I've heard three theories: the official line is that it was never sent to the censors. Another is that they've reached the quota for this year - China restricts the number of imported films it allows to be screened and they've already come close to reaching that number and the few remaining spots have already gone to 007 etc. The other possibility I've heard raised is the presence of Edison Chen - the HK star at the center of last years photo scandal - but this seems unlikely - but who knows?
Tuesday's Film Roundup: Roman's Holiday
Film News
Polish Film Festival
Organized by the Polish Filmmaker Association and the China Film Archive, the 2008 Polish Film Week kicks off this coming Friday with a special screening of the Oscar award-winning film, The Pianist. Director Roman Polanski will be present at the screening and will answer questions from the audience after before the film.
Polanski, whose fame as a fugitive has tended to overshadow the great films he has made – our favorite is Chinatown - will also hold a master class over at the Beijing Film Academy.
Aside from The Pianist, another eight Polish films will be shown as part of the festival. They’ve been chosen to represent different aspects of Polish society and are mainly recent productions. Personna Non Grata tells the story of Polish ambassador, Savior’s Square explores the human cost an economic crisis and God’s Little Garden portrays a humorous love story set in a peaceful Polish village. Love in the Year of the Tiger, should attract plenty of attention, directed by Jacek Bromski, the film follows the unlikely relationship between a Polish officer and the daughter of a Chinese hunter. The other films are Tricks, All Will Be Well, Time to Die and Vinci which recently made it to Chinese cinema and was also played as CCTV 6’s movie of the week about a month ago.
Acclaimed photographer and friend of Polanski, Ryszard Horowitz, will also display an exhibition of his work within the CFA art theater for the length of the festival.
Oct 24-28
Polish Film Festival
RMB 30, RMB 50 (opening film). Ticket are available here.
Times vary (for a detailed schedule click here). China Film Archive (6225 4422 ext 1214)
Xie Jin - An Icon of Chinese Cinema
One of China’s most well known filmmakers, Xie Jin, passed away last week. The iconic director was behind some of China’s most well known films from the‘60s and‘70s and was a representative of Chinese realist cinema. With a career spanning over four decades, his movies dramatized popular political sentiments across different periods. As he worked at a time when political ideology controlled artistic work, some of his works were criticized by conservatives and not fully appreciated until the end of the Cultural Revolution.
Xie directed more than 20 movies in a life devoted almost entirely to the Chinese movie industry. Throughout his long career he notched up various firsts: His Woman Basketball Player No. 5 was the first color sports film in China; The Red Detachment of Women won the Best Picture and Best Director at the inaugural Hundred Flowers Awards; Two Stage Sisters, was the first of a new style of opera movie and went on to win the Sutherland Trophy at the British Film Institute Awards. The same film also provided inspiration to a young Chen Kaige when he was making Farewell my Concubine. Other films like The Herdsman, Wreaths at the Foot of the Mountain, Hibiscus Town and The Opium War were especially popular and are still remembered by many.
While young filmmakers these days seem more interested in making big-budget blockbusters and winning favor at international award ceremonies, Xie insisted on remaining something of a maverick. He refused to take part in any kind of over-the-top or misleading media promotion for a film, something that has become the norm these days. That said, by the time he had established himself, there was no need for him to “sell” his films, as he had already become a household name. You can read The Guardian's obituary for the director here.
Nordic Documentary Film Festival
Nordox aims to showcase the most recent developments in documentary film making from the Nordic world. Movies screening at this year's festival (the third) include include Paradise: Three Journey's in the World, separate stories about immigration; USA vs. Al-Arian, about the unjust detainment of suspected terrorists by the US government; and Sanctuary, about hardcore punk musician David Sandstrom. All films have English subtitles and Chinese super-titles. Visit the official website for the full schedule or call 6491 0964 for more information. Until Oct 25. Free with entrance to gallery, RMB 30, students RMB 10.
Daily 2, 3.30 and 5pm. UCCA (6438 6576)
Actresses Tang Wei, Maggie Cheung and Shu Qi were snapped hanging out with the queen of China's diving team Guo Jingjing at the glitzy opening of Max Mara’s Coats! exhibition on Saturday night. The exhibition is just another sign of the new direction that the National Art Museum of China has been moving in since Fan Di'an has taken the reins at the institution.
