The Hope College Knickerbocker Winter Film Series will open with “Coming Home” on Monday-Saturday, Jan. 11-16, at 7:30 p.m.
The series continues the Knickerbocker Theatre’s tradition of showing new independent and foreign films for the West Michigan community.
Originally titled “Gui lai,” and based on the novel “The Criminal Lu Yanshi,” by Geling Yan, “Coming Home” is a historical romantic drama in which a devoted couple is forced to separate during the Cultural Revolution in China. The film is directed by Yimou Zhang, award-winning director of “Raise the Red Lantern” and “House of Flying Daggers.”
Didi Kirsten Tatlow of The New York Times has described the film as “An emotionally powerful, richly nuanced movie.” Maggie Lee of Variety has said “Filmmaking doesn’t get more timeless… recalls another great historical romance, ‘Doctor Zhivago.’ ”
Lu Yanshi, played by Chen Daoming, and Feng Wanyu, played by Gong Li, are a devoted couple forced to separate when Lu is arrested and sent to a labor camp as a political prisoner, just as his wife is injured in an accident. Released during the last days of the Cultural Revolution, he finally returns home only to find that his beloved wife has amnesia and remembers little of her past. Unable to recognize Lu, she patiently waits for her husband’s return.
The film is rated PG-13, and is in Standard Mandarin with English subtitles.
Following “Coming Home,” the Knickerbocker Winter Film Series will continue with “Mustang,” showing Monday-Saturday, Feb. 8-13; “The Winding Stream: The Carter’s, The Cash’s and the Course of Country Music,” showing Monday-Saturday, March 14-19; and “Race,” showing Monday-Saturday, April 4-9. All films begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the individual films are $7 for regular admission, and $6 for senior citizens, Hope College faculty and children. Tickets will be sold at the door but are also available in advance at the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at (616) 395-7890.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.