Lost on Journey

Last updated

Lost on Journey
Lost on Journey poster.jpg
Official poster
Chinese
Mandarin Rén Zài Jiǒng Tú
Directed by Raymond Yip
Written by
  • Tian Yusheng
  • Shi Chenyun
  • Xu Yuanfeng
Screenplay byLiu Yiwei
Produced by Manfred Wong
Starring
CinematographyMichael Tsui
Edited byLeung Kwok Wing
Music byKay Chan
Production
companies
  • Wuhan Huaqi Movies & TV Production
  • Hubei Provincial Film Distribution & Exhibition
Release date
  • 4 June 2010 (2010-06-04)
Running time
95 minutes
Country China
Language Mandarin
Budget¥9.5  RMB  million [1]
Box office¥46.5 RMB million [1]

Lost on Journey is a 2010 Chinese comedy film directed by Raymond Yip and starring Xu Zheng and Wang Baoqiang. This film depicts an amusing yet realistic portrayal of the issues prevalent in the Chinese society, especially during the chaotic Chunyun when everyone wants to reunite with their family for the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Contents

The film is superficially similar to John Hughes's 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles in depicting the journey of two mismatched companions. [2] [3] [4]

Plot

Li Chenggong (Xu Zheng) is a wealthy and arrogant businessman who treats his employees poorly and has a secret mistress, Manni (Li Man). Although his mistress wants him to spend Chinese New Year with her in Shijiazhuang, Li feels obligated to return to his hometown Changsha to celebrate Chinese New Year with his wife Meili (Zuo Xiaoqing), daughter, and mother. Arriving at the crowded airport, Li finds he has been mistakenly booked in the economy class and sits next to the first-time flyer Niu Geng (Wang Baoqiang), a naïve and gullible migrant worker who works as a milk extraction technician. Niu is also setting out to Changsha to claim his defaulted wages from "his boss' debtor" with a (questionable) promissory note given to him by his boss.

As Li and Niu’s lives crosses paths, the two embark in a chaotic journey together. The duo experiences a seemingly never-ending streak of bad luck as they try to make their way to Changsha.

After the airplane takes off, the Changsha airport experiences a heavy snowstorm so their flight is cancelled and they are forced to turn back. Li then manages to acquire a train ticket, but once on board, he realizes the ticket he purchased was a counterfeit, which just happens to be the same seat that Niu bought. As some train tracks collapsed due to a landslide, the two leave the train and attempt to take the bus.

When they are about to get on the bus to Changsha, Niu is touched by a female beggar (Zhang Xinyi) and wants to give her money. Li discourages Niu from doing so and calls him an idiot for believing in the lies of the beggar. Niu still ends up giving her money, but the beggar does not return.

The closing of a bridge spanning over the Yangtze River causes them to stop at Wuhan where they spot the beggar. The two go on a fanatic chase to pin down the scam artist. The chase leads them into a peaceful complex and Li goes into the room full of children quietly drawing. The beggar is a teacher who took care of these children and needs money to pay for an operation for a blind child. The duo is touched and gives her all their money.

Continuing on their farcical adventure, Niu convinces Li to buy a lottery ticket. To their surprise, they win the first prize, which is a car. They decide to drive the car to Changsha. Suffering from lack of sleep, Li decides to let Niu drive temporarily. However, Niu falls asleep and drives the car into a ditch. The two frantically jumps out of the car in anticipation of an explosion as they often see in movies, but nothing happens. They have a heartfelt conversation as they decide to spend the night in the middle of nowhere.

The next day they are able to hitchhike on a tractor transporting chickens. Finally they reach Changsha covered in chicken feathers. Li is surprised to find out that his mistress is also in the city to give him a surprise.

The trip is a voyage of self-discovery for Li as by the end, he has changed. He has gone from scoffing beggars to believing that honesty still exists in the world; from a cold-blooded boss to a real human being. Finally realizing what is important to him, he breaks up with his mistress and returns to his family. Knowing that Niu will never get his defaulted wage from anyone else, Li secretly provides money to an associate so that Niu is happily paid. Although Niu was not his real creditor, what he owed Niu are the lessons he learned throughout the journey and the epiphanies regarding the importance of honesty and trust.

One year later, Li is boarding a plane and questioning a stewardess why it was not taking off despite being forty minutes overdue, receiving the answer that one last passenger was late. The final passenger arrives just after that and calls out excitedly to Li upon seeing him, revealing himself to be Niu in a suit, who had quit his job after receiving his "wage" and became his own successful boss.

