FACETS CINÉMATHÈQUE

March - April 2012

The Facets Cinémathèque is located at 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. in Chicago. For more information on films playing in the Cinémathèque, please call 773-281-4114. To order advance tickets online, visit the TicketWeb website by clicking here.

Chicago Premiere

LET THE BULLETS FLY

"The best Chinese film to reach the U.S. in some time"
-Film Journal Intl

"A rollicking, violent, Western-cum-comedy that...adds up to an entertaining hot pot of wry political commentary and general mischief"
-Variety

"While the film is [Jiang] Wen's most popular and financially successful film yet, it's also his most radical"
-Slant Magazine

"For unmitigated insanity, this is a hard film to beat"
-Chicago Tribune

Recommended!
-NewCity Chicago

"Great fun in the Shakespearean tradition... irresistable"
-Chicago Reader

This entertaining action-comedy, set in the lawless 1920s, is China's highest grossing film of all time! When train robber "Pocky" Zhang (Jiang Wen) crosses paths with con man Tang (Ge You, who won the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance in Zhang Yimou's To Live), they decide to pull off the ultimate heist: stealing the governorship of the rural township of Goose Town, an infallible source of bribes and taxes. But neither realizes that Goose Town is already under the iron rule of the wealthy Master Huang (Hong Kong action legend Chow Yun-Fat, The Killer, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), whose charming exterior conceals the heart of a ruthless (and conniving) crime lord, and not eager to share his turf with another grifter. Thus begins an escalating series of hyper-violent (and hilarious) mind games between the bandit and the crime lord, while the devious Tang tries to play both sides until he can exit the situation-preferably with a profit. The stakes quickly rise to ludicrous proportions in a non-stop barrage of double- and triple-crosses, razor-sharp wordplay, and hundreds of thousands of bullets that explode across the screen!

Writer/director/star Jiang Wen began his career as one of the most charismatic "sixth generation" actors, including a memorable performance in Red Sorghum, Zhang Yimou's debut film, before becoming one of China's most highly regarded (yet controversial) directors. Let the Bullets Fly is a rollicking Chinese western as well as a smart, fast and fun ride!

Directed by Jiang Wen, 2010, China, 132 mins. In Mandarin and Cantonese with English subtitles.

Film Journal Intl Variety Onion AV Club TimeOut NY Slant Magazine

Chicago Tribune NewCity Chicago TimeOut Chicago Chicago Reader

Showtimes:
Fri., Mar. 30 at 6:30 & 9:15 pm
Sat., Mar. 31 at 1, 3:45, 6:30 & 9:15 pm
Sun., Apr. 1 at 2, 4:45 & 7:15 pm
Mon.-Thurs., Apr. 2-5 at 6:30 & 9:15 pm

Tickets:

$9 general admission
FREE for Facets Members!

For all Cinémathèque inquiries, contact Charles Coleman at 773.281.9075 or charles@facets.org

Artworks: National Endowment for the Arts