Tuesday's Movie Roundup

Zhou Xuan Retrospective

If you’ve ever flicked through a pile of “vintage” posters at Panjiayuan, you’ve probably come across this woman’s face.

Zhou Xuan (1920-1957) was known as “golden voice” and reached the peak of her fame in the ‘30s and 40s. Her smooth and silky voice (which you can listen to here) was the inspiration for Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love, with the film itself being named after one of Zhou Xuan’s songs.

The China Film Archives offer this special series of Zhou Xuan films (eight in total) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the star’s tragic and premature death. Visit the CFA website for more details about screening times. In Chinese, no English subtitles. Until Nov 25. RMB 8.

Sri Lankan Film Festival

The beauty of so many countries scrambling to engage culturally with China is that so many undiscovered nooks and crannies of the filmmaking landscape are revealed to us. Last week saw the Austrian Film Festival at Cherry Lane (look out for the interview with Mephisto director István Szabó later this week), and now there’s a chance to enjoy a series of Sri Lankan films.

Four films will be shown altogether with the opening film Uppalavanna a highlight of the festival. The film’s director Sunil Ariyarathna will be present along with other Sri Lankan actors and directors at the opening of the festival in Star City.

Films will be shown at both Star City and the Xin Dong’an Cinema (6528 1988/1898). Until Nov 24. RMB 30-40.

Blind Mountain (Mang Shan)
Somehow managing to avoid the overzealous sheers of the Chinese censors, Blind Mountain gets its release this Friday (Nov 23). Preferring to cast “real” people rather than actors, Li Yang’s film focuses on a college student who is tricked into traveling to a mountain town, only to be sold into marriage when she arrives.

Read a review of this gritty film here, and imdb fiends can get their fix here.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

With Hollywood showing a predilection for filming more movies in China (Mission Impossible 3, The Dark Night, etc.) the next on the list is the third installment of the The Mummy, which is going to follow a resurrected Chinese emperor as he rampages along Shanghai’s famous waterfront.

Filming was scheduled to take place in Beijing, but apparently Shanghai proved more of an attractive offer for the filmmakers. Idiots.

Nationwide Screenings of Feng Xiaogang Movies
A nationwide retrospective of director Feng Xiaogang’s movies will begin in China. Best known for movies like Cell Phone, Big Shot’s Funeral and the Andy Lau vehicle A World Without Thieves, this is a real chance to see the work of one of China’s most popular directors.

Showing this week:

Lust, Caution, Ratatouille, Bourne 3, Die Hard 4

What's New: Restaurants: P&O's One

Daily 7-10pm. 2/F, P&Oís One Bar, Dongsanhuan Beilu (directly in front of the Korean Embassy), Chaoyang District (6466 8084)

Though the head chef previously worked for Austrian Airlines, the food at P&O’s One is far from airline food. However, the disco lights from the bar downstairs do impinge on the dining experience for any guests sitting on the balcony. As one might expect from European cuisine, the main courses are great for carnivores. The cordon bleu served with potatoes and salad (RMB 100) was reassuringly substantial in size and the proportion of breadcrumbs to chicken to cheese was perfect. A whole lot easier to eat than it is to say, the Zwiebelrostbrat (RMB 130) – a nice tender piece of beef with well-prepared crisp onions, pan-fried potatoes and vegetables – went down well. We had just enough room left for the excellent Mohr im Hemd (chocolate hazelnut pudding) dessert (RMB 65). The food at P&O’s One is certainly hearty, but it’s hard to say whether it justifies the hefty price tag. Simon Fowler

Verdict: Fills the tummy but empties the wallet

All Hands On Deck

Learn how to play a Chinese card game without knowing Chinese!

Without paper, there would be no cards, and since China is credited with the invention of paper, it should be of no surprise that the first appearance of card-playing took place in China in 969 AD. Shortly after the invention of paper, Emperor Muzong was said to have played “domino cards” with one of his concubines, but the deck they used consisted of 33 cards and was composed of four suits: coins, strings of coins, myriads of strings, and tens of myriads.

