Movie Type: Psychological Drama, Social Problem Film
Themes: Mental Breakdown, College Life, Immigrant Life
Main Cast: Liu Ye, Aidan Quinn, Meryl Streep, Blair Brown, Chi Peng
Release Year: 2007
Country: US
Run Time: 86 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Inspired by actual events, director Chen Shi-Zheng's socially conscious psychological drama follows the journey of an ambitious Chinese scientist working towards his Ph.D. in America, only to be marginalized to the extent that he ultimately loses his way. All Liu Xing (Liu Ye) ever wanted was to study the origins of the universe at a Western university. Upon arriving at the school, Liu immediately rents a modest apartment with a few other Chinese students and begins flirting with the pretty American who works at the local coffee shop. Personally welcomed into Department Head Jacob Reiser's (Aidan Quinn) select cosmology group, Liu remains dedicated to his studies and optimistic about the future. Things continue to look up as Liu becomes close with wealthy university patron Johanna Silver (Meryl Streep) after the two become acquainted at an orientation for foreigners sponsored by a local church.
Eventually, Liu becomes Reiser's protégé, and makes a sizable impression at a prestigious conference attended by the pair. But attitudes start to shift when Liu's studies in dark matter come into direct conflict with his mentor's prominent theories and well-established studies. His excitement about a potential breakthrough causes him to ignore repeated warnings that he must pay his dues, and Liu's findings are eventually eclipsed by that of more studious fellow student Laurence. Determined to have his studies published, Liu goes behind Reiser's back, but he ultimately becomes the target of ire rather than accolades, with Johanna's naïve encouragement prompting him along a dangerous collision course. While Liu remains enamored with the concept of the American dream and optimistic about American science being a free market of ideas, he begins to grow dejected after his dissertation is rejected, the girl at the coffee shop blows him off, and his roommates all find lucrative jobs. Essentially left behind at the university, Liu rejects Johanna's offer for help and vows not to return home to disappointed parents. Now, as he coasts on the fumes of his unrealized dreams, the dishonored student prepares to lash out with one final act of devastating annihilation. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Wang Yonggui - Baba; Lei Tsao - Zhang Ming; Shan Jing - Wang Ying; He Yu - Old Wu; Li Bo - Little Square; Boris McGiver - Reverend Hollings; Bill Irwin - Hal Silver; Zhang Hui - Monkey King; Taylor Schilling - Jackie; Joe Grifasi - Professor Colby; Rob Campbell - Gary Small; Jodi Russell - Claire Reiser; Erick Avari - Professor Gazda; Lloyd Suh - Laurence Fang; Qian Yi - Cindy Feng; Johnny Rothman - Rene; Hong Ying - Laundry Worker; Zeng Hui - Neighbor Girl; Sina Amedson - Selim
Credit
Les Udy - Boom Operator, Chen Zewei - Boom Operator, Wu Jingjing - Boom Operator, Ellen Parks - Casting, Jeff Johnson - Casting, Mo Lan - Casting, Cathy Shen - Casting, Elizabeth Caitlin Ward - Costume Designer, Craig L. Steiner - First Assistant Director, Su Haoqi - First Assistant Director, Chen Shi-Zheng - Director, Michael Berenbaum - Editor, Pam Wise - Editor, Kirk D'Amico - Executive Producer, Linda Chiu - Executive Producer, J. Roy Helland - Hair Styles, Li Zhuozhuo - Hair Styles, Lei Long - Location Manager, Alan Oakes - Location Manager, Jeff T. Miller - Line Producer, Van Dyke Parks - Composer (Music Score), Hal Willner - Musical Direction/Supervision, J. Roy Helland - Makeup, Li Zhuozhuo - Makeup, T.C. Christensen - Camera Operator, Guo Wei - Camera Operator, Dina Goldman - Production Designer, Oliver Bokelberg - Cinematographer, Janet Yang - Producer, Mary Salter - Producer, Andrea Miller - Producer, Wang Xueyi - Production Sound, Matt Cartsonis - Recording, Steven Laneri - Sound Mixer, Doug Coleman - Stunts, Jeff Chumas - Stunts, Kathy Jarvis - Stunts, Frank Bare - Stunts Coordinator, Ada Y. Shen - Unit Production Manager, Jeff T. Miller - Unit Production Manager, Chen Shi-Zheng - Screen Story, Billy Shebar - Screen