(aka 'Huozhe' or 'To Live', 'Lifetimes', 'Leben!', 'Vivre!')
China 1994
"Not unlike Abbas Kiarostami’s films, the simplicity and elegance portray many hidden themes that hit with deep and lasting impact. Addiction, death, separation, birth, hardship, friendship, war, fortune are all explored with an adept level of un-cloying sentimental balance."
- Gary W. Tooze from his review HERE
Posters (Click far right to enlarge)
Theatrical Release: May 18th,
1994 - France
Film Reviews
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DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison
ERA Home Video NTSC (Taiwan) Region 0 - NTSC vs. MGM Region 1 - NTSC
(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT, MGM - Region 1- NTSC - LEFT)
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| Distribution | ERA Home Video Region 0 (Taiwan) |
MGM Region 1 (US) |
| Runtime | 2:06:36 | 2:12:20 |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| BitRate ERA |
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| MGM |
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| Video | 1.69:1/4:3 Letterboxed WideScreen Average Bitrate: 4.52 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.78:1/16:9 Average Bitrate: 7.6 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
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| Audio | Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround | Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround |
| Subtitles | Traditional Chinese, English (removable) | English, Spanish, French, none. |
| Features | • Filmographies (in Chinese only) |
• Anamorphic widescreen Theatrical Trailer (01:44) |
| DVD Release Date: 3rd quarter 1998 Keep Case Chapters: 9 |
DVD Release Date:
July 1st, 2003 Keep Case Chapters: 20 |
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| Comment | Compared to the digitally manipulated, vertically squeezed ERA transfer, the MGM looks far superior. It is sharper. The colors seem more real and muted in direct contrast to the obvious brightness boosting of the ERA. Both versions appear slightly cropped in various situations. I haven't been able to determine exactly where the missing 6 minutes from the ERA title are, unless it was taken from a PAL source and the speed not compensated (it looks to be about 4%). Skin tones in the MGM look a little red to me and I am still hoping for a better release for this masterpiece film with some substantial Extras (as opposed to just a trailer on the MGM). The MGM DVD is the obvious choice, but it still does not meet the deserved expectations that this fine film should be treated to. |
Recommended Reading in Chinese/Hong Kong/Taiwanese Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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Memoirs from the Beijing Film
Academy by Zhen Ni, Chris Berry, Ni Zhen |
Zhang Yimou: Interviews (Conversations
With Filmmakers) by Frances Gateward |
Chinese Films in Focus: 25 New Takes by Chris Berry |
Wong Kar-Wai: Auteur of Time (Bfi World
Directors) by Stephen Teo |
China into Film: Frames of Reference in
Contemporary Chinese Cinema (Envisioning Asia) by Jerome Silbergeld |
New Chinese Cinemas
by Nick Browne |
Once Upon a Time in China : A Guide to
Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Mainland Chinese Cinema by Jeff Yang |
Chinese Film Theory by George S. Semsel |
Check out more in "The Library"
DVD Menus
(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT, MGM - Region 1- NTSC
- LEFT)
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(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP, MGM - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP, MGM - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP, MGM - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP, MGM - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP, MGM - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP, MGM - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(ERA - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP, MGM - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)
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| DVD Box Covers |
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| Distribution | ERA Home Video Region 0 (Taiwan) |
MGM Region 1 (US) |
Report Card:
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Image: |
MGM |
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Sound: |
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| Extras: | - |
| Menu: | ERA |
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Gary Tooze 1775 Rowntree Court Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4V3 CANADA |
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Many Thanks...