Cast

Reception

Reviewers were generally complimentary, citing good chemistry between the two leads, [5] and the realistic depiction of modern Chinese society, [6] especially the trials of Spring Festival, [7] although one thought the inconsistencies in the plot were slightly distracting. [5] Another review stated the plot was deeper than the superficial farce of traveling woes in rallying human spirit to overcome an indifferent world. [2]

The film Lost in Thailand directed by Xu Zheng, also starring Xu and Wang, was released in 2012 to great commercial success in China. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>A World Without Thieves</i> 2004 Chinese film

A World Without Thieves is a 2004 Chinese action drama film directed by Feng Xiaogang and starring Andy Lau, Rene Liu, Ge You, Wang Baoqiang and Li Bingbing. The film is an adaptation of a 1999 novelette of the same title by Zhao Benfu. The original story is moderately different from the film adaptation. The film was first released in Shanghai, China on 5 December 2004. It clinched the 2005 Golden Horse Award for Best Screenplay Adaptation.

Iron & Silk is a 1990 Canadian action comedy-drama based on the eponymous book by American writer Mark Salzman. It details his journey to China after college to study Chinese wu shu, better known in the west as kung fu, and to teach English. Though not trained as an actor, Salzman starred as himself, as did Pan Qingfu, who claimed no one else could portray him on film. Salzman's experiences occurred in Changsha, Hunan, though the film was shot in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The film was directed by Shirley Sun, and was the editorial debut for Geraldine Peroni.

<i>Romance of the Three Kingdoms</i> (TV series) Chinese television series

Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese television series adapted from the classical 14th century novel of the same title by Luo Guanzhong. The series was produced by China Central Television (CCTV) and was first aired on the network in 1994. It spanned a total of 84 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long. One of the most expensive television series produced at the time, the project was completed over four years and involved over 400,000 cast and crew members, including divisions of the People's Liberation Army from the Beijing, Nanjing and Chengdu military regions. Some of the dialogues spoken by characters were adapted directly from the novel. Extensive battle scenes, such as the battles of Guandu, Red Cliffs and Xiaoting, were also live-acted.

<i>Hibiscus Town</i> 1986 Chinese film

Hibiscus Town is a 1986 Chinese film directed by Xie Jin, based on a novel by the same name written by Gu Hua. The film, a melodrama, follows the life and travails of a young woman who lives through the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution and as such is an example of the "scar drama" genre that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s that detailed life during that period. The film was produced by the Shanghai Film Studio.

<i>Three Kingdoms</i> (TV series) 2010 Chinese historical series

Three Kingdoms is a 2010 Chinese television series based on the events in the late Eastern Han dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period. The plot is adapted from the 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms and other stories about the Three Kingdoms period. Directed by Gao Xixi, the series had a budget of over 160 million RMB and took five years of pre-production work. Shooting of the series commenced in October 2008, and it was released in China in May 2010.

<i>Lost and Found</i> (2008 film) 2008 Chinese film

Lost and Found is a 2008 Chinese black comedy film and the third feature film directed by Ma Liwen. The film was based on the novel, I am Liu Yuejin by Liu Zhenyun and tells the story of a down-on-his-luck migrant cook who loses his life savings while in Beijing. The film is also known by the original Chinese title I am Liu Yuejin. The novel was published a mere three months before the film was released.

Li Yixiang, also known as Li Qiang (李强), is a Chinese actor. He appeared in movies such as Ji Quan Bu Ning, Crazy Lottery. In 2002, he starred as one of the two murderous con men in director Li Yang's Blind Shaft, opposite Wang Baoqiang as his naive would-be victim. Li shared the Golden Kinnaree for Best Actor at the 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival along with Wang, and fellow Blind Shaft co-star, Wang Shuangbao.

<i>The Sino-Dutch War 1661</i> 2000 Chinese film

The Sino-Dutch War 1661, also known as Hero Zheng Chenggong, is a 2000 Chinese historical drama film directed by Wu Ziniu, starring Vincent Zhao, Jiang Qinqin, Du Zhiguo, Yoko Shimada, Xu Min and Zhang Shan. The film is loosely based on the life of Koxinga and focuses on his battle with the Dutch East India Company for control of Taiwan at the Siege of Fort Zeelandia. The film was released in 2002 in Japan under the title Kokusenya Kassen.

<i>Founding Emperor of Ming Dynasty</i> Chinese television series

Founding Emperor of Ming Dynasty is a Chinese television series based on the life of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming dynasty. Directed by Feng Xiaoning and starring Hu Jun as the emperor, the series was first aired on CCTV in China in 2006.

<i>Wu Zetian</i> (1995 TV series)

Wu Zetian is a Chinese television series based on the life of Wu Zetian, the only woman in Chinese history to assume the title of Empress Regnant and became the de facto ruler of China in the late seventh century. Directed by Chen Jialin, the series starred Liu Xiaoqing as the title character. It was first broadcast on CCTV in China in 1995 and subsequently aired by television stations in other countries.

