The University Days of a Dog
Directed byLu Zhengyu
StarringJoker Xue, Deng Zifei, Jiang Luxia, Qian Zhijun
Release date
  • September 3, 2010 (2010-09-03) (China)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageChinese
Cast members and crew of the film The University Days of a Dog – Left to right, they are Zhao Yinglong, Lu Zhengyu (director), Lin Yuan, Qian Zhijun, and Deng Zifei – Jinling Worker's Theater in Nanjing

The University Days of a Dog (Chinese: 一只狗的大学时光, Pinyin: Yīzhī Gǒu de Dàxué Shíguāng – Abbreviation: 一只狗 Yīzhī Gǒu[1]) is a 2010 Chinese comedy film.[2] The director is Lu Zhengyu (卢正雨), and the lead actor is Joker Xue (薛之谦 Xue Zhiqian). The run time is 96 minutes.[3] It was produced by the Beijing Shengshi Bang Wei Culture Media Co., LTD (Chinese: 北京盛世邦为文化传媒有限公司 Pinyin: Běijīng Shèngshì Bāngwéi Wénhuà Chuánméi Yǒuxiàngōngsī).[4]

Production

The filming began on Tuesday January 26, 2010 in Beijing. The director Lu Zhengyu, and two of the main actors, Joker Xue (薛之谦) and Lin Yuan (林源), attended a press conference that promoted the film. The filming was scheduled to conclude in February 2010, and the film was originally scheduled for release in April 2010. The companies Hewlett-Packard and Tudou sponsored the film.[5]

Plot

A Labrador retriever saves the lives of six students who are undergoing pre-university military training. The students keep the dog and name the dog "Sunny." Four years later, they are about to graduate from university when Sunny goes missing. The students go on a trip to look for the dog and rediscover themselves.

Themes

The cast members stated that they intended to make a film that reflected the lifestyles of young people born in the 1980s. Lead actor Joker Xue said that people in his generation were "in the phase of struggling for a better life. They have dreams and plans for their future, although some even don't know what their lives will be. I'm right now in this very phase, so I happily received the offer right after the director invited me to join the team."

The review of the news website Da Hangzhou (大杭州 Dà Hángzhōu) said that four elements were discussed in the film: 80hòurén (80后人), or Chinese people born in the 1980s, weddings with no material foundations (no cars, dowries, receptions, rings, etc.), the second generation (i.e. fuerdai, children of entrepreneurs who made their wealth in the 1980s via the Deng Xiaoping-era reforms), and dreams.[6]

Distribution

The premiere took place at the Megabox Sanlitun theater

The premiere was held in Beijing on August 12, 2010.[7] The premiere took place at the Megabox Sanlitun theater (三里屯美嘉欢乐影城, Pinyin: Sānlǐtún Měijiāhuānlè Yǐng Chéng).[8] It was given a national release on September 3, 2010.[9] Around the release of the film, the film cast and crew toured around China, making official appearances. On August 31 and September 1 they visited the Shanghai Studio City (环艺影城 Huán Yì Yǐng Chéng) theater. On September 2 they visited the Nanjing Jinling Workers Cinema (金陵工人影城 Jīnlíng Gōngrén Yǐng Chéng). On September 3 they visited the Hangzhou Xinyuan International Theater (新远国际影城 Pinyin: Xīnyuǎn Guójì Yǐng Chéng) and the Hangzhou Qingchun Yintai Lumière Pavilions (庆春银泰卢米埃影城, Pinyin: Qìngchūn Yíntài Lúmǐāi Yǐng Chéng) theater. On September 4 they visited Shenzhen's Jinyi International Theater and Wuhan's Wanda International Theater, and on September 5 they visited Guangzhou. On September 11 they made an official visit in Beijing.[10] 690 digital copies of the film were produced for theatrical distribution.[11]

Cast

The cast members consisted of people born in the 1980s who, by the time of filming in 2010, were young adults.