Over the centuries, playing cards caught on in other countries and eventually reached France, where the 52-card deck consisting of four suits – diamonds, hearts, spades and clubs – appeared during the 15th century. Nowadays, this is the standard deck used in a multitude of games in practically every country around the world.

In China, playing cards can be an important time for families to bond, and there exists a plethora of popular Chinese card games, many of which share similarities with Western ones but go by different names. Playing with Chinese friends is a great way to socialize, as well as develop your language ability.  

Dou Dizhu 斗地主

"Beat the Landlord"

In addition to having a gloriously satisfying name, this three- or four-player game, thought to have originated in Hubei, is an ideal introduction to Chinese card games, with a strong community of people playing online.

Objective: The landlord must try to get rid of his or her cards before the other players. The game described here is the three-player version, but for four players, simply deal out all the cards without jokers.

Rules: To play the game, both jokers must be included, with the red joker (大王) holding a higher value than the black joker (小王). The card with the next highest value is 2, then A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, and finally 3. Suits are irrelevant in this game.

The landlord (also the dealer) shuffles the cards and then offers them to the player on their left to cut. The dealer then deals out all cards. Each player should have 18 cards.

How to play: The landlord begins the game by laying down a single card or any other legal combination (see next page). The order then moves counterclockwise around the circle, where the next player must either pass (not lay down a card) or put down a combination of the same number of cards with a higher value. There are two exceptions to this rule: A Rocket can beat any combination, and a Bomb can beat any combination except a higher Bomb or Rocket. The play continues around the circle until all players either cannot move or have passed. Once this happens, the cards already played are discarded and the player who played the last combination of cards can then begin again with any combination they like. The first player to get rid of all their cards wins the game.

The combinations

Single card – One card of any suit or value

A pair – Two cards of the same value

Three of a kind – Three cards of the same value

Triplet with an attached pair – Any triplet with a pair added (like a Full House in poker), with the ranking determined by the triplet

Sequence of pairs – At least three pairs of consecutive ranks, from 3 up to ace (2s and jokers cannot be used)

Sequence of triplets – At least two triplets of consecutive ranks from 3 up to ace (triplets of 2s cannot be used)

Sequence – At least three cards of consecutive rank, from 3 up to ace (2s and jokers cannot be used)

Sequence of triplets with attached pairs – An extra pair is attached to each triplet and only the triplets have to be in sequence (triples of 2s cannot be included, but 2s or jokers can be attached)

Bomb – Four cards of the same rank (also known as Four of a Kind), a Bomb can beat everything except a Rocket, and a higher ranked Bomb can beat a lower ranked one

Rocket – A pair of jokers, the most valuable set of cards; beats any other combination

RANKS AND SUITS

Each region has its own variations, so if you’re playing against a Sichuan ren, be sure to watch out for different names! But here’s how they go in Beijing:

English name	Characters	Pinyin	English translation
Ace	尖儿	jīan’r	point
King	K	kei	“K”
Queen	圈儿	quān’r	circle
Jack	勾	gōu	hook
Joker	王	wáng	king
Red joker	大王	dà wáng	big king
Black joker	小王	xǐao wáng	little king
Hearts	红桃	hóng táo	red peach
Clubs	梅花	méi huā	plum flower
Spades	黑桃	hēi táo	black peach
Diamonds	方块	fāng kuài	square piece

Serwat Perwaiz keeps things legal

"The line between career and social life blurs if you really like to do what you do."

Serwat Perwaiz went to law school in the US before deciding to base herself in China and work with PRC lawyers and multinational companies on market-entry and international property. Her work involves aiding multinational companies wanting to purchase and set up businesses in China. Teacher Emily Williams' year 11 business studies class from Yew Chung International School had an opportunity to ask Serwat some questions about her profession and how the law effects us all. Simon Fowler

Shyam Iyer, Indian
You're the sort of lawyer who acts as an intermediary and who does deals. Do you have any experience in court?

