Big Shot's Funeral (2003)

Synopsis: A comedic fable about culture clash and finding your way amidst the dizzying change of the modern world. Big Shot's Funeral spins the story of two men who find that their friendship and spiritual connection transcends the language barrier... A comedic fable about culture clash and finding your way amidst the dizzying change of the modern world. Big Shot's Funeral spins the story of two men who find that their friendship and spiritual connection transcends the language barrier -- most of the time.

Don Tyler (Donald Sutherland) is a world-renowned film director whose work has brought him a lifetime of accolades. Now he's in Beijing shooting an epic about the last emperor of China's Qing dynasty. In the midst of shooting an intense scene portraying one of the emperor's concubines giving birth, he suddenly realizes he can't go on with the film. His self-confidence has deserted him and he hasn't the slightest idea what his picture is about.

YoYo (Ge You) is a down-on-his-luck Chinese cameraman who's been hired by Tyler's longtime assistant, the Chinese-born and Western-educated Lucy (Rosamund Kwan), to shoot footage of Tyler directing his film. YoYo is divorced and work has been tough to come by, but Tyler senses reserves of potential underneath YoYo's cynical exterior. With Lucy acting as a go-between, the two begin a wildly off-kilter dialogue about Buddhism and reincarnation as Tyler searches for a concept to guide his new film -- and, in the autumn of his life, begins to brood over his own possible end. A bit of translation error creeps into the cultural miscommunication, and Tyler becomes obsessed with the idea that the Chinese mark a person's death with a "comedy funeral" as a joyful celebration of a life well-lived.

Meanwhile, Tyler comes under intense pressure to complete the film from his studio boss and longtime friend, Tony (Paul Mazursky). Tony arrives in Beijing from LA with bad news: with the film behind schedule, Tony has sold the picture to a Japanese media company, and the Japanese want to replace Tyler with a young hotshot music video director.

Tyler takes the news hard; his health declines and he slips into a coma, but not before he makes his last request -- that YoYo shoot him one last time and give him a grand "comedy funeral."

Touched by his friendship with Tyler, YoYo takes on the task with enthusiasm, enlisting the help of his friend Louis (Ying Da), a concert promoter with a taste for the cheesy. Louis thinks big, planning an entertainment extravaganza to galvanize the world's attention. But Louis's plans are too cheesy for even YoYo to handle. He mixes the plan, but he and Louis are trapped; with contracts signed and the Forbidden City lined up as the venue, they're on the line for millions in costs.

YoYo brainstorms with Lucy, who he is falling for. With media attention for the funeral already assured, he and Louis decide to auction off advertising and sponsorships for the funeral to big companies all over the world. The plan is successful beyond anything they could have imagined, with advertisers anxious to get their brand names all over the televised funeral. Everything looks great until...

Tyler miraculously recovers -- meaning there's no funeral. And no funeral means scores of angry advertisers and creditors wanting their money back. Now YoYo's really on the firing line.

Can YoYo get out of his predicament without losing Lucy? Can Tyler help him? What will Tyler do about his unfinished film? The two of them still have some tricks up their sleeve in the surprising conclusion. -- © Columbia Pictures [More]

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Ge You, Rosamund Kwan, Paul Mazursky

Starring: Donald Sutherland, Ge You, Rosamund Kwan, Paul Mazursky

Director: Feng Xiaogang

Director: Feng Xiaogang
Screenwriter: Li Xiaoming
Studio: Columbia Pictures

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