Devils on the Doorstep

2001 · 139 MIN · IMDB 8.2 · 8,953 VOTES · DIR. Jiang Wen

Devils on the Doorstep poster

Overview

During the Japanese occupation of China, two prisoners are dumped in a peasant's home in a small town. The owner is bullied into keeping the prisoners until the next New Year, at which time they will be collected. The village leaders convene to interrogate the prisoners. The townspeople then struggle to accommodate the prisoners. One is a bellicose Japanese nationalist, the other a nervous translator. Will the townspeople manage to keep the prisoners until the New Year?

Dialogue Timeline — 1,988 lines

A SAMPLE ACROSS THE RUNTIME — EVERY LINE IS SEARCHABLE

00:00:11 Attention!
00:07:44 Go to bed!
00:13:49 How come his name's so long?
00:18:49 Help!
00:24:02 come on, have some. Eat
00:28:44 Besides, when I saw Auntie, I told her all about us
00:33:58 Of course. Don't worry
00:40:21 The Japs want more water
00:44:39 He said, “Are you from Lower Village?”
00:49:05 Well, add a second one
00:58:58 Enough's been said
01:03:36 - Move. - Hold on! Halt!
01:09:07 Brother-in-law. Where are you taking me?
01:14:57 - What's going on? - They're not dead
01:19:32 You're in with sensei, but I slapped Hanaya
01:23:47 If I was, I'd only be hurting myself
01:30:23 Yes, but --
01:35:22 You've signed an agreement
01:41:04 Go right, Captain
01:48:15 Happy New Year, brother and sister-in-law
01:54:24 Look. Even he doesn't know. How could I answer?
02:01:27 the joint declaration of the powers
02:07:48 Stop it!
02:14:46 - Do it! - Yes, sir!

Cast & Characters

Dialogue Record

Lines indexed1,988
Dialogue density14.3 lines / min
First line00:00:11
Final line02:14:46

Production Record

DirectorJiang Wen
LanguageChinese
IMDb votes8,953