Dimsum reviews the award winning film by Zhang Yimou. Shi Xiangsheng's story, based on his own experience, is a rural fable set in a tiny village in remote China. When, local teacher Gao has to leave for one month to visit his sick mother, 13 year old Wei is dragged in from a neighbouring village as a substitute teacher and we see how she copes with such responsibility.

23 May 2000
Early on a sunny LA morning in 1997 aspiring Singaporean porn actress Annabel Chong arrives on set. Her director gives her a brief moment to ready herself while he barks instructions through a loud hailer to her co-stars for the day. At 10am she climbs onto her altar at the centre of an orgiastic assemblage of tall pillars and spouting fountains: eyes disengaged, mouth barely summoning a smile. The cameras roll and 251 men form an orderly, naked line. Two sweating male producers attend, knowing that if you "take an English accent and an Asian look, and make her the nastiest object in a Gang Bang" you're on to a winner.

Suzie Litewate sits by her fishtank in her Wolverhampton home reading 'Feng Shui for Modern Living' as she fiddles with her jade beads. Sipping her Twinings Jasmine tea, she plays her relaxation CD of the 'Bells of Yunan', closes her eyes and considers energising her living room with another three-legged frog...

Nine Songs is a dance based on the work of the 'first great poet in Chinese history', Qu Yuan (c. 340-278 B.C.). He was a member of the ruling house, a diplomat and a court minister. He had a brilliant career at court but jealous peers eventually brought about his banishment from court. In later years after the fall of the Chu capital, he drowned himself in despair in the river Mi-lo.