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Queens of the Qing Dynasty
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Wikipedia article
'Queens of the Qing Dynasty' is a Canadian drama film, directed by Ashley McKenzie and released in 2022.Jared Mobarak, [https://thefilmstage.com/berlin-review-queens-of-the-qing-dynasty/ "Berlin Review: Queens of the Qing Dynasty is a Character-Focused Look at Nonconformity"]. 'The Film Stage', February 24, 2022. The film stars Sarah Walker as Star, a troubled teenager who has been hospitalized following a suicide attempt, and Ziyin Zheng as An, a genderqueer volunteer at the hospital whose companionship and friendship helps Star to feel less isolated as they bond over their shared uncertainties about their futures.Stephen Saito, [https://moveablefest.com/queens-of-the-qing-dynasty/ "Berlinale 2022 Review: A Connection Defies Description in the Formally Daring 'Queens of the Qing Dynasty'"]. 'The Movable Fest', February 16, 2022.
Walker is a first-time film actress. Her character (Star) was based on a teenager who auditioned for a role in McKenzie's prior film 'Werewolf';Caitlin Quinlan, [https://variety.com/2022/film/global/ashley-mckenzie-queens-of-the-qing-dynasty-1235181020/ "Ashley McKenzie on Her Romantic Second Feature Queens of the Qing Dynasty"]. 'Variety', February 14, 2022. Sarah Walker encompassed the character of Star and to prepare for her role was lucky to be able to spend some time with the teenager who McKenzie had become friends with.
The film premiered on February 15, 2022, in the Encounters program at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival.Kate Erbland, David Ehrlich and Eric Kohn, [https://www.indiewire.com/2022/02/berlin-2022-most-anticipated-films-1234697688/ "Berlin 2022: The 10 Most Exciting Films at This Years Festival"]. 'IndieWire', February 9, 2022. It is slated to have its Canadian premiere in the Wavelengths program of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.Jeremy Kay, [https://www.screendaily.com/news/daniel-radcliffe-as-weird-al-yankovic-leads-tiff-midnight-madness-discovery-wavelength-sections-also-unveiled/5173193.article "Daniel Radcliffe as "Weird Al" Yankovic leads TIFF Midnight Madness; Discovery, Wavelength sections also unveiled"]. 'Screen Daily', August 4, 2022.
Cast
* Sarah Walker as Star
* Ziyin Zheng as An
* Wendy Wishart as Gail
* Jana Reddick as social worker
* Yao Xue as Violet
* Cherlena Sassi Brake as Cher
* Reg MacDonald as charge nurse
* Carl Getto as psychiatrist
* Nidhin KH as boyfriend
* Rony Robson as OR nurse
Critical response
Jared Mobarak of 'The Film Stage' positively reviewed the film, writing that "I wouldnt go so far as saying Queens of the Qing Dynasty is an acquired taste. You simply need to be prepared that the words swift or kinetic aren't descriptors I'd use. It's purely about the characters as well as the place where it's set since fun is getting drunk at a Chinese restaurant, not some big city club. Because while Star and An fantasize and joke about wishing they could become trophy wives of old, their roads are not paved in gold. Having each other sitting shotgun, however, does make the trip a whole lot brighter. And experiencing their queer characters candidly existing on-screen without the usual miserabilism of external abuse looming large (their internal hardships and uncertainty lends enough drama) is reason enough to follow along."
For 'The Movable Fest', Stephen Saito wrote that "McKenzie certainly has an aesthetically distinctive vision as a filmmaker, but what shouldnt be so unique yet is remains her rare ability to neither look down on her characters or make them subjects of pity when working their way out of dire straits, following Star and An into their private spaces without ever feeling as if shes encroaching and allowing Walker, Zheng and even those with the smallest bit parts suggest far bigger lives off-screen than the glimpse you get will afford."
References
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