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The 1976 Tangshan Earthquake, considered the second deadliest quake in recorded history, serves as the catalyst for a touching melodrama directed by Feng Xiaogang. Though the DVD release is devoid of extras, the strength of the feature makes it worthy of at least a rental.
Aftershock
Release Date: Available now
Studio: First China Lion, distributed by New Video
Packaging/Materials: Single-disc DVD case
Year: 2010
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2:15:35
MSRP: $26.95
THE FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURES
Video
2.35:1 anamorphic
NA
Audio
Dolby Digital: Mandarin 2.0
NA
Subtitles
English, Mandarin
NA
The Feature: 4/5
In the early morning hours on July 28,1976 a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck near the city of Tangshan, China. Some 16 hours later it was followed by a 7.1 magnitude aftershock, causing further damage and loss of life to an already devastated populace. Cited as the second deadliest earthquake in recorded history, the death toll has been estimated to be between 242,000 to 779,000 people (the disparity is due to unreliable numbers provided by the Chinese government at the time). With the population of Tangshan estimated around 1.6 million, the higher figure would mean almost half the city was killed in the quake and its aftermath.
Wrapping one's head around such a devastating tragedy is difficult, but in his earnest melodrama director Feng Xiaogang provides some perspective on the impact by focusing on one modest family - the truck driver Da Qiang (Zhang Guoqiang), his wife Yuan Ni (Xu Fan), and their twins Fang Da (Zhang Jiajun as a child, Li Chen as an adult) and Fang Deng (Zhang Zifeng as a child, Zhang Jingchu as an adult).
The first 20 minutes of the film are especially harrowing as the main characters attempt to survive the massive earthquake event. Though the digital effects are sometimes obvious, there's no questioning the emotional resonance of the sequence, as Da Qiang sacrifices himself to save his family, Yuan Ni is forced to choose which of her children should be rescued from the rubble, and the daughter, Fang Deng, is left for dead, only to miraculously regain consciousness long after her mother and brother have evacuated from the area.
The story then splits into two parallel tracks as Yuan Ni and her son rebuild their lives in Tangshan, while Fang Deng is eventually adopted by a couple serving in the People's Liberation Army. Though it's obvious that a reunion of the three characters will be forthcoming, the story takes its time to show the psychological and emotional impact of the disaster on their lives. In this respect, be sure to have plenty of Kleenex on hand. "Aftershock" is a five-hanky weeper if there ever was one. Still, the film rarely feels manipulative, as the earthquake was so tremendous in its scope that it's hard not believe it wouldn't have a lingering influence on the lives of those who managed to survive it. The director makes this point so persuasively that even noticeable missteps in the final act - the casting of a practically robotic extra to play Feng Deng's husband and a few too many conveniences directing the course of the finale - are ultimately overshadowed by the scenes that give the family their much-deserved catharsis. It's a testament to Feng's storytelling skills and the actors' performances that we are there craving the resolution as much as the characters themselves.
Video Quality: 3/5
The 2.35:1 anamorphically enhanced image features nicely saturated color, strong contrast and deep blacks, though detail tends to be lacking, especially in backgrounds and widescreen compositions. There's visible noise in some spots, but not enough to be distracting. However, after a steady diet of Blu-rays and high definition TV broadcasts, it's hard not to feel a little disappointed in the image quality. Unfortunately, anyone looking for a Blu-ray release for the film will have to look to an Asian import.
Audio Quality: 3/5
Dialogue in the Dolby Digital 2.0 presentation is consistently clear and detailed (I can't speak to its intelligibility as my knowledge of Mandarin is negligible). The earthquake sequence features the most amount of LFE and directional sound effects, and for a 2.0 track it exhibits a respectable depth and breadth. English subtitles are easy to read and consistently legible.
Special Features: 0/5
The release includes no extras, which is disappointing as information about the digital re-creation of the earthquake and development of the story would have been quite interesting.
Recap
The Feature: 4/5
Video Quality: 3/5
Audio Quality: 3/5
Special Features: 0/5
Overall Score (not an average): 3/5
New Video turns in a decent presentation of a Chinese film dramatizing the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake and its effect on one family of survivors. The release includes no extras, which is disappointing given some fairly obvious points of interest from behind-the-scenes. Still, the feature is strong enough to merit at least a rental.
