Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (2005): Cast & Ratings
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is a 2005 biographical drama directed by Sijie Dai, starring Xun Zhou, Ye Liu and Kun Chen. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes 2003. Critics gave it 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- Sijie Dai
- Original language
-
Chinese - Studio
- Empire Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress About?
The premise of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
During the Cultural Revolution in China, two young men, Ma Jianling and Luo Min, are sent to a remote mountain village for re-education. There, Luo becomes infatuated with the Little Seamstress, a local girl fascinated by Western culture. He begins sharing forbidden books with her, opening her eyes to new ideas and sparking a transformative journey of self-discovery and challenging the oppressive political climate.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Cast
Xun Zhou leads the cast, with Ye Liu and Kun Chen. Directed by Sijie Dai.
- Director Sijie Dai
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic.
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Rotten Tomatoes 77% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 83%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 65 Metascore
User score 4.8
See on Metacritic
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Plot Summary
What happens in Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film is set during a tumultuous time between 1971 and 1974, amidst the tail end of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. It follows two teenage boys, Luo Min and Ma Jianling, who embark on a journey to a secluded village nestled in the mountains of Sichuan province for re-education. Upon their arrival, they are met with intense scrutiny from the village Chief, who interrogates them about their so-called “reactionary backgrounds” in front of the other villagers. Luo’s father, a dentist, once had the unique honor of fitting a false tooth for Chiang Kai-shek, while Ma’s father is a respected doctor. The Chief further examines their belongings, brutally discarding items he deems bourgeois, including a cookbook.
Full summary
The whole story of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, scene by scene
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress Awards & Nominations
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress earned 1 award nomination, including Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes 2003.
1 nomination1 ceremony
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Golden Globes 2003 1 nomination- Nominated Best Foreign Language Film
How Well Do You Know Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
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- Question 10: not answered
What was the initial reason for Luo and Ma's arrival in the village?
Seen Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress?
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress FAQ: Cast & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, awards, post-credit scenes and language of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress?
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress released?
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress was released on July 29, 2005.
Who directed Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress?
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress was directed by Sijie Dai.
Who is in the cast of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress?
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress stars Xun Zhou, Ye Liu and Kun Chen.
How is Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress rated?
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress has 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 65 on Metacritic.
Was Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress nominated for any awards?
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress have a post-credit scene?
No. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress in?
The original language of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is Chinese.
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