Cast: Zhao Tao

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Wang Hongwei · Zhao Tao · Liang Jingdong · Tian Yi Yang

Synopsis Platform (2000) unfolds in Fenyang, Shanxi Province, centering around a group of amateur theater performers whose lives echo the broader societal shifts in China during a period of significant socio-economic transformation. The narrative begins in 1979, with the troupe presenting...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Chen Taisheng · Jing Jue · Jiang Zhong-Wei

Synopsis The World (2004) follows the story of a young dancer and her security guard boyfriend who are both employed at Beijing’s Window to the World theme park. Their tumultuous relationship serves as the central plot, exploring themes of love, identity,...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Wei Wei Zhao · Qiong Wu · Zhao Tao · Ru Bai

Synopsis Unknown Pleasures (2002) follows the journey of two jobless Chinese teenagers who grapple with the allure and challenges presented by Western culture. Set in contemporary China, the film delves into the complexities of youth, identity, and the clash between traditional...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Joan Chen · Lü Liping · Chen Jianbin · Zhao Tao

Synopsis 24 City (2008) unfolds in contemporary Chengdu, where the state-owned Factory 420 is closing its doors to pave the way for a lavish residential development known as "24 City." The narrative weaves together the lives of three generations and eight...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Sanming Han · Zhou Lan · Lizhen Ma

Synopsis Sanxia haoren (Still Life) (2006) follows two parallel stories set against the backdrop of the Three Gorges Dam project in China. A coal miner named Han Sanming journeys from Fengyang in Shanxi to the town of Fengjie to reunite with...

Direction Walter Salles

Cast Jia Zhangke · Zhao Tao · Wang Hongwei · Han Sanming

Synopsis Jia Zhangke: A Guy from Fenyang (2014) presents an intimate look at a prominent Chinese filmmaker who has made a significant impact on contemporary cinema. Directed by Walter Salles, this documentary delves into the themes of memory—both personal and collective—and...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Jiang Wu · Vivien Li · Lanshan Luo · Wang Baoqiang

Synopsis A Touch of Sin (2013) follows the intertwined stories of four individuals grappling with the harsh realities of modern-day China. An enraged miner takes a stand against the pervasive corruption within his village's leadership. A migrant worker, returning home for...

Direction Andrea Segre

Cast Zhao Tao · Rade Serbedzija · Marco Paolini · Roberto Citran

Synopsis Shun Li and the Poet (2011) follows the journey of Shun Li, a Chinese immigrant working in a textile factory on the outskirts of Rome. Her primary goal is to secure her residency papers so that her eight-year-old son can...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Zhang Yi · Liang Jingdong · Dong Zijian

Synopsis Mountains May Depart (2015) unfolds in China during the final days of 1999, where a young woman named Tao from Fenyang finds herself at a crossroads. She is pursued by two childhood friends, Zang and Liang. Zang, who owns a...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Li Zhubin · Jianlin Pan · Lan Zhou

Synopsis Caught by the Tides (2024) unfolds in the early 2000s in China, where Qiao Qiao and Guao Bin are deeply in love, yet their bond is delicate. When Guao Bin vanishes to seek better opportunities in a different province, Qiao...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Liao Fan · Xu Zheng · Casper Liang

Synopsis Ash Is Purest White (2018) unfolds a tale of tumultuous love set against the backdrop of a period stretching from 2001 to 2017. The narrative delves into the intense and often brutal dynamics of a relationship, exploring the enduring bond...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Wang Hongwei · Zhao Tao

Synopsis Cry Me A River (S) (2008) unfolds in an ancient city, where the remnants of its rich history are evident in its lush botanical gardens and intricate canal system. The narrative revolves around two pairs of former lovers who reunite...

Direction Naomi Kawase · Kaori Momoi · Toyoko Yamasaki · Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Cast Kaori Momoi · Zhao Tao · Ana Torrent

Synopsis 3.11 A Sense of Home (2012) is a collaborative cinematic tribute to the victims and impacted regions of the Tohoku Earthquake that struck on March 3rd, 2011. Twenty-one filmmakers and artists from around the globe contributed their unique perspectives, each...

Direction Isaac Julien

Cast Maggie Cheung · Fagen Gong · Ping Wang · Benedict Wong

Synopsis Better Life (2010) is a poignant drama that draws inspiration from the tragic drowning of 23 Chinese undocumented cockle pickers in Morecambe Bay, located in northwest England. The narrative weaves around the mythical figure of Mazu, the goddess of the...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Liang Jingdong

Synopsis Our Ten Years (S) (2007) follows the journey of a young woman who develops an intense fascination with a fellow passenger she encounters daily during her commute. Set against the backdrop of a pivotal decade in Chinese and Hong Kong...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Zhang Wei

Synopsis Black Breakfast (S) (2008) is a concise yet powerful short film that was part of the "Stories on Human Rights" collection, released in 2008. This film delves into the complexities of human rights issues, presenting a compelling narrative that highlights...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Liang Jingdong

Synopsis Smog Journeys (S) (2015) is a poignant short film directed by Jia Zhangke for Greenpeace East Asia, which explores the severe impacts of air pollution in northeast China, an area often shrouded in hazardous smog levels. The narrative follows two...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Jindong Liang

Synopsis Revive (S) (2017) is a captivating short film featured in the omnibus production Where Has Time Gone?, curated by the renowned Jia Zhangke. This collection includes contributions from the BRICS nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In Jia’s...

Direction Madhur Bhandarkar · Aleksey Fedorchenko · Jia Zhangke · Jahmil X.T. Qubeka

Cast Rodrigo Bolzan · Parvin Dabas · Master Devrath · Jonita Doda

Synopsis Where Has the Time Gone? (2017) is a compelling documentary that weaves together five distinct segments, each directed by a renowned filmmaker. "Mumbai Mist," helmed by Madhur Bhandarkar, explores the complexities of urban life in Mumbai. The segment "Breathing," directed...

Direction Jia Zhangke

Cast Zhao Tao · Yu Entai

Synopsis Remembrance (S) (2009) is a poignant short film directed by the acclaimed Jia Zhangke, commissioned for Modern Weekly's special tenth anniversary issue. The film delves into the themes of memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time, offering a reflective glimpse...