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Life on a String (1990)

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Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 14

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Movie Info

Life on a String is Chen Kaige's most philosophical and enigmatic work to date. The film depicts the life of two blind musicians, a master and a disciple, as they wander through rural China. Liu Zhongyuan stars as the older, banjo-playing musician who believes that his sight will be restored after wearing out his 1000th string. While the master regards music as a means to a higher level of wisdom, his disciple views music as a thoroughly sensual experience to be enjoyed in the present. As the

Unrated, 1 hr. 50 min.

Art House & International, Drama

Directed By: Kaige Chen

On DVD: May 18, 1994

Cast

Liu Zhongyuan
Old Musician
Huang Lei
Young Musician
Xu Qing
Lanxiu
Yao Jingou
Ma Ling
Noodleshop Owner's Wife
Zhang Zhenguan

Critic Reviews for Life on a String

All Critics (8) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (0) | DVD (3)

Chen's symbols at times clash as expressively as Paradjanov's

September 25, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

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Audience Reviews for Life on a String

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I'm having a hard time believing that 11 out of 11 people liked this movie. I have a hard time believing 11 people sat through this movie. I think that if you showed this movie to 11 inmates in a psych ward and promised them ice cream if they said that they liked the movie, you'd STILL have some that would have

June 17, 2011