Watch Big Shot's Funeral

Big Shot's Funeral is a heartwarming and humorous Chinese-American comedy-drama film that was released in 2001. The movie was directed by the talented actress and director, Feng Xiaogang, and stars Donald Sutherland, Rosamund Kwan, and Paul Mazursky. Set in modern-day Beijing, the story revolves around an American film director, Don Tyler (Donald Sutherland) who is hired to shoot a lavish experimental funeral for a Chinese billionaire, Li Huiquan, in a bid to launch a new kind of tourism in China. Don Tyler is a successful and celebrated film director who takes on this unusual project to prove his genius as an auteur. However, he soon realizes that the project will require him to learn more about Chinese funeral traditions and the meaning of life.

The main protagonist in the movie is the Chinese cultural consultant and interpreter for the funeral, Luo Haitao (Ge You). With his understanding of the local culture and his quick wit, he becomes an indispensable partner to Don Tyler. Haitao is tasked with interpreting and explaining Chinese customs and traditions to Don Tyler while also handling the eccentricities of the billionaire's family members.

As the team works on the funeral ceremony, Don Tyler learns that the deceased billionaire has a young grandson who has been living in fear of his abusive father. Tyler becomes concerned about the safety of the child and decides to intervene. This leads to a series of humorous and touching events that take Tyler and his team on an unexpected journey.

The movie also features some engaging subplots that revolve around the personal lives of several characters, including the beautiful and independent local guide, Lucy (Rosamund Kwan) who helps Tyler maintain his sanity amidst the chaos of the funeral. There is also the intriguing story of the lost love between a well-known filmmaker, Paul (Paul Mazursky) and his Chinese ex-girlfriend, who he thinks he has finally found in China – although he gets an unpleasant surprise.

The cinematography and music of Big Shot's Funeral are quite impressive, and the film manages to capture the essence of modern-day China while also touching on themes of tradition and culture. The film takes a humorous approach to exploring cultural difference as it gently mocks the West's encounter with Chinese traditions.

In conclusion, Big Shot's Funeral is a delightful, entertaining, and thought-provoking movie that offers an insightful and often surprising look at both modern-day China and the universal need for human meaning and connection. It's a film that will make you laugh and also tug on your heartstrings as it explores the different attitudes towards life and death in Eastern and Western cultures. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in Chinese culture, cross-cultural communication or who just wants a good laugh.