Yanagawa (Chinese: 漫长的告白, lit. A Lasting Confession) is a 2021 Chinese romantic drama film written and directed by Korean-Chinese filmmaker Zhang Lü and stars Ni Ni, Zhang Luyi and Xin Baiqing. It was screened as opening film of Pingyao International Film Festival[1] and invited for "ICONS" section at the 26th Busan International Film Festival on October 12, 2021.[2] It was also premiered in competition at the 25th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on November 17, 2021.[3] The film won the highest award Golden Cyclo at the 28th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema.[4][5] It had been a theatrical release in China on August 12, 2022.[6]

Yanagawa
Promotional poster
Chinese漫长的告白
Hanyu PinyinMàncháng de gàobái
Directed byZhang Lü
Screenplay byZhang Lü
Produced byNai An
Cao Liuying Cao
Deng Cilin
StarringNi Ni
Zhang Luyi
Xin Baiqing
CinematographyPark Jung-hoon
Edited bySun Yixin
Liu Xinzhu
Music byXiao He
Production
companies
Midnight Blur
Hishow Entertainment
Distributed byHishow Entertainment
Foggy (Japan)
Iha Films (Japan)
Release dates
Running time
113 minutes
CountryChina
LanguagesChinese
Japanese
English

Plot

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Li Dong (Zhang Luyi) in his youth had once admired a woman named A Chuan (Ni Ni), but one day A Chuan's sudden disappearance became a knot in his heart that he could not solve for more than ten years. In order to resolve their thoughts, Li Dong and his brother Li Chun (Xin Baiqing) went to Liu Chuan, who has the same name as A Chuan, just to see her again. As they met again, the truth of many past stories surfaced, and Li Dong also knew the real reason for A Chuan's departure back then, but his deep love for A Chuan was in this affectionate confession of going to "her" hometown intensifying...

Cast

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  • Ni Ni as A Chuan
  • Zhang Luyi as Li Dong
  • Xin Baiqing as Li Chun
  • Sosuke Ikematsu as Daiki Nakayama
  • Ryoko Nakano as Bar proprietress (an old woman in Yanagawa)
  • Ninon as Nakayama's daughter
  • Wang Jiajia as Li Chun's wife
  • Nai An as a smoking woman
  • Mao Le as a Japanese grocery store owner
  • Xiao He
  • Lee Jun-dong

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Recipients Result
2021 25th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival[7] Grand Prix for Best Film Yanagawa Nominated
2022 28th Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema Golden Cyclo Won
26th Changchun Film Festival Best Music Xiao He Nominated
16th Chinese American Film Festival[8] Golden Angel Award Film Yanagawa Won
Best Screenplay Zhang Lü Won
35th Golden Rooster Awards[9] Best Low/Medium-budget Feature Yanagawa Won
Best Writing Zhang Lü Nominated
Best Actress Ni Ni Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Xin Baiqing Won
2023 14th China Film Director's Guild Awards[10][11] Best Film Yanagawa Nominated
Special Jury Award[12] Won
Best Director Zhang Lü Shortlisted
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Actress Ni Ni Shortlisted
Best Actor Xin Baiqing Nominated
Zhang Luyi Shortlisted

References

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  1. ^ "Pingyao film festival to open with 'Yanagawa', close with 'The Great Director'". 12 October 2021.
  2. ^ "'Yanagawa': Busan Icon Zhang Lu Continues his Exploration of East Asian Identity". Variety. 12 October 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Yanagawa - PÖFF". PÖFF (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  4. ^ "'Yanagawa,' 'Aloners' Win Top Prizes at Vesoul Asian Film Festival". Variety. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  5. ^ "The Vesoul International Asian Cinema Festival honors "Yanagawa", by Chinese director Zhang Lu". Actual News Magazine. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  6. ^ "爱情片《漫长的告白》8月12日上映". visitbeijing. 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  7. ^ "Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival announces its full 2021 Official Selection lineup". PÖFF (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  8. ^ "Chinese American Film Festival - 2022 CAFF GOLDEN ANGEL AWARD". Chinese American Film Festival. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  9. ^ "第35届金鸡奖提名出炉 沈腾朱一龙易烊千玺等入围". Sina Ent. (in Chinese). 2022-11-01. Archived from the original on 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  10. ^ "2020-2022年度导协表彰大会初评入围名单揭晓" [The preliminary list of finalists for the 2020-2022 Directors Association Commendation Conference has been announced] (in Chinese). China Film Director's Guild. 16 December 2023. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024 – via Beijing News.
  11. ^ "中国电影导演协会公布年度荣誉提名名单 竞争激烈" [China Film Directors Association announces annual honor nomination list, fierce competition]. QQ News (in Chinese). 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024.
  12. ^ "导协2020-2023年年度荣誉名单公开!张艺谋获杰出贡献导演" [The Directors Association's 2020-2023 annual honor list is released! Zhang Yimou won the Outstanding Contribution Director Award]. Sohu (in Chinese). 1 June 2024. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024.
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