Films Around Town
Screening Times for Films in Beijing – Tuesday Oct 21
(All times and prices have been taken from today’s Beijing News or this website – it would be a good idea to call and confirm details) If you can read Chinese, this is by far the best site to consult.
Wanted
Wanted marks James McAvoy's third appearance on the Chinese big screen this year. Unlike his earlier roles in Atonement and The Chronicles of Narnia, McAvoy plays the stereotypical apathetic young man who's stuck in a dead-end job but is offered an escape when he's introduced into the exciting world of assassins by a beautiful and dangerous woman called Fox (Angelina Jolie). It all sounds as if it's based on a comic book, that's because - as with a lot of blockbusters these days - it is. The film received positivie reviews when it was released in the States back in July, you can view some here. Take a look at the trailer here.
15:20 17:30 18:30 19:40 20:40 21:50
Xidan
New Capital Cinema
15:00 16:25 17:05 18:30 19:10 20:35 21:15
Sanlitun
Village Mega Box
15:20 15:55 16:30 17:05 17:40 18:15 19:15 20:00 20:35 21:10 21:45
16:10 18:10 20:10
Haidian
UME International Cineplex
15:30 16:50 17:35 18:50 19:40 21:45 22:30
Stellar International Cineplex
15:20 17:25 19:30 21:35
15:45 17:55 20:00
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
15:30 16:30 17:30 18:30 19:30 20:30 21:30 22:30
Wangfujing
Star City
15:10 16:10 17:10 18:10 19:10 20:10 21:10 22:10
Theater 1：16:40 18:40 20:40
Theater 7：15:20 17:20 19:20 21:20
Theater 3：16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema
15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:10
Shuangjing
UME International Cineplex
15:05 15:55 17:10 18:00 19:15 20:05 21:20 22:10
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
15:30 16:05 16:40 17:15 17:50 18:25 19:00 19:35 20:10 20:45 21:20 21:55 22:30
15:10 15:50 16:30 17:50 18:30 19:10 19:50 20:30 21:50 22:30 23:05
Dongsi
Changhong Cinema
15:20 17:20 19:20 21:20
Xinjiekou
Show Max Cinema
16:05 17:35 20:10 21:40 22:15
Yayuncun
Sun Cinema
15:30 16:30 17:30 19:30 20:30 21:30 22:20
East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema
15:10 15:50 17:00 17:40 18:50 19:30 20:40 21:20 22:40
Sep 26
Painted Skin (画皮 Hua pi)
Painted Skin is Chinese thriller that centers on a vampire-like woman who eats the skins and hearts of her lovers. Starring both Zhou Xun and Zhao Wei, the film looks ridiculous but should attract plenty of viewers. You can take a look at China Beat's review of the film here and the trailer (with English subtitles) here.
15:50 17:00 18:10 20:20 22:20
Xidan
New Capital Cinema
15:40 16:30 16:55 17:45 18:35 19:00 19:25 19:50 20:40 21:05 21:25 21:55
Sanlitun
Village Mega Box
16:10 18:20 19:25 20:30 22:40
16:50 19:00 21:05
15:00 15:40 16:00 17:00 17:40 18:00 19:00 19:40 20:00 21:00
Haidian
UME International Cineplex
16:10 18:10 20:10 21:05 22:10
Stellar International Cineplex
15:40 16:50 17:50 20:00 21:00 22:10
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
16:45 17:10 19:10 20:50
Wangfujing
Star City
15:20 17:20 19:20 21:20
Theater 5: 16:10 18:10 20:10 22:10
Theater 6: 15:10 17:10 19:10 21:10
Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema
15:30 17:30 19:30 21:30
Shuangjing
UME International Cineplex
15:30 16:30 17:30 18:30 19:30 20:30 21:30 22:30
Zhongguancun
Mega Box
15:45 16:35 17:55 18:50 20:05 21:00
17:10 18:10 20:10 21:10 22:40
Dongsi
Changhong Cinema
15:15 17:25 19:30 21:30
Xinjiekou
Show Max Cinema
15:30 18:10 19:00 20:45 21:00 22:50
Yayuncun
Sun Cinema
16:00 18:00 20:00 22:00
East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema
15:00 16:00 17:50 19:40 20:30 21:30 22:20
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D
Brendan Fraser stars in this remake of the Sci-fi classic. Read reviews here and view trailer here.
