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Ocean Heaven (2010) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region 3

Jet Li (Actor) | Wen Zhang (Actor) | Gwei Lun Mei (Actor) | Yong Mei (Actor)
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Customer Rating: Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10 (2)
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YesAsia Editorial Description

Martial arts actor Jet Li takes on a rare dramatic role without any action elements in Ocean Heaven, the directorial debut of Xue Xiaolu, who co-wrote and starred in Chen Kaige's Together. As she did in Chen's film, Xue explores the dynamics of a father-son relationship, particularly how a dutiful father struggles to take care of his adult autistic son in the face of death. The film has gathered an impressive behind-the-scenes team, including cinematographer Christopher Doyle (Chungking Express), composer Hisaishi Joe, art director Yee Chung Man (Once Upon a Time in China), and editor William Cheung Suk Ping (In the Mood For Love). A devoted philanthropist and the uncle of an autistic child himself, Jet Li took no salary for his starring role with the hopes that the film will raise awareness for the ten million-plus autism sufferers in China.

Marine theme park technician Xingchang (Jet Li) has been taking care of his autistic son Dafu (Wen Zhang) since the death of his wife (Gao Yuanyuan) 14 years ago. When he's diagnosed with liver cancer, Xingchang is determined to spend what's left of his life training his 21-year-old son to take care of himself and finding him an appropriate institution. Meanwhile, a clown traveling with a circus troupe (Guey Lun Mei, Secret) strikes up a simple friendship with Dafu, and a kind neighbor attempts to start a romantic relationship with Xingchang without knowing about his disease.

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Technical Information

Product Title: Ocean Heaven (2010) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) 海洋天堂 (2010) (DVD) (香港版) 海洋天堂 (2010) (DVD) (香港版) 海洋天堂 (DVD) (香港版) Ocean Heaven (2010) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Artist Name(s): Jet Li (Actor) | Wen Zhang (Actor) | Gwei Lun Mei (Actor) | Yong Mei (Actor) | Gao Yuan Yuan (Actor) | Dong Yong (Actor) | Chen Rui | Yan Min Qiu (Actor) | Zhu Yuan Yuan (Actor) | Christopher Doyle | Yee Chung Man | William Chang 李 連杰 (Actor) | 文 章 (Actor) | 桂綸鎂 (Actor) | 詠梅 (Actor) | 高圓圓 (Actor) | 董勇 (Actor) | 陳瑞 | 嚴 敏裘 (Actor) | 朱媛媛 (Actor) | 杜可風 | 奚仲文 | 張 叔平 李 连杰 (Actor) | 文 章 (Actor) | 桂纶镁 (Actor) | 咏梅 (Actor) | 高圆圆 (Actor) | 董勇 (Actor) | 陈瑞 | 严 敏裘 (Actor) | 朱媛媛 (Actor) | 杜可风 | 奚仲文 | 张 叔平 李連杰(ジェット・リー) (Actor) | 文章(ウェン・チャン) (Actor) | 桂綸鎂 (グイ・ルンメイ) (Actor) | ヨン・メイ (Actor) | 高圓圓 (カオ・ユアンユアン) (Actor) | ナタリー・シャール (Actor) | 董勇(ドン・ヨン) (Actor) | 陳瑞 (チェン・ルイ) | Yan Min Qiu (Actor) | 朱媛媛(ジュー・ユエンユエン) (Actor) | 杜可風 (クリストファー・ドイル) | Yee Chung Man | 張叔平 이연걸 (Actor) | Wen Zhang (Actor) | Gwei Lun Mei (Actor) | Yong Mei (Actor) | Gao Yuan Yuan (Actor) | Dong Yong (Actor) | Chen Rui | Yan Min Qiu (Actor) | Zhu Yuan Yuan (Actor) | Christopher Doyle | Yee Chung Man | 張叔平(ウィリアム・チャン)
Director: Xue Xiao Lu 薛曉路 薛晓路 薛曉路 (シュエ・シャオルー) Xue Xiao Lu
Release Date: 2010-09-09
Language: Cantonese, Mandarin
Subtitles: English, Traditional Chinese
Place of Origin: China
Picture Format: NTSC What is it?
Aspect Ratio: 1.78 : 1
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 5.1
Disc Format(s): DVD, DVD-5
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan) What is it?
Rating: IIA
Duration: 96 (mins)
Publisher: Edko Films Ltd. (HK)
Package Weight: 120 (g)
Shipment Unit: 1 What is it?
YesAsia Catalog No.: 1023082763

Product Information

Director: Xue Xiao Lu

Dafu is one of the million autism patients in China: he looks absent-minded, repeats other people's words, swims with amazing ease, keeps everything at home in exact order... and maybe he is not totally aware of his mother's death some years ago. Working in an aquarium, Wang Xincheng takes tender care of this twenty-two-year-old son of his. With the generous help of the neighbors, the two love happily together. Yet, the father understands very well that in the end, he will have to depart from the world, leaving his son alone - and that day will come sooner than everyone is ready to believe.

