The Left Ear is the directorial debut by a pop idol from the 90s and My Kingdom was directed by a critically important writer of campus ballads, a unique Chinese sub-culture. What's more? Both men were once engineering majors at top universities before quitting to pursue art full-time.
These two films, void of affectatious display of technicality, are surprisingly refreshing in story-telling.
Both are coming of age films really. The Left Ear took place in modern day small city China in the highly pressurized window of pre-annual national college entrance exam. My Kingdom took place in concessionary Shanghai from the end of Qing dynasty to the republic era where traditional Peking opera troupe performers were pulled into adventures, tragedies and betrayals only previously experienced in their repertoire.
Beginner's luck didn't favor many other equally talented first-time interlopers. 栀子花开, by variety show host 何炅, was plain miserable. The two protagonists were major miscasts to say the very least. Never mind that diversion. Please enjoy the two recommendations.
With Chinese subtitles:
The Left Ear, directed by 苏有朋.
My Kingdom, directed by 高晓松.
