浮城谜事 Mystery 娄烨 作品 A Film from Lou Ye

Characters 陆洁(lù jié), the wife who has stayed at home after giving birth to her daughter 安安 An-an while the husband, Qiao Yong Zhao, running the company which had been started and shared by the couple.

Characters 乔永照(qiáo yǒng zhào): the husband, who is a typical middle class man with a “happy” family and dark secrets hidden from his wife, Lu Jie.

Characters 桑琪(sāng qí)/桑海兰(sāng hǎi lán) : the other woman with a son 宇航Yu-hang whose father is 乔永照. She has been hidden herself from Lu Jie for a long time, as a promise to Qiao Yong Zhao. But now she has changed her mind.

Characters 孙小敏(sūn xiǎo mǐn)/蚊子(wén zi): the dead girl, who has had an ONS with 乔永照 and her presence and death became the trigger of the explosion for the other three characters.

Characters 童明松(tóng míng sōng): the detective/policeman who is working on the case, under enormous pressure of the influence of the powerful father of the young and reckless driver, who hit Sun Xiao Min/Wen Zi on that rainy day. He recognized the dead girl, Sun Xiao Min/Wen Zi, who is the dream girl of his friend, Qin Feng.

Characters 秦枫(qín fēng): An auto-mechanic who has a massive crush on the dead girl and determined to find out the truth behind the “accident”.

Storyline A girl was hit by a young rich guy on the high way on a rainy day. She was later found with head injuries prior to the car accident.

Storyline Tong Ming Song, the policeman who investigates the case realizes that this girl happens to be his friend, Qin Feng’s dream girl. Informed by Tong of the gril’s suspicious death, Qi Feng decides to find out the truth on his own, which later points to Lu Jie and Sang Qi.

Storyline Lu Jie met Sang Qi in her daughter, An-an’s kindergarten. One day, Sang Qi came to Lu Jie for advice on her husband’s suspicious behaviours. They met and talked in a restaurant which was designated by Sang Qi.

Storyline Lu Jie tried to comfort her, but Sang Qi said she had very good reason to be suspicious—she had seen him walking out of a hotel with a young girl. And in saying that, Sang Qi pointed to someone outside the restaurant through the window near her, who “happened” to be Lu Jie’s beloved husband, Qiao Yong Zhao. He was just walking hand in hand with a young girl into the hotel across the street.

故事 Storyline Lu Jie was shocked, and asked Sang Qi to go home first. Soon later, Lu Jie found out that her husband has been involved in many affairs, including a long- lasting one with Sang Qi. Hence she decided to get her revenge on Sang Qi.

A Scene （陆洁和桑琪一同走在桑琪所住的简陋公寓楼楼道内，陆洁沉默） (Lu Jie and Sang Qi walking together through the corridor of the humble apartment building in which Sang Qi lives, Lu Jie keeps silent.) 桑琪：我知道你不会对永照的孩子怎么样。I knew you wouldn’t do anything to Yong Zhao’s child. （开门）(door opens) 请进吧。Please come in. （陆洁看到永照和桑琪的合影，二人坐下，两个孩子进入另一个房间） （Lu Jie sees the photo of Yong Zhao and Sang Qi. The two sit down, the two kids go to another room.）

你第二次流产(líu chǎn, abortion)那天，我们就去开房了。就是那天晚上，我 怀上(huái shàng, be pregnant with)宇航的。（停顿）当时要不是那个孩子吧， 我可能也就跟他，就玩一玩，就像那些女孩，都一样。永照的妈妈就特别想 要一个男孩，他又那么听他妈的话—估计(gū jì, assume, guess, estimate)你也知道 吧？ On the day of your second abortion, we checked into a hotel(had a room, implying that they had sex). It was on that night that I became pregnant with Yu Hang. (pause) If it were not for the child, probably I would just, just “play” with him(‘play’ here implies ONS), the same as all those other girls. Yong Zhao’s mother wanted a boy desperately, and he's a bit of a momma's boy—you know that, right? 陆洁：（叹息）(sighs) 桑琪：（摇头）就连他的名儿都是他妈给起的，叫乔家宝。老打电话。 (shakes her head) His mother even gave him a name, QiaoJiaBao (the Qiao family baby). She calls us frequently.

