Zhou Yu's Train

92 minutesCountryChinaLanguageMandarin

Zhou Yu's Train (simplified Chinese: 周渔的火车; traditional Chinese: 周漁的火車; pinyin: zhōu yú de huǒchē) is a 2002 Chinese film, based on a novella by Bei Cun, directed by Sun Zhou, and starring Gong Li and Tony Leung Ka-Fai.

The title refers to a poetic compilation published by the character in the movie played by Leung. The story starts at a book signing event and leads to the memories of the two lovers encounters. Zhou Yu maintained the relationship by commuting on the train, hence the title of the movie.

• Tagline: Her love is torn between a doctor and a poet.

The story is set in Chongyang (Hubei province, China) and Sanming (Fujian province). Zhou Yu, a ceramics artist from Sanming falls in love with the poet Chen Qing, who lives in Chongyang, a town several hundred kilometers from Sanming. During the train trips between Sanming and Chongyang, she also meets Zhang Qiang, a veterinary surgeon.

Gong Li plays two characters who only differ by their hair styles, namely Zhou Yu and the short-haired Xiu. The film is pieced together with many flashbacks in no particular chronological order. The relationship between the two women is unclear until the end of the film.

• Official website with synopsis, cast & crew, comments on production, and trailers (requires Flash).
• Zhou Yu's Train at IMDb
• Zhou Yu's Train at AllMovie
• Zhou Yu's Train at Rotten Tomatoes
• Kaori Shoji: Gong Li back on board, but on the wrong track. The Japan Times, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003.
• Michael O'Sullivan: Melodrama Derails 'Zhou Yu's Train'. The Washington Post Friday, August 27, 2004; Page WE31
• Derek Elley: Zhou Yu's Train / Zhou Yu de Huoche (China-Hong Kong). Variety Wed., Mar. 5, 2003.
• Dave Kehr: Zhou Yu's Train (2003): Torn Between a Dreamy Idealist and a Veterinarian. New York Times July 16, 2004.
• Graham Fuller: Shots in the dark: the reality of the rails may be all iron and steel, but when it comes to the movies, they're magic. February 2005.