From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1984 film
September
is a 1984
Chinese film
directed by
Tian Zhuangzhuang
. Though not his first film as director,
September
is considered Tian's first major feature.
[1]
The film is also known by the title
In September
.
Premise
[
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]
The film tells the story of a young teacher who, during the first seventeen years of the
People's Republic of China
, approaches the teaching of her students with a
humanistic
philosophy, which leads to problems with authorities.
Production
[
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]
September
was based on a screenplay by the writer Yan Tingting who was contracted with the Kunming Film Studio. After seeing some of Tian's work (notably 1982's
Red Elephant
, which Tian had co-directed), Yan sent his screenplay to the director, who at the time was working with Ling Zifeng as an assistant director on the older man's film,
The Border Town
.
[1]
Tian liked the story and particularly its humanistic portrayal of the years in which Tian himself had grown up, but he was immediately turned off by the film's second half, which glorified the
Communist Party of China
.
[1]
Taking on the project, Tian changed parts of Yan's screenplay, including the ending. These changes, however, were seen by the film's producers as a negative portrayal of the People's Republic's earliest years. As a result, Tian's inserted scenes were cut leading the director to feel that much of his vision was ultimately compromised.
[2]
In contrast to his earlier works,
September
also marked Tian Zhuangzhuang's first official run-in with Chinese censors, although Chinese television had refused to air his short film,
Our Corner
which he co-directed while still in the
Beijing Film Academy
.
References
[
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]
External links
[
edit
]
- September
at
IMDb
(incorrectly lists screenwriter Yan Tingting as director)
- September
at the Chinese Movie Database (incorrectly lists screenwriter Yan Tingting as director)