Under threats of death from the ruling Japanese army, a WWII Chinese village cares for a wounded Japanese soldier and a Chinese translator-collaborator. Awaiting the promised rescue mission, the villagers are in a quandary, uncertain whether to free or kill their captives. The New Year passes as botched escapes and assassination attempts pile up. A bold plan is finally devised by the foolhardy Ma Dasan (Jiang Wen) to return the men to the Imperial Army in exchange for wheat. Complications mount, varying in significance from the atom bomb to a horny donkey.

The notion of honor and heroism, reverential in Eastern interpretations of WWII, are skewered in this chaotic black comedy depicting the insanity of war. Shot in black and white, actor-director Jiang Wen's (the lead in RED SORGHUM) daring film ranges in tone from a grave absurdist farce to a solemn cry for peace. China banned the film and reportedly briefly blacklisted Jiang Wen after the controversial film won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.

THEATRICAL RELEASE: DECEMBER 18, 2002 (NY)

DVD Features:

Region 1
Note: This release is a new digital transfer.
Keep Case
Special Edition
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0 - Japanese
Additional Release Material:
Trailers: Original Theatrical Trailer
Introduction: Steven Soderbergh - Director
Video Interview - Juang Wen - Director
Text/Photo Galleries:
Filmograghy:
1. Jiaan Wen
Biographies: Jiang Wen

Jiang Wen: Chinese Actor
Jiang Hongbo: Actor, DEVILS ON THE DOORSTEP (2002)
Kagawa Teruyuki: Actor, DEVILS ON THE DOORSTEP (2002)
Yuan Ding: Actor, DEVILS ON THE DOORSTEP (2002)
Cong Zhijun: Actor, DEVILS ON THE DOORSTEP (2002)

Jiang Wen: Chinese Actor

Jiang Wen: Chinese Actor
You Fengwei: Screenwriter, DEVILS ON THE DOORSTEP (2002)
Shi Jianquan: Screenwriter, DEVILS ON THE DOORSTEP (2002)
Shu Ping: Screenwriter, DEVILS ON THE DOORSTEP (2002)

"...[A] grimly amusing antiwar film..."