The World

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The World

Released Jan 3, 1991

2h 20m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

At the Beijing World Park, a theme park that displays small versions of famous world monuments, one of the performers, Tao (Zhao Tao), is dating a guard named Taisheng (Taisheng Chen). However, they have a difficult bond, full of jealousy and miscommunication. While Tao forms friendships with other performers, Taisheng develops a fascination with Qun (Yi-qun Wang), a woman trying to join her husband in France. Despite their differences, Tao and Taisheng attempt to continue their relationship.

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.

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Jia's tenderness for his characters is infused with a quiet rage: as the wide-screen views freeze them in a confining emptiness, dead zones of action and dialogue suggest a land where imagination itself has been suppressed.

May 18, 2020

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G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

It's a heartbreaking, beautiful movie that gains strength from its deep characterizations.

Rated: 4/4

Sep 16, 2005

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Tom Keogh

Seattle Times

Its rewards come with patience and concentration.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 9, 2005

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Jia’s lively metaphor turns the World Park into a hollow place where workers remain exploited and confined, leaving them with almost no identity outside their constraints.

Rated: 3.5/4

Feb 25, 2025

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Nathanael Hood

Unseen Films

Has the kind of setting that would make the Surrealists weep with joy and envy.

Rated: 9/10

May 13, 2020

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Yasmin Shehab

Daily News Egypt

This isn't a tragedy, this is life as it is, with all its beauty and grimness intact.

Mar 14, 2018

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David K

it is slowly paced and could have been tightened up a little bit. However, the point is the characters' lives moving from mild, meaningless engagement to their isolation and loneliness. Not a happy movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/25

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Audience Member

O que resta a essas personagens, e talvez a nós cidadãos do mundo globalizado, é tocar da melhor maneira possível o seu caminho irresoluto e limitado, cujo maior regozijo é o escape ilusório proporcionado pelas imagens do kitsh da globalização. Leia mais: http://cinema-mon-amour31.webnode.com/news/o-mundo-shijie-de-zhang-ke-jia-china-2004-/

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

Review In A Nutshell: I just couldn't connect with the characters or the problems they are going through. The film also is paced slowly, which I wouldn't have minded if its content delivered something care-worthy. Though I was pleased with the natural performances from the cast and the film's musical score was memorable. This is a film I certainly need to watch at least once more as I am aware that it has something important or worthy to offer.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Review In A Nutshell: I just couldn't connect with the characters or the problems they are going through. The film also is paced slowly, which I wouldn't have minded if its content delivered something care-worthy. Though I was pleased with the natural performances from the cast and the film's musical score was memorable. This is a film I certainly need to watch at least once more as I am aware that it has something important or worthy to offer.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

Friendship and romance backstage at the Beijing theme park THE WORLD. There's some good stuff here but it has difficulty emerging from the rather monotone presentation. The opening scene and protagonist Tao 's friendship with a Russian performer are the highlights.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

a slow-paced sort-of-early- masterpiece by a really great director. a truly minimalist masterwork! looking forward to A TOUCH OF SIN!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Zhang-Ke Jia

Director

Tao Zhao

Tao

Taisheng Chen

Taisheng

Jing Jue

Wei

Xiang Wan

Youyou

Liu Juan

Yanqing

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Synopsis

At the Beijing World Park, a theme park that displays small versions of famous world monuments, one of the performers, Tao (Zhao Tao), is dating a guard named Taisheng (Taisheng Chen). However, they have a difficult bond, full of jealousy and miscommunication. While Tao forms friendships with other performers, Taisheng develops a fascination with Qun (Yi-qun Wang), a woman trying to join her husband in France. Despite their differences, Tao and Taisheng attempt to continue their relationship.

Director: Zhang-Ke Jia
Screenwriter: Zhang-Ke Jia
Distributor: Zeitgeist Films
Production Co: Office Kitano
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 3, 1991, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 1, 2005
Release Date (DVD): Feb 14, 2006
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.6K
Runtime: 2h 20m