The World

Critics Consensus

Though perhaps too slowly paced and long, The World offers an intriguing glimpse into China's modernization and the growing ennui of some of its people.

72%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 46

65%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,754
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The World Photos

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Movie Info

A young dancer, her security-guard boyfriend and others work at World Park, a bizarre cross-pollination of Las Vegas and Epcot Center where visitors can interact with famous international monuments without ever leaving the Bejing suburbs. Daily lavish shows are performed amongst replicas of the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, St. Mark's Square, Big Ben, the Pyramids and even the Twin Towers. But working beyond the kitsch potential, 'The World' casts a compassionate eye on the daily loves, friendships and desperate dreams of these provincial workers.
  • Rating:
    NR
  • Genre:
    Art House & International, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Zhangke Jia
  • Written By:
    Zhangke Jia
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Zeitgeist Films

Cast

Tao Zhao
as Tao
Taisheng Chen
as Taisheng
Jue Jing
as Xiaowei
Zhong-wei Jiang
as Niu
Wang Yi-qun
as Qun
Yi-qun Wang
as Qun
Hong Wei Wang
as Sanlai
Wang Hong Wei
as Sanlai
Jing Dong Liang
as Tao's Ex-Boyfriend
Shuai Ji
as Erxiao
Xiang Wan
as Youyou
Liu Juan
as Yanqing
Alla Shcherbakova
as Anna
Juan Iu
as Yanqing
Xiaodong Liu
as Karaoke singer
Xiaoshuai Wang
as Businessman
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News & Interviews for The World

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Critic Reviews for The World

All Critics (46) | Top Critics (18) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (13)

View All Critic Reviews (46)

Audience Reviews for The World

  • Jul 12, 2009
    Definitely worth watching for its' absolutely stunning cinematography. The film takes place almost entirely inside a 114-acre theme park, World Park, on the outskirts of Beijing. The park contains 1/3 scaled replicas of internationally renowned buildings and sites, including the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, London Bridge, etc. A slow-paced melodrama of contemporary Chinese society, with something to say about the growing uniformity of our world. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=world.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/world.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
    El Hombre I Super Reviewer
  • Feb 08, 2009
    a unique vision of 'the world' as a theme park in beijing and the mundane lives of the workers there. a gorgeous looking film with surprise animated sequences
    Stella D Super Reviewer
  • Jan 20, 2009
    A very dull and boring movie. I know it is supposed to show the bleakness of contemporary urban Chinese live in an oppositional context to the "World" (which is a large Disney Worldesque theme park). But personally, I think it utterly fills. There are many moments of silence, but they are not filled with despair or sadness but are just empty. One should not mistake silence and lowkey direction for deepness. There are many movies succesfully portraying dystopian societies (think Shane Meadows, De Sica etc.), but this is not one of them. Stay away.
    Henrik S Super Reviewer
  • Sep 12, 2007
    An unfortunately average portrayal of how a culture interprets the rest of the world and adapts to it.
    Edward B Super Reviewer
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