  • Joker Xue (Qijun (齐俊, Pinyin: Qíjùn))
  • Deng Zifei (Kesai (克赛, Pinyin: Kèsài))
  • Jiang Luxia (Youzi (柚子 Yòuzi))
  • Qian Zhijun (Jin Daxiong (金大雄 Jīn Dàxióng))[12]
    • Daxiong is a character who is loyal, shy, and stingy. He dreams of becoming a chef in his own hotel. He argues with his father regarding promotions. The character engages in a romance with a female kindergarten teacher. QQ Entertainment News said that "the highlight of the film is his journey of self-discovery when he helps find the missing dog. This is where "spirit, spirit" originated from. The greater significance of "spirit, spirit" is that it can guide a group of depressed students into regaining confidence and realising their dreams."[13] Despite being a son in a wealthy family, Daxiong still wants to be a cook.[14]
    • Daxiong has several lines that are intended to be humorous. In the film, the character yells "Spirit, spirit, the spirit of manhood!" (气概，气概，男子气概！, Pinyin: Qìgài, Qìgài, Nánzǐ qìgài!) while twitching his face and making an expression intended to be humorous. As a result, the phrase became invoked on blogs and bulletin board services in Mainland China.[13] Lu Zhengyu said that Qian's character is a crucial source of comedy, and many of the comedic scenes are centered on Daxiong.[14]
    • This is Qian's first role in portraying romance.[14] In regards to Qian's performance, QQ Entertainment News said "Firstly, it's the influence that Little Fatty has. Seven years ago a photograph can lead to an Internet meme. Seven years later, to put it more accurately, the more mature and better Little Fatty who acted in The University Days of a Dog is no longer the same as before.[note 1] Based on this point, the phrase "spirit, spirit" coming from him, it's difficult not for him to become popular. This is because his expressions draw laughter. This is similar to Uncle Zhao's comedies."[13]
  • Lin Yuan (YOYO)
    • YOYO is Qijun's girlfriend.

Awards

For his performance in the film, actor Deng Zifei won the "Cutting Edge Male Actor's Award" (S: 新锐男演员奖, Pinyin: Xīnruì Nányǎnyuán Jiǎng) from the Fifth Chinese Young Generation Film Forum (第五届华语青年影像论坛, Pinyin: Dìwǔjiè Huáyǔ Qīngnián Yǐngxiàng Lùntán) during the closing ceremony in Beijing on November 7, 2010.[1]

Reception

The QQ Entertainment News stated that despite being a low-budget film, the film became popular before its official release due to its publicity material. The article stated that the "Lu-style nonsensical comedy" and the cast members strengthened the film.[13] An MTime reporter said that, due to the success of the first film, HP plans to increase the investment budget of the sequel to 50 million yuan.[10]

Sina Entertainment posted a review of the film, saying that many people had sympathetic feelings towards the more tragic scenes.[15] A review at Sohu said that the dreams of the youth do not seem to make sense.[16]

Notes

  1. ↑ (see Lü Meng#Scholarly pursuits for the meaning of 吴下阿蒙/吳下阿蒙 Wúxià'ā Méng, which is a Chinese language saying that was used in the Chinese language quote: "首先便是小胖的影响了，七年前的一张相片可以引领一个时代，而七年后的他，准确的说是变得更成熟的他，更优秀的他，且参演《一只狗的大学时光》的他，早已不是当初那个吴下阿蒙。")

