Red Light Revolution: China’s First Sex Shop Comedy
Posted: May 27th, 2011 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Film & Movie Reviews | Tags: Electric Shadows, Melanie Ansley, Red Light Revolution, Sam Voutas, The Hutong | 1 Comment »
Written and directed by Australian-born Sam Voutas, Red Light Revolution is the first Chinese movie that did not make me gag from too much cheese and painfully bad acting. Quite the opposite, this sex shop comedy is a brilliantly written film that “promises to stimulate all your synapses” with playful and cheeky lines throughout and actors you can’t help but love and laugh with.
China’s first sex shop comedy follows an unemployed Beijinger who risks it all to open an adult store, sparking a sexual revolution in his conservative neighbourhood.
Nominated for Best Unproduced Screenplay at the 2008 Australian Inside Film Awards, this film has been screened at Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Cinequest Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and most recently the film won the audience award at London’s Terracotta Far East Film Festival, Red Light Revolution is making its way in the film circuit…and hopefully eventually around to China soon!
On Sunday, I attended a screening of this film at The Hutong with Electric Shadows which was a great opportunity to spend a Sunday evening watching an awesome film and also have the chance to talk to both director and writer Sam Voutas and film producer Melanie Ansley about their experiences and challenges throughout shooting stages and post-production.
From L to R: Writer/Director Sam Voutas, Producer Melanie Ansley, Vicky Mohieddeen from Electric Shadows
For anyone who may be uncertain about this film as a “sex shop comedy”, it is not what may first come to mind. Yes, it is the story about a local Beijinger who decides to open a sex shop, but it’s so much more than that. In spite of its premise, the film is incredibly endearing, lovable and innocent. It’s the story of an underdog who prevails through bad luck and challenges through unexpected support and unity of his local community.
The story itself is wonderful, something that everyone can relate to and laugh along with but what was most impressive to me was the quality acting and authenticity of the script with real, Beijing slang evident throughout the film.
LDS gives Red Light Revolution a BIG 2 thumbs up!
**Red Light Revolution will do another screening at The Hutong this Saturday, May 28 at 7:30PM for anyone who is interested in seeing this film!
Check out video (with English Subtitles) on Tudou here.
Red Light Revolution’s Douban page is here.
Official Movie Website is here.
I have to share my Shanghai sex story. My first visit to China in 2005 i was told prostitution is illegal in china. First night in my hotel room i am excited and can’t sleep, my wife is out cold. Phone rings and a lady ask, would you like sex? I thought i misunderstood her, and she said it again. I laugh and told her no, that i had that covered. That was funny. So when i read your sex stats i was amused. China has come along way in 6 years.