Serwat Perwaiz: Before I worked in China, I worked with a number of different organizations that represented individual people in court in the US. But now, I help people who are seeking solutions for their companies, so I don't need to go to court. Instead, my work involves negotiating between two sides. My job is to prevent things from going as far as court.

Michelle Chung, Malaysian
Was law school difficult?

SP: Law school is not a piece of cake. They keep you busy and working hard. But then, the idea is to do what you enjoy doing, even if you have to work hard. I really enjoyed it. A lot of the classes I took were geared towards my particular interest. I took classes on copyright, like if you write something and someone else uses it; I think in school you call it plagiarism! Hopefully, you guys know something about the rules on that. I also took a lot of classes on international law and what happens in different countries. It's like everything: There are some classes that I enjoyed and some that I didn't.

Sarah Paw, American-Chinese
Do you think you can have a good job and a good social life?

SP: I think you can have both. [With] everything in life you really need to know what you want out of it. Rather than wander around aimlessly, you have to sit down and think about what it is you want to do and what is going to get you there. I knew what I wanted to do and I knew there were a lot of paths that could take me there. I could have gotten an MBA. I could have gone into government or so many other things depending on what my goals were. I chose law because I enjoy law. The line between career and social life blurs if you really like to do what you do.

Lucy Wang, American
How long do you have to study in law school before you can become a lawyer?

SP: It depends on the country where you study. In the US, you get your bachelor's first, which is usually four years, and then you go on to law school, which is three years. In other countries, it can be less. It just depends on where you want to go to school.

Sinlai Leung, Hong Kong-Chinese
What's the best thing about being a lawyer?

SP: There are so many good things about being a lawyer, but there are so many difficult things as well. I enjoy it when I've put together something that's really going to help my client out. Not because I'm working for this side and I want to make it difficult for the other side; it's not like that. I think of it like I'm working with two sides and I want to help them find a solution. I think that's the best part.

Li Ren Kho, Malaysian
Can it be stressful trying to find an agreement?

SP: Sometimes it can be stressful because the two sides aren't willing to give, even a little. It's the same if anyone has an argument, be it two children fighting over a toy train or two companies fighting over how much money they are going to invest. Both sides are eventually going to figure out that there's going to have to be a little give-and-take. The ideal is to find a win-win situation for both sides.

Stefen Zhao, Canadian
Have you ever made any mistakes in your career?

SP: Yes. But that's okay because mistakes are only bad when you don't learn from them. I think that when you make a mistake, whether it's in your career, or whether it's in your schoolwork or at home or with your friends, the most important thing is to recognize the mistake and find a way to make it better. Then, don't make the mistake again.

Keeping students on their toes at the Australian International School of Beijing

As a Canadian teacher working at an Australian school giving instruction to international students in China, Jeff Eason doesn’t exactly have the most conventional working environment. But ever since his golfing buddy suggested three years ago that he try teaching in China, Jeff hasn’t looked back. The Toronto native was previously the PE, health and creative arts teacher at the Australian International School of Beijing, but since the start of the new school year, he has found himself in charge of a Grade 6 class. tbjkids cornered the globetrotter and got the nitty-gritty on his active – and often dramatic – teaching techniques.  

What brought you to Beijing?
Chance. I had just finished doing my teaching certificate in Australia and I was back in Canada looking for a job in the public school system. While playing golf with a friend who had been to China, he said, “Why don’t you go and work in China?” So I thought, why not? It happened by chance really. It was supposed to be for a year, and now it’s been three.

How do you maintain the energy levels required to teach a class of sixth graders?
I have a background in playing a lot of recreational sports when I was growing up. When I went to university, I started getting into theater, and through that I learned how even if you don’t have a lot of energy, there are ways to fake it! But with the kids, it’s a lot of fun anyway.

