Spicy Love Soup () is a 1997 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yang and written by Zhang, Liu Fendou, Cai Shangjun, and Diao Yi'nan based on a story by Zhang and Peter Loehr. Spicy Love Soup was produced by Loehr's Imar Film Company, Xi'an Film Studio, and Taiwanese financing.
The film is Zhang's directorial debut and would prove to be a launching pad for those both in front and behind the cameras. Screenwriters Cai Shangjun (The Red Awn) and Diao Yi'nan (Uniform, Night Train) have since gone on to direct their own films, while Liu Fendou has expanded into both directing (Green Hat) and film production (Zhang Yibai's Spring Subway). The cast is also notable for the debuts of two of China's most popular actresses, Gao Yuanyuan and Xu Jinglei.
The film is an anthology of sorts, and tells its story of love and life in modern Beijing through a series of six vignettes.
Spicy Love Soup was, in addition, the first film in mainland China to see a simultaneous release of a soundtrack, consisting largely of contemporary pop songs.
Cast First vignette Wang Xuebing, a husband Liu Jie, his wife
Second vignette Tang Sifu, an elderly widow Li Mei, her daughter Liu Zhao, a suitor Li Tang, a suitor Wen Xingyu, a suitor Wakin Chau, a neighbor
Third vignette Zhao Miao, a school boy, Gao Yuanyuan, his object of affection
Fourth vignette Guo Tao, a husband Xu Fan, and his wife
Fifth vignette Sun Yisheng, a young boy Pu Cunxin, his father Lü Liping, his mother
Sixth vignette Shao Bing, a young man Xu Jinglei, a young woman
Reception Released internationally in London's East West Film Festival in June 1998, Spicy Love Soup was generally well received by western critics. Derek Elley of Variety cited the film as being a pioneering example of the "well directed" Chinese movie, that nevertheless doesn't fall into the camp of "artier" fare. The film was also well received in mainland China, where it had been released a year earlier, becoming one of the most successful independent films released domestically.
References
External links
Spicy Love Soup at the Chinese Movie Database