This film is an ode to a father who is determined to find shelter for his son before it is too late. In the process, the boy achieves a measure of independence necessary for both to let go.
Additional Information may be provided by the manufacturer, supplier, or a third party, and may be in its original language

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Awards

This film has received 5 award nomination(s). All Award-Winning Asian Films

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YumCha! Asian Entertainment Reviews and Features

Professional Review of "Ocean Heaven (2010) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)"

August 31, 2010

No kung fu, no problem. Jet Li doesn't fight in Ocean Heaven, and that's just fine. A could-be overbearing tearjerker, Ocean Heaven surprises in just how straightforward and simple it is. Writer-director Xue Xiaolu (screenwriter for Chen Kaige's Together) eschews the manipulative theatrics and overdone sentimentality of similarly plotted films to deliver something restrained and rewarding. Lives won't change - hell, few films could ever claim to do that anyway - but Ocean Heaven is a worthy little drama that's much better than its movie-of-the-week subject matter might lead one to believe.

Jet Li stars as Wang Xincheng, father to autistic 22 year-old Wang Dafu (Wen Zhang). The film opens on a dark note, with Xincheng attempting to drown himself and Dafu in the ocean. Xincheng's double suicide attempt is understandable; he's suffering from terminal liver cancer, and thinks nobody can take care of Dafu after his passing. But Dafu squirms free of their intended watery grave, leading Xincheng to believe that fate must intend something else for his son. Xincheng goes about searching for a new home for Dafu, while also teaching him how to get along without his dear old dad. Meanwhile, Dafu strikes up a new, possibly rewarding friendship with a traveling circus clown named Ling (Guey Lun-Mei).

Does Dafu fall in love with Ling and vice-versa? Maybe in a super-glossy attempt at this story, but here the friendship between the two characters is platonic and believable. There's very little development for their connection, but the actors and situations sell it such that it’s easy to buy. Likewise, the narrative progresses organically and realistically, with exposition delivered at the right times and by the right people. Ocean Heaven details Xincheng's daily struggle to establish Dafu's future, with as much learned through action as through dialogue. In one sequence, Xincheng tries to teach Dafu how to ride the bus to his new job, with plenty of instruction and repetition demonstrating Xincheng’s uphill battle. In another sequence, it's Xincheng teaching Dafu how to dress himself. Hardly exciting, but Xue Xialou's solid storytelling makes each moment matter.

The actors help tremendously. Jet Li's performance is a success in that the actor makes you forget that you're watching Jet Li, martial arts superstar. He brings such a common, unassuming decency to his character that when neighbor Madam Chai (Zhu Yuanyuan) tells him that he's basically the best man ever, it's an earned, even touching sentiment. Wen Zhang is flawless as Dafu, appearing perfectly opaque as his character should. Much of the drama revolves around whether or not Dafu will learn, and Wen Zhang's performance makes that concern as real for the audience as it is for Xincheng. In supporting roles, Zhu Yuanyuan, Dong Yong (Fearless) and Guey Lun-Mei are fine. Gao Yuanyuan (City of Life and Death) turns up in a small, effective cameo as Xincheng's departed wife.

The film's big hook is pretty much revealed on the poster, and sounds incredibly cheesy taken at face value. However, Xue Xiaolu doesn't play it as such, naturally revealing Xincheng's grand plan for after he passes away in an almost offhand manner. There are a few forced moments along the way, but Ocean Heaven is told in such a deliberately straightforward manner that it ends up affecting less than it possibly could. Rarely does the film seem to be asking for tears, and the few moments that seem right out of the tearjerker playbook (Exhibit A: Dafu gets lost and Xincheng searches for him) aren't taken to the extremes they could be. Ocean Heaven isn't contemplative either, meaning we're not expected to wring meaning from people gazing into the distance. This is a simple tale about a man who cares for his son, and the filmmakers never oversell that.

Jet Li reportedly took only a single dollar to work on Ocean Heaven, with his participation given due to the film's humanitarian message. Li wasn't the only big name who came on board. Aside from Guey Lun-Mei, there's also production designer Yee Chung-Man (Curse of the Golden Flower, Comrades, Almost a Love Story), cinematographer Christopher Doyle (too many Wong Kar-Wai movies to mention), editor William Chang Suk-Ping (also too many Wong Kar-Wai movies to mention) and composer Joe Hisaishi (all of Hayao Miyazaki's films). Hold on - Christopher Doyle and Joe Hisaishi worked on this film? Holy hell, it's almost like the filmmakers are cheating! Factor in all of those individuals, plus a song penned and performed by some guy named Jay Chou, and you have a ridiculous amount of talent working on Ocean Heaven. Given the film’s modest budget (less than a million US dollars), it's apparent that everyone who worked on the film cared for its subject matter and themes, and their efforts should be appreciated. So should the film.

by Kozo - LoveHKFilm.com

Editor's Pick of "Ocean Heaven (2010) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)"

Picked By Rockman
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February 22, 2011

Movie diseases in real life
I usually avoid films with terminal illness or diseases like autism because directors tend to take their effects and exaggerate them to grand, melodramatic levels. Imagine my reservations about Ocean Heaven when I read that it would feature both a terminal illness and an autistic adult. Fortunately, writer-director Xue Xiaolu exercised an incredible amount of restraint in her directorial debut, crafting a simple and poignant story about parental sacrifice.