Aftershock
Release Date: Available now
Studio: First China Lion, distributed by New Video
Packaging/Materials: Single-disc DVD case
Year: 2010
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2:15:35
MSRP: $26.95
THE FEATURE
SPECIAL FEATURES
Video
2.35:1 anamorphic
NA
Audio
Dolby Digital: Mandarin 2.0
NA
Subtitles
English, Mandarin
NA
The Feature: 4/5
In the early morning hours on July 28,1976 a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck near the city of Tangshan, China. Some 16 hours later it was followed by a 7.1 magnitude aftershock, causing further damage and loss of life to an already devastated populace. Cited as the second deadliest earthquake in recorded history, the death toll has been estimated to be between 242,000 to 779,000 people (the disparity is due to unreliable numbers provided by the Chinese government at the time). With the population of Tangshan estimated around 1.6 million, the higher figure would mean almost half the city was killed in the quake and its aftermath.
Wrapping one's head around such a devastating tragedy is difficult, but in his earnest melodrama director Feng Xiaogang provides some perspective on the impact by focusing on one modest family - the truck driver Da Qiang (Zhang Guoqiang), his wife Yuan Ni (Xu Fan), and their twins Fang Da (Zhang Jiajun as a child, Li Chen as an adult) and Fang Deng (Zhang Zifeng as a child, Zhang Jingchu as an adult).
The first 20 minutes of the film are especially harrowing as the main characters attempt to survive the massive earthquake event. Though the digital effects are sometimes obvious, there's no questioning the emotional resonance of the sequence, as Da Qiang sacrifices himself to save his family, Yuan Ni is forced to choose which of her children should be rescued from the rubble, and the daughter, Fang Deng, is left for dead, only to miraculously regain consciousness long after her mother and brother have evacuated from the area.
The story then splits into two parallel tracks as Yuan Ni and her son rebuild their lives in Tangshan, while Fang Deng is eventually adopted by a couple serving in the People's Liberation Army. Though it's obvious that a reunion of the three characters will be forthcoming, the story takes its time to show the psychological and emotional impact of the disaster on their lives. In this respect, be sure to have plenty of Kleenex on hand. "Aftershock" is a five-hanky weeper if there ever was one. Still, the film rarely feels manipulative, as the earthquake was so tremendous in its scope that it's hard not believe it wouldn't have a lingering influence on the lives of those who managed to survive it. The director makes this point so persuasively that even noticeable missteps in the final act - the casting of a practically robotic extra to play Feng Deng's husband and a few too many conveniences directing the course of the finale - are ultimately overshadowed by the scenes that give the family their much-deserved catharsis. It's a testament to Feng's storytelling skills and the actors' performances that we are there craving the resolution as much as the characters themselves.
Video Quality: 3/5
The 2.35:1 anamorphically enhanced image features nicely saturated color, strong contrast and deep blacks, though detail tends to be lacking, especially in backgrounds and widescreen compositions. There's visible noise in some spots, but not enough to be distracting. However, after a steady diet of Blu-rays and high definition TV broadcasts, it's hard not to feel a little disappointed in the image quality. Unfortunately, anyone looking for a Blu-ray release for the film will have to look to an Asian import.
Audio Quality: 3/5
Dialogue in the Dolby Digital 2.0 presentation is consistently clear and detailed (I can't speak to its intelligibility as my knowledge of Mandarin is negligible). The earthquake sequence features the most amount of LFE and directional sound effects, and for a 2.0 track it exhibits a respectable depth and breadth. English subtitles are easy to read and consistently legible.
Special Features: 0/5
The release includes no extras, which is disappointing as information about the digital re-creation of the earthquake and development of the story would have been quite interesting.
Recap
The Feature: 4/5
Video Quality: 3/5
Audio Quality: 3/5
Special Features: 0/5
Overall Score (not an average): 3/5
New Video turns in a decent presentation of a Chinese film dramatizing the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake and its effect on one family of survivors. The release includes no extras, which is disappointing given some fairly obvious points of interest from behind-the-scenes. Still, the feature is strong enough to merit at least a rental.