陆洁：难道你不介意(jìe yì, mind)他有别的女人吗？ So you really don't mind that he has other women? 桑琪：（点头）(nodding ) 陆洁：当然，当然你介意—要不然你不会拉我去那个茶餐厅。 Of course, of course you mind it—or you wouldn’t drag me to that restaurant. 桑琪：本来是想，通过你把她们给赶走(gǎn zǒu, drive away)的。 Originally I just wanted to try and drive them away through you. 陆洁：（打断）没想到我也要走了，你应该很开心吧。 (interrupting) and you never thought that I would go away as well? Well then, are you are happy now? 桑琪：（沉默）(silence)

陆洁：如果他什么都没有了你还跟他在一起吗？ If he had nothing would you still stay with him? 桑琪：我就要这个人。陆姐，我吃过苦。（停顿）我什么都 不怕。 I just want this man, Sister Lu. I've been through tough times. (pause) I have nothing to be afraid of. 陆洁：（哽咽）你知道我们是大学同学吗？我看见你这间屋 子我想起很多很多。 (sobbing) Did you know we were college mates? I see this room of yours - and it reminds me of so much. （停顿）(pause)

（门锁打开，乔永照走进房中）(the door lock opens, Qiao Yong Zhao walks in) （陆洁起身欲离开）(Lu Jie stands up, intending to leave) 陆洁：安安，走了，跟妈妈回家。走啊— An-an, (let’s) go, go home with mama. Go-- （乔永照面露不安，走近陆洁）(anxiety on Qiao Yong Zhao’s face, he walks to Lu Jie) （安安：宇航再见，阿姨再见。）(An-an: Goodbye Yu Hang. Goodbye A Yi) 陆洁：看爸爸来接你来了。Look, your father has come to pick you up. （宇航：安安再见。）(Yu Hang: Goodbye An-an) 陆洁：（对安安）看到没有？Do you see (him)? （乔永照沉默，抚摸安安的头）(Qiao falls into silence, caressing An-an’s head)

桑琪：宇航！(Yu Hang!) 陆洁：（推着安安）走。(pushing An-an) Go. （乔永照转向桑琪母子）(Qiao turns to Sang Qi and her son) 桑琪：（对宇航）爸爸回家了。(To Yu Hang)Papa comes home 乔永照：（对安安）跟妈妈先回家。(to An-an) Go home with mama first. （陆洁盯着乔永照）(Lu Jie looking at Qiao) （乔永照再次走近陆洁）(Qiao walks to Lu Jie again) 乔永照：回去跟你说。(I will)Talk to you when I return. 陆洁：（沉默，几乎要流泪）(silent, tears almost comes out) 乔永照：（避开陆洁的眼睛，低声）回去吧。(avoid her eyes, in low voice) Go home. 陆洁：（转过头不再看乔永照，沉默片刻后转身离去） (turns away and stops looking at him, after few seconds of silence, turns around and leaves)

The Hidden Cultural Background The Male-dominant element in the intertwined and implied relationships between the characters as opposed to the financial ascendance of women. Why didn’t Qiao Yong Zhao get a divorce with Lu Jie, who couldn’t give him and his family a son that they all wanted so desperately? Why didn’t Sang Qi leave Qiao Yong Zhao, even though he has been married and presumably has lots of other affairs?

Who is the hidden fourth woman in this messy relationship? 3. The untold tragedy: parents who have lost their only child(失独父母) 4. The ever growing economic disparity/gap and the consolidating social classed based on wealth 5. A glimpse on the current conundrum faced by the Chinese justice system, and how it can possibly influence the enforcement of justice and the people working in and under the system.

Other Movies of Interest: A touch of sin(天注定) from Director Jia Zhang Ke(贾 樟柯)

Lost in Beijing from Director Li Yu