In a bit of surprise casting, Jet Li puts away any traces of his action superstar status to play Xincheng, a widower who devotes literally every second of his life to his adult autistic son Dafu (Wen Zhang). However, the film opens with Xincheng's failed attempt to end his and Dafu's lives. The reason, revealed later on, is simple: Xincheng's been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, and China doesn't have a suitable facility that will take in autistic adults.


Xue's most interesting choice is to start the film in the middle of Xincheng and Dafu's difficult situation. Like real life, there's no clear beginning or ending in Ocean Heaven, presenting a slice of these ordinary people's lives without any definitive resolution. Without any discernible narrative path, Xue slowly introduces the kind characters around Xincheng and Dafu - the understanding owner of the marine park Xincheng works at, a female neighbor who pines for Xincheng, and a visiting clown (Guey Lun Mei) who strikes up a friendship with Dafu.


As a result, Ocean Heaven really shines with the development of its characters. The quiet dignified character of Xincheng is brought wonderfully to life by Jet Li's subtle dramatic performance, while Wen Zhang absolutely disappears into the world of the autistic Dafu, and Zhu Yuanyuan is immensely likable as Xincheng's kind neighbor. Even though Guey's friendly clown character doesn't get enough screen time to register as much as those three characters, Guey's natural charm does shine through in her few scenes.


Instead of going up against any one villain, the main conflict in Ocean Heaven is between an inadequate system and those who have fallen into a gray area that the government doesn't know exists. The film, as one can expect, isn't openly critical of the institution, instead emphasizing the little glimmers of hope that exist in life.


Some may see that lack of ambition as Ocean Heaven's biggest fault. While it doesn't reach for the melodramatic excess of a commercial film, it also doesn't attempt for the art film route of achieving great thematic depths. Upon closer inspection, Ocean Heaven is smart to be right in the middle, as it helps to bring issues surrounding autism closer to real life and thus, easier for viewers to relate to. Ocean Heaven doesn't seem like an important film because it doesn't call attention to itself or the faults of the government. Instead, it just tries to highlight the difficult lives of an autism-afflicted family that could easily live next to us. For that, Ocean Heaven is a respectful disease drama that even non-fans of the genre should look out for.

Feature articles that mention "Ocean Heaven (2010) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)"

This original content has been created by or licensed to YesAsia.com, and cannot be copied or republished in any medium without the express written permission of YesAsia.com.

Customer Review of "Ocean Heaven (2010) (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)"

Average Customer Rating for this Edition: Customer Review Rated Bad 7 - 7 out of 10 (2)

Lam
See all my reviews


November 14, 2010

2 people found this review helpful

effective tear jerker. Customer Review Rated Bad 8 - 8 out of 10
Jet Li's non martial arts film is a success in affecting the audience emotionally, the simple tale of a father with a terminal illness striving to teach and care for his son is handle so well, the audience genuinely feel the emotions.

the director handles thing subtley and effectively, hardly ever going over board with the emotional moments, this makes things feel real. camera shots linger on scenes adding to the emotions and things are shown or hinted at rather than spelt; again giving a sense of reality. music is also used sparsely relying on the onscreen actions and performance making for some tear inducing moments.

performances are top notch; jet li makes a credible average joe making you forget his star status, the supporting cast is also in top form but it is Wen Zhang that shines. his performance as the autistic is outstanding; he makes the audience believe that he is simple minded, almost child like and channels a likable character.

jet li recieve next to no salary making this film highlighting his great support of the subject matter. filmed using a modest budget but featuring a host of talents the film makes use of all its assets and truly delivers

the only negative is that there is minor romance or relationship that never becomes fully realised but due to great performance they make the relationship credible. sometimes the score can become a bit over melodramatic compared to the quieter emotional moments but thats a minor quibble.

highly recommended. a morale uplifting and heart warming film that deserves recognition.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)
jasmine
See all my reviews


October 11, 2010

Hero in Another Form Customer Review Rated Bad 6 - 6 out of 10
A totally non-martial arts/kungfu movie from Jet. A simple script with a simple message & with tear-jerking effect.

Jet takes on the role of a widower left to care for his 21yr old autistic son, Dafu. When he learnt of his terminal liver cancer, he was more determined to expose Dafu to more responsibility and daily chores to encourage him to be more independent. To complicate matters they have never been separated before and because of Dafu's age, many institutions rejected his applications. At one stage he was willing to commit suicide together with his son.

This movie shows us only a fraction of the endless hours of heart-wrenching frustrations, devoted love & patience & compassion which I'm sure many victims' families have had to endure.

Hats off to Jet!!!
Did you find this review helpful? Yes (Report This)

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