I Wish I Knew (Film)

I Wish I Knew, also known by its Chinese title Hai Shang Chuan Qi (海上传奇), is a 2010 Chinese documentary film directed and written by Jia Zhangke. The film explores the historical evolution of Shanghai through the personal accounts of eighteen individuals based in Shanghai, Taipei, and Hong Kong.

Promotional image for the documentary film I Wish I Knew showing a reflective urban setting. — Promotional artwork for the documentary I Wish I Knew.

Production and Release

The film was produced by Tianyun Wang, Likwai Yu, Meg Jin, Yu Lin, and Yong Xiong, with cinematography by Likwai Yu. It has a runtime of 138 minutes and is spoken in Mandarin. I Wish I Knew had its world premiere on May 16, 2010, at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section, followed by a theatrical release in China on July 2, 2010.

Subject Matter and Structure

The documentary examines Shanghai as a rapidly changing port city that has historically hosted revolutionaries, capitalists, politicians, artists, and gangsters. It covers the historical impact following the Chinese Communists' victory in 1949, when many residents relocated to Hong Kong and Taiwan, separating families and forcing others to navigate major political movements such as the Cultural Revolution. Eighteen subjects recount these historical transformations spanning from the 1930s to 2010.

Cast

Dan-qing Chen as Himself
Han Han as Himself
Rebecca Pan as Herself
Tao Zhao as Herself
Xudong Lin as Interviewer

Festival Screenings and Recognition

Following its Cannes premiere, the film screened at numerous international festivals, including the Toronto International Film Festival, the Vancouver International Film Festival, the BFI London Film Festival, the Hawaii International Film Festival, and the Tokyo Filmex. It received the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award for Best Documentary at the 30th Hawaii International Film Festival in October 2010.