-girlfriend. She re-enters Xiaoqun's life a fugitive, wanted for the murder of her father. * '''Zhang Jilian''' as '''Xiaoqun's mother''', a divorcee who is unaware of her daughter's sexual orientation. She attempts to set her daughter up on a series of blind dates.
==Production== Filmed on an almost-square 16 mm format,<ref name=Kraicer/> ''Fish and Elephant'' was the first feature film by Li Yu, who had previously directed several documentaries, including 1997's ''Sisters'', a film which had run into state interference.<ref name=AMA>{{cite web|url =http://www.amamedia.org/movies/showcase/02showcase/fish_and_elephant.html|title =2002 China Film Showcase: Fish and Elephant|publisher =Asia Media Access|date =2002|access-date =2008-02-02|url-status =dead|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080120195650/http://www.amamedia.org/movies/showcase/02showcase/fish_and_elephant.html|archive-date =2008-01-20}}</ref>
Casting by Li Yu was done entirely with non-professionals. The two leads, Xiaoqun (Pan Yi) and Xiaoling (Shitou), were cast after Li began visiting various lesbian bars in Beijing. Similarly, several of the film's "blind dates" were based on actual dates set up by Li through classified ads. The men's reactions upon Xiaoqun revealing her sexual orientation therefore are entirely natural and accurate.<ref name=Kraicer/> Some have reported that this focus on amateurs was only partially by choice, in that Li had been unable to sign on established talent due to the controversial script and story.<ref name=ADI/>
==Release==
===International and domestic film festivals=== Once the film's production was complete, it faced several challenges before it could be seen by audiences. Due to its underground status, Li Yu did not have the support of the Chinese authorities. An attempt to deliver a print to the Venice Film Festival in 2001 led to it being lost.<ref name=Kraicer/> Later screenings, therefore, like at the Toronto Film Festival, for example, had to be on videotape instead of a film reel.<ref name=Kraicer/> Fortunately for Li, copies of ''Fish and Elephant'' eventually managed to screen at over 70 different film festivals around the world.<ref name=SHR>International Bar Association, et al. [https://books.google.com/books?id=gem-0JOOWVMC ''Sexuality and Human Rights'']. Haworth Press, p. 182. {{ISBN|1-56023-555-1}}. Google Book Search. Retrieved 2008-10-14</ref>
However, it was shown only once in mainland China at an LGBT film festival that was quickly shut down by authorities.<ref name=SHR/>
===DVD release=== ''Fish and Elephant'' was released on DVD in the United States by the LGBT-focused distributor, Ariztical Entertainment on May 23, 2006. The edition features the original Mandarin-language dialogue and includes English subtitles.
==Reception== Upon its dissemination to international audiences, ''Fish and Elephant'' was praised for being groundbreaking in subject matter, but mediocre in execution. ''Time Out New York'', for example, though generally positive in its praise also noted that there was "nothing here to surprise western viewers."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/reviews/66729/Fish_and_Elephant.html |title=Fish and Elephant movie review |publisher=Time Out New York |access-date=2008-01-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080222004408/http://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/reviews/66729/Fish_and_Elephant.html |archive-date=2008-02-22 }}</ref> Chinese film critic Shelly Kraicer, meanwhile, analyzed the film and concluded, "[''Fish and Elephant's''] flaws are those, entirely forgivable, of a first film, of a novice director who really wants to try to cram all of her ideas into one work."<ref name=Kraicer/> The film's release was similarly noted by the film criticism website ''Senses of Cinema'', which stated that, "''Fish and Elephant'' might be overlooked by film festivals in favour of other more glossy underground Chinese films produced this year...", but the author would nonetheless "recommend it and will keep an eye out for [Li Yu's] future works."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.sensesofcinema.com/contents/festivals/01/17/vancouver.html|title=The 20th Vancouver International Film Festival - A Report|author=Roose-Runge, Lisa|publisher=Senses of Cinema|date=October 2001|access-date=2008-02-02 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080116153602/http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/festivals/01/17/vancouver.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-01-16}}</ref>
===Awards and nominations=== * '''2001 Venice Film Festival''' ** Winner of the '''Elvira Notari Prize'''<ref name=NYFPresskit>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorkerfilms.com/nyf/t_elements/lostinbeijing/lostinbeijing_pk.pdf |title=Lost in Beijing Press Kit |access-date=2008-01-28 |publisher=New Yorker Films |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210023925/http://www.newyorkerfilms.com/nyf/t_elements/lostinbeijing/lostinbeijing_pk.pdf/ |archive-date=February 10, 2012 }}</ref> * '''2002 Berlin International Film Festival''' ** Winner of the '''Best Asian Film Prize at Forum of New Cinema'''<ref name=NYFPresskit/> ** NETPAC Special Mention<ref name=AMA/>
==See also== *''East Palace, West Palace'' - director Zhang Yuan's 1996 film, often referred to as the first homosexual-themed film out of mainland China. * Homosexuality in China
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=0317763|title=Fish and Elephant}}
{{Li Yu}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Fish And Elephant}} Category:2001 films Category:Films directed by Li Yu Category:2001 Mandarin-language films Category:Chinese LGBTQ-related films Category:Lesbian-related films Category:2001 drama films Category:Films set in Beijing Category:2001 directorial debut films Category:Chinese drama films Category:2001 Chinese films Category:2001 LGBTQ-related films Category:2000s LGBTQ-related drama films