References

  1. 1 2 "邓紫飞凭《一只狗》获青年影像论坛新锐男演员." (Archive) Tencent QQ Entertainment News. November 8, 2010. Retrieved on January 13, 2012. "腾讯娱乐讯 11月7日，第五届华语青年影像论坛闭幕式在北京圆满落幕。" and "新晋小生邓紫飞凭借电影《一只狗的大学时光》斩获青年影像论坛新锐男演员奖。"
  2. ↑ "土豆惠普联合出品 80后喜剧《一只狗的大学时光》首映." (Archive) CNET News. August 13, 2010. Retrieved on January 13, 2012. "喜剧" is the Chinese word for comedy.
  3. ↑ "一只狗的大学时光." (Archive) PCOnline. Retrieved on January 12, 2012. "片长：96分钟"
  4. ↑ "一只狗的大学时光 (2010)." (Archive) Entgroup. Retrieved on January 13, 2012.
  5. ↑ "惠普全球副总裁张永利：创新走在本土化的路上(2)." (Archive) China News Service. December 24, 2010. Retrieved on January 12, 2012. "今年也有一些软的、新的营销方案出来，我们还在研究2011年有没有可能推出新的方案。我们刚刚和土豆网合作的电影《一只狗的大学时光》，这种形式我们2011年还会延续下去。"
  6. ↑ "电影《一只狗的大学时光》9月3日上映，影评." (Archive) Da Hangzhou (大杭州). Hangzhou YiTian Network Technology Co., Ltd. (杭州弈天网络技术有限公司). September 3, 2010. Retrieved on January 13, 2012. "在电影公映之际，引爆“80后”、“裸婚”、、“富二代”、“梦想”四大话题。"
  7. ↑ "80后成主力." (Archive) Beijing Star Daily (北京娱乐信报) at MTIME. August 13, 2010. Retrieved on January 12, 2012. "《一只狗的大学时光》昨在京首映 80后成主力"
  8. ↑ "惠普电脑出品80后终极“洗具”电影《一只狗的大学时光》欢乐首映." (Archive) People's Daily. August 27, 2010. Retrieved on January 12, 2012. "2010年8月12日，中国北京 – 由惠普电脑和土豆网联合出品的青春励志公路喜剧《一只狗的大学时光》在京城潮流地标三里屯美嘉欢乐影城举行盛大首映。"
  9. ↑ "《一只狗的大学时光》全国火热公映票房大卖." (Archive) Sohu. September 4, 2011. Retrieved on January 12, 2012. "影片于9月3日全国公映票房大卖。"
  10. 1 2 "《一只狗的大学时光》票房飘红 惠普加投资做续集." (Archive) Mtime. August 31, 2010. Retrieved on January 12, 2012. "据悉，影片主创将于8月31日至9月1日于上海环艺影城、9月2日于南京金陵工人影城、9月3日于杭州新远国际影城、庆春银泰卢米埃影城、9月4日于深圳金逸国际影城、武汉万达国际影城、9月5日于广州金幕影业、9月11日于北京美嘉欢乐影城进行宣传造势。" and "惠普将投五千万做续集" and "随着影片票房的全线飘红，记者了解到出品方惠普对《一只狗的大学时光II》投资金额再度提升，将达到5000万元，这也足以显见IT巨头惠普进入娱乐行业的野心。"
  11. ↑ "《一只狗的大学时光》院线上映票房全线飘红." (Archive) Tianjin Enorth Netnews (enorth). August 30, 2010. Retrieved on January 12, 2012. "据悉，到截止发稿前中影数字已给《一只狗的大学时光》制作了690个数字拷贝，这已是中大型片的规格，全国各地影院也正在积极的申请放映，同时片方已经投入到追求拷贝的工作中。"
  12. ↑ "《一只狗的大学时光》角色介绍：大雄." pet.PCLady.com.cn. PCGroup. August 31, 2010. Retrieved on January 15, 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "《一只狗的大学时光》网络小胖台词成流行语." (Archive) QQ Entertainment News. August 8, 2010. Retrieved on January 13, 2012. "影片中把诙谐台词演绎的淋漓尽致的当推在片中饰演“大雄”的网络小胖。"
  14. 1 2 3 "《一只狗》主创将赴八城市 网络小胖受期待(图)." (Archive) QQ Entertainment News. August 26, 2010. Retrieved on January 14, 2012.
  15. ↑ "影评：《一只狗的大学时光》最让人泪奔瞬间." (Archive) Sina. September 5, 2010. Retrieved on January 13, 2012. "《一只狗的大学时光》最让人泪奔瞬间"
  16. ↑ "影评：一只狗的大学时光 无厘头的寻梦青春." (Archive) Sohu. August 12, 2010. Retrieved on January 13, 2012. "影评：一只狗的大学时光 无厘头的寻梦青春"
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