15:30 17:30 19:30 21:30
Haidian
UME International Cineplex
15:30 17:15 19:00 20:45 22:30
Wangfujing
Star City
16:40 18:30 20:20
Shuangjing
UME International Cineplex
15:05 16:50 18:35 20:20 22:05
16:40 18:40 20:40
East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema
15:40 17:20 19:00 20:40 22:20
Other Films Showing the Week
The Butterfly Lovers (剑蝶 Jiandie)
The presence of one half of the Taiwanese pop duo Twins in the cast of this adaptation of the Chinese legend of the Butterfly Lovers should be enough to ensure it rakes in quite a bit at the box office. No English subtitles. View trailer here.
Autobahnraser
Again, we’re left wondering why Chinese film authorities thought that this “poor man’s Fast and Furious” produced in 2004 would appeal to Chinese audiences at the end of 2008? You can view the trailer here.
Asterix and the Olympics
Asterix, Obelix, and their friends have entered the famous Olympic games in Ancient Olympia. They are determined to taste victory, but the Gauls face formidable competition from both Greeks and Romans. See trailer here.
Connected (保持通话 Baochi Tonghua)
This action thriller is directed by HK director Chan Muk Sing of New Police Story fame and is a remake of Hollywood thriller Cellular. The film tells the story of an ordinary guy (Louis Koo) who one day receives a call for help from a random woman (Barbie Hsu) who has been kidnapped by a brutal gangster (Liu Ye). After some struggles he decides to attempt to rescue the unknown woman. Click here for reviews and here to view the trailer.
Upcoming
Oct 24
Waiting in Beijing
Set in Beijing, this film is about the relationship between an American guy and an Iraqi woman. The film just picked up a couple of awards at the lesser-known Action on Film (AOF) Awards. You can take a look at the official site here.
Oct 28
Shanghai Trance
This indie film follows inter-locking love stories set in a ultra modern Shanghai. You can find out more about the film here, take a look at the trailer here and read a review here.
Losers and Winners
A documentary about a German factory that is set to be taken apart and reassembled in China.
Oct ?
Zhen Gonfu
This animated feature is based on the well known TV series ”Happy Dongxi”. The film aspires to be the Chinese Simpsons but it can't live up to the title. Set in Beijing, the animated film follows the adventures of a "typical" family. Take a look at the trailer here.
Nov 5
007: Quantum of Solace
The high-octane adventures of Bond (Daniel Craig) continue. This new mission sees the martini-sipping international man of mystery teaming up with old friends to navigate a minefield of treachery, murder and deceit. See trailer here.
Nov 17
Babylon AD
You can take a look at some of the terrible reviews of this French-US co production here. View the trailer here.
Nov 21
Hell Boy 2: The Golden Army
Take a look at the surprisingly positive reviews here and trailer here.
Nov 27
Next
Implausible Nicolas Cage vehicle that’s been out on DVD for an age. Reviews here and trailer here.
Dec 12
Mei Lanfang
A biographical account of iconic Peking Opera star Mei Lanfang directed by Chen Kaige and starring Beijing-born singer Leon Lai. Ziyi Zhang stars as Mei’s lover Meng Xiaodong. More info available here. You can look at the "trailer" - it's really just a selection of still images taken from the film and set to a Peking Opera sound track - here.
Links and Sources
BFI: Polanski on the set of Chinatown
DVDcom.cn: Waiting in Beijing Stills
CFA: Polish Film Presentation
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Yes - should have made that clearer - all reports still have the new 007 film as premiering on Nov 5 - nine days before it's released in the US. However, The Dark Knight is defn off (though they continue to show the trailer at the big screen out the front of Wanda) and Babylon A.D has been pushed back. Not sure how or why Bond has been able to stay unchanged - yet another mystery of the Chinese cinema industry.