<i>The Shadow of Empress Wu</i>

The Shadow of Empress Wu, also known as Riyue Lingkong, is a Chinese television series about the relationship between Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history, and Xie Yaohuan, a fictional female official serving in Wu's court. The series was directed by Lu Qi and starred Liu Xiaoqing, Eva Huang, Vincent Jiao, Ma Xiaowei and Yang Zi in the leading roles. It was first broadcast on CCTV from August 2007 to January 2008 in mainland China, and in November 2008 on HD Jade in Hong Kong.

<i>Lost in Thailand</i> 2012 Chinese film

Lost in Thailand is a 2012 Chinese comedy film directed and co-written by Xu Zheng and starring Xu Zheng, Wang Baoqiang, and Huang Bo. The film is about three Chinese men traveling in Thailand: two competing scientists searching for their boss, and a tourist eager to explore the country. The film is Xu's directorial debut.

Xu Zheng is a Chinese actor and director best known for acting in comedic roles. Xu directed, co-wrote, co-produced and starred in Lost in Thailand (2012) and Lost in Hong Kong (2015), two of the highest-grossing films in China. He also co-produced and starred in Dying to Survive (2018).

<i>Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties</i>

Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties is a Chinese television series based on Chu Renhuo's historical novel Sui Tang Yanyi, which romanticises the historical events leading to the fall of the Sui dynasty and the rise of the Tang dynasty. The series was first broadcast in mainland China on various television networks on 14 January 2013. It is not to be confused with Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties 1 & 2, a similar television series also based on the novel, but was released earlier in December 2012. Filming for the series started on 5 November 2011 at the Hengdian World Studios and wrapped up in May 2012.

<i>Romancing in Thin Air</i> 2012 Hong Kong film

Romancing in Thin Air is a 2012 Hong Kong-Chinese contemporary romantic drama film directed by Johnnie To, and starring Louis Koo and Sammi Cheng.

<i>The Bachelor</i> (Chinese TV series)

The Bachelor is a 2012 Chinese family television series produced by Yujia Shixing Pictures (御嘉世星影业).

<i>Im a Boss</i>

I'm a Boss is a 2009 Chinese television comedy-drama directed by Zheng Xiaolong, starring Jiang Wu as an idiosyncratic and Quixotic mid-aged Ma Yiming who, forced to leave his government career, enters the business world as an entrepreneur. Ma Yiming is a likable character, selfless, reliable, studious, hard-working, rigidly principled and full of righteousness, yet extremely unsuccessful; his often hilarious misfortunes highlighting the disconnect between the Communist-Party-propagated ideal and the capitalistic reality in modern Chinese society.

<i>Battle of Changsha</i> (TV series) 2014 Chinese TV series

Battle of Changsha is a 2014 Chinese television series produced by Hou Hongliang and directed by Kong Sheng. The story is set against the backdrop of the Battle of Changsha in 1939 during World War II. Starring Wallace Huo and Yang Zi, the series premiered on CCTV-8 on 14 July ended its run on 31 July 2014.

Events from the year 1662 in China.

<i>Nothing But Thirty</i> 2020 Chinese drama television series

Nothing But Thirty is a 2020 Chinese drama television series directed by Zhang Xiaobo and starring Jiang Shuying, Tong Yao and Mao Xiaotong. The series follows the story of three vastly different urban women who have reached their thirties while facing challenges at a crucial stage in their lives, as they leave behind their youthful, carefree 20s to embrace the "adult" life of a 30-year-old, and ultimately decide to take matters into their own hands. The series began airing on Dragon Television and Tencent Video on July 17, 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 《人在囧途》票房达4650万 暑期档黑马制胜有道 (in Chinese). Tencent network. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
  2. 1 2 Terroir (28 March 2013). ""Lost on Journey" (2011): As Awful As the World Is, We Still Have Each Other". Sinopathic. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 Hoad, Phil (13 February 2013). "Lost in Thailand: did China's comedy hit get lost in translation?". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  4. Sun, Wanning (2014). "Four: Urban Cinema and the Limits of Harmony Production". Subaltern China: Rural Migrants, Media, and Cultural Practices. London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 100. ISBN   978-1-4422-3677-6 . Retrieved 27 February 2015. Lost on Journey exploits the subject of fortuitous urban encounters and the figure of the stranger/traveler/journeyman to the full. Modeled on the Paramount Pictures production Planes, Trains and Automobiles, which starred Steve Martin and John Candy, the film focuses on the relationship between a gullible migrant worker with a sunny outlook, played by Wang Baoqiang—himself a rural migrant worker before becoming a movie star—and his ambitious city-slicker fellow traveler.
  5. 1 2 Elley, Derek (15 August 2010). "Review: Lost on Journey". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  6. Chang, Harry (15 May 2013). ""Lost On Journey" - A Movie Review". FCU English Online. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  7. Bao, Congying (21 July 2010). "[Movie Review]: Lost on Journey". CRI English. Retrieved 27 February 2015.