The World is a 2004 Chinese film written and directed by Jia Zhangke. Starring Jia's muse, Zhao Tao, as well as Chen Taisheng, The World was filmed on and around an actual theme park located in Beijing, Beijing World Park, which recreates world landmarks at reduced scales for Chinese tourists. The World was Jia's first to gain official approval from the Chinese government. Additionally, it was the first of his films to take place outside of his home province of Shanxi. The World was a joint-production by Jia Zhangke's own Xstream Pictures, Japan's Office Kitano, and France's Lumen Films. It... received additional financial support from the Shanghai Film Studio and several Japanese corporations including Bandai Visual and Tokyo FM, among others. The film premiered in competition at the 2004 Venice Film Festival on September 4, 2004, but failed to win the coveted Golden Lion, the festival's top award, which ultimately went to Mike Leigh's drama Vera Drake, but which Jia would win two years later with Still Life.
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| Release date: | September 4, 2004 |
| Directed by: | Jia Zhangke |
| Runtime: | 105 Minutes |
| Producer: | Hengameh Panahi, Takio Yoshida, Shozo Ichiyama, Keung Chow, Zhong-lun Ren |
| Editor: | Kong Jing-lei |
| Music by: | Lim Giong |
| Cinematography: | Yu Lik-wai |
| Screenplay by: | Jia Zhangke |