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The World

Play trailer Poster for The World 1991 2h 20m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
The World

What to Know

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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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker May 18, 2020
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. Go to Full Review G. Allen Johnson San Francisco Chronicle Sep 16, 2005
4/4
It's a heartbreaking, beautiful movie that gains strength from its deep characterizations. Go to Full Review Tom Keogh Seattle Times Sep 9, 2005
3/4
Its rewards come with patience and concentration. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Jul 28, 2026
... a Beijing of immigrants, figuratively and literally, as the employees have all come from the provinces and beyond. Yet as they wander across borders and cultures of this international Disneyland, they don’t seem to actually live anywhere. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Feb 25, 2025
3.5/4
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. Go to Full Review Nathanael Hood Unseen Films May 13, 2020
9/10
Has the kind of setting that would make the Surrealists weep with joy and envy. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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David K @RT61474040 Feb 6, 2025 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. See more Nov 16, 2014 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-/ See more Aug 20, 2014 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. See more Aug 20, 2014 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. See more Feb 2, 2014 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. See more Dec 11, 2013 a slow-paced sort-of-early- masterpiece by a really great director. a truly minimalist masterwork! looking forward to A TOUCH OF SIN! See more Read all reviews
The World

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Cast & Crew

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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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The World

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Movie Info

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
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