As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of Chinese cinema over the years, I find myself eagerly anticipating the screening of these five captivating productions at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. The diversity and depth of stories being presented offer a tantalizing glimpse into contemporary China that goes beyond the stereotypes often associated with the country.
Five Chinese films are being showcased during market screenings alongside the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. The organizers aim to provide North American viewers with a multi-faceted perspective on modern China
Compiled by the China Film Co-Production Corporation (CFCC), this collection features the successful comedy film of Da Peng titled “Post Truth,” earning $98 million at the box office. This movie centers around a former gang leader who now sells burial plots, and his struggle to handle online rumors
Additionally, the romance film titled “Embrace Again,” directed by Xue Xiaolu, is set during a pandemic lockdown. This director is well-known for their hit romantic comedy “Finding Mr. Right” (2013), which significantly boosted Chinese tourism in Seattle
This week, two romantic films directed by Yan are being shown: “Love Never Ends,” a poignant story of enduring friendship and love featuring a standout performance from Tony Leung Ka-fai, an action veteran from Hong Kong (“Election”), and “Viva La Vida,” which chronicles the blossoming relationship between two young individuals battling severe illnesses. Additionally, the crime drama “Endless Journey” by Mo Dai is screening, starring Zhang Yi, who previously worked with Zhang Yimou in “Cliff Walkers,” as a former cop seeking to restore his reputation
I’m thrilled to share that four of those movies – “Post Truth”, “Love Never Ends”, “Endless Journey”, and “Viva La Vida” – have been selected for distribution in North America by the Ontario-based Niu Vision Media Ltd. Last year, this company made a significant move by acquiring the three-time Oscar-nominated Chinese director Zhang’s 2023 blockbuster hit, “Full River Red”, which raked in an astounding $650 million in China. They then released the thriller on over 150 North American screens, generating an estimated $3 million gross
In recent years, Wang Mengxi, our CEO, contends that a successful formula for captivating an international audience with Chinese films has primarily revolved around suspense and humor. She supports this claim by referencing two other recent blockbusters as evidence of this trend
Last year’s Ao Shen-directed internet-scam-themed thriller, No More Bets, grossed $2 million for Niu Vision Media while author-turned-filmmaker Han Han’s motorsports comedy Pegasus 2 took in $1.8 million.
“Wang states that our target demographic consists of individuals aged between 15 and 45 years,” he explains. “These people are educated and have definite preferences, but they can be challenging to cater to. They’re interested in top-notch production values, a renowned cast, engaging plots – all wrapped up in an attractive package.”
The movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (released in 2000) checked off every box, becoming the most successful Chinese-language film and the highest-grossing Chinese film at the North American box office by a substantial margin
The Taiwanese-born director Ang Lee’s exploration into the world of the wuxia martial arts romantic-fantasy genre brought in approximately $128 million and astonishingly earned ten Oscar nominations, ultimately taking home four awards, such as the accolade for Best Foreign Language Film
Over the past 24 years, Chinese-language cinema has undergone significant growth and transformation, much like how it did following the release of that Hong Kong-China-U.S. co-production. However, unlike a gradual trend or shift in the taste of North American viewers, box office hits since then have largely been unexpected or sporadic instead
The latest movie that caused quite a stir was the 2022 comedy-drama “Yolo” (New Classics Pictures, Yuewen Media). This film serves as a platform for the famous Chinese comedian Jia Ling, who portrays a young woman whose life is dramatically changed through boxing. Following its earnings of approximately $480 million at the Chinese box office, Sony Pictures acquired it for North American distribution in March and screened it on 200 theaters, earning a total of $1.5 million over a 10-day period. Since then, Sony has announced plans to create an English remake of Jia’s successful film “Hi, Mom” (2021), which grossed around $840 million from the Chinese box office
According to Wang from Niu Vision Media, the landscape of the North American film market with Chinese productions has shifted post-pandemic. He notes that a weak performance in China can significantly impact a movie’s box office success in North America. This year poses challenges for distribution companies as audience expectations have risen compared to previous times
As a gamer, I’ve got to mention that the tunes “Love Never Ends” and “Viva La Vida” trace their roots back to Lian Ray Pictures, a creative powerhouse based in Shanghai. This very same studio collaborated with the talented Hong Kong director Derek Tsang on his Oscar-nominated film titled “Better Days,” which tackled the tough topic of school bullying in 2019
“Representatives from Lian Ray Pictures shared with The Hollywood Reporter via email that ‘Love Never Ends’ explores a less common theme in Chinese cinema: the heartfelt relationships between the elderly. What makes this film captivating is the portrayal of the love and bravery displayed by these elderly couples as they navigate the later stages of their lives. Through the story of personal development guided by universal values, ‘Viva La Vida’ tackles themes like life, illness, love, and family obligations.”
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2024-09-06 01:04