Story, Billy Shebar - Screenwriter, Tyler Meiners - Additional Cinematography, Adam Johnson - Production Assistant, Danny Cheng - Production Assistant, Nathan Lee - Production Assistant, Henrik R. Fett - Visual Effects Supervisor, Thomas Younkman - Sound Effects Editor, Chris Libby - Publicist, Kate Payne - Publicist, Chris Regan - Publicist, Weiman Seid - Publicist, Jenny Lawhorn - Unit Publicist, Brian LeGrady - First Assistant Camera, Jesse Evans - First Assistant Camera, Kong Yue - First Assistant Camera, Mike Lookinland - First Assistant Camera, Jason Painter - First Assistant Camera, David Stoddard - Gaffer, Hao Feng - Gaffer, Eric Beck - Grip, K.C. Olson - Grip, Mitch Stelling - Key Grip, Eric Liljestrad - Music Editor, Yagmur Kaplan - Music Editor, Maureen Norton - Post Production Supervisor, Paul A. Levin - Post Production Supervisor, Kelly Thomas - Post Production Supervisor, Jeff Rose - Post Production Supervisor, Brooke Redmon - Production Coordinator, Qu Chenggen - Production Supervisor, Michael Osten - Properties, Luo Xiarong - Properties Master, Joel McKee - Properties Master, Gary J. Coppola - Re-Recording Mixer, Kelly Lookinland - Script Supervisor, Meng Zimu - Script Supervisor, Heather Toone - Second Assistant Director, Dave Kelsey - Special Effects Coordinator, Matthew Margolin - Still Photographer, Christopher Sheldon - Supervising Sound Editor, Kelly Cha - Translator, Gao Ai - Translator, Yagmur Kaplan - ADR Mixer, Yank Kaiqiang - Art Department Assistant, Zhao Yi - Assistant Hair, Jodie Gleave - Assistant Makeup, Zhao Yi - Assistant Makeup, Kate Holland - Assistant Production Coordinator, Cindy Ingram - Assistant Properties, Tang Baojin - Assistant Properties, Mike Cook - Best Boy Electric, Alan Stoddard - Best Boy Electric, Allen Dial - Best Boy Grip, Nabil Rahme - Camera Loader, Guo Wei - Casting Assistant, Kirstin Tobiasson - Costumes Assistant, Jacqueline Newell - Costumes Supervisor, Brandon Ellsworth - Dolly Grip, Wu Guangdong - Dolly Grip, Rhett E. Fernsten - Electrician, Alex Boynton - Electrician, Rob McDowell - Electrician, Aaron Yun - Extra Casting, Michael Brown - Foley Artist, Mike Higgins - Leadman, Gwen Berry - Personal Assistant, Jan Thrower - Personal Assistant, Du Guixue - Production Accountant, Brian R. Kubricky - Production Accountant, Chad Davis - Scenic Artist, Eric Robinson - Scenic Artist, Matthew Haskins - Second Assistant Camera, Travis Cline - Second Assistant Camera, Ty Arnold - Second Assistant Camera, David Forester - Second Assistant Camera, Joel Remke - Second Assistant Camera, Josh Wood - Second Assistant Camera, Cody J. Harbaugh - Second Second Assistant Director, Lai Linyi - Set Production Assistant, Qu Zhongxiang - Set Production Assistant, Zhao Peng - Set Production Assistant, Eric Solmonson - Transportation Captain, Brett Miller - Transportation Coordinator, Les Boothe - Set Decorator, Don L. Draper - Craft Service/Catering, Scott Adams - Craft Service/Catering, Perry L. Coomans - Craft Service/Catering, Scott Doleto - Driver, Rick Webb - Driver, Coby Broyles - Driver, Lisa Crowder - Driver, David Hannah - Driver, David Harris - Driver, Brandon Malmstrom - Driver, Bill Phelps - Driver, Lamond Reynolds - Driver, Dean Starkey - Driver, Wesley Warner - Driver, Austin Webb - Driver, John Fairlamb - Foley Mixer, Jeff Midgley - Set Medic/First Aid, Gaylen Nebeker - Video Assist, Loren Nebeker - Video Assist, Migs Rustia - Visual Effects Editor, Chris Jones - Title Design, Sandi Longhurst - Art Department Coordinator, Nicholas Tsiotsias - Assistant Editor, Joel T. Pashby - Assistant Editor, Carrie Puchkoff - Assistant Editor, Russ Senzatimore - Assistant Editor, Roger Cooper - Assistant Editor, J.J. Mena - Assistant Editor, Jenna Kilgrow - Department Head Hair, R. Troy Lunt - Department Head Makeup, Edwin Matsu - Department Head Makeup, David Warburton - First Assistant Sound Editor, Stephen Gabis - Dialect Coach, Jenny Chiurco - Producer's Assistant, Angel An - Producer's Assistant, Soozie Eastman - Producer's Assistant, Chad Buehler - Compositor, Christopher Ivins - Compositor, Cynthia Buell - Compositor, Michel Collins - Compositor, Buddy Gheen - Compositor, Danny Kim - Compositor, Victor Rodriguez - Compositor