What are the best ways for kids to stay active and fit in Beijing?
For kids in Beijing, the simple things are best. If you have a local swimming pool – preferably indoors – or any other facilities, they are great for keeping fit, and it can be done all year round. Local parks, even though the air outside isn’t great, are fine for just walking around. A lot of the stuff we do with kids here is about getting them outside and enjoying themselves. As a teacher, I’ve built up a number of games that we can get them doing outside, and I think being outside is the best thing for them.

What is your perfect Beijing day?
To get outside of the CBD. This may sound like a cliché, but I love going for a walk in the park with my wife. She’s Chinese and she knows a lot about little places around town we can go and check out, even if it’s just for a little picnic in a park, but far enough away so you don’t have the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Who was your favorite teacher when you were a student?
I had a drama teacher in Grade 9 who was nuts; I think he was actually on medication to keep himself stable. Before I went into this class I was petrified of speaking in front of people. I had severe stage fright. Then, after taking a drama class with this guy, everything changed for me. Most kids in high school don’t really think their teachers are cool, and he was the only teacher I got to sign my yearbook, which was kind of a big thing in high school. He just showed me you don’t have to be the norm of society to have a good time or to learn or to have a successful life.

What do you miss most from Canada?
I miss humidity! I miss small simple gestures of politeness, things that they are trying to improve here now. It’s those small things of everyday living that I miss. I also miss being able to swim in a big lake. When I was growing up, I was able to swim in a lot of lakes back home, but when I came here people seemed to have pools. I miss swimming in lakes. When I first got here I went to Houhai and I thought, “Oh, this is fantastic!” And everyone was like, “No, don’t go swimming in there.” I see people in there all the time and I thought it would be fine, but my students and even my wife tell me, “What are you thinking?! Don’t try it.”

What’s the best thing about being a teacher?
The constant performance. Every day you come in and it’s like a new show. I’m sort of a nerd when it comes to problem solving and puzzles. I find every day is a new situation for students. Whether you have 20 students or five students, every day presents a new problem, and it’s about coming in and dealing with it in a performance kind of way. My theater background is the way I’ve been able to rope that interest of mine into teaching.

What's New: Restaurants: Cafecopy

Daily 10am-10pm. Pingguo Space, 1/F, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District (5876 9680)

Similar to the art museum that it’s located in, Cafecopy is all chrome, glass and tiles with baffling artwork hung on the walls. This restaurant-museum delivers an atmosphere only art lovers will appreciate. The chicken breast salad with peanut sauce (RMB 32) was impeccably presented but the sauce was rather timid, leaving the dish a little bland. The toasted French bread with fresh coconut milk, mango, and shrimp was a refreshing combination, but the price tag (RMB 24) should have merited more than the portion offered. However, nothing disappointed us more than the duck breast with black pepper sauce (RMB 68). It was beautifully presented, and served on a bed of thinly sliced melon, but chewing through the tough meat felt like a lonely night at home listening to Barry Manilow and drinking non-alcoholic beer. Just like modern art, Cafecopy’s food left us rather confused. Simon Fowler

Verdict: Fine for a post-gallery coffee break, but no masterpieces here.

What's New: Restaurants: Lina's

Daily 8am-10pm. D118, Bldg 5, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District (5960 4252)

Sandwiches are simple, and Lina’s is aware of this, so the selection is kept to a comfortable minimum with ingredients of a high standard. As well as salads, a cute selection of cakes, and enough varieties of coffee to keep caffeine junkies happy, Lina’s is set apart by its clean and attractive style, attentive staff and, best of all, a reading room with a selection of books and magazines. The roast beef, pickle and mustard sandwich on a soft roll (RMB 25) was deliciously warm and the portion was just enough. The tuna on rye bread (RMB 25) was toasted to perfection, and the slight indulgence of a lemon tart (RMB 20) rounded off the meal nicely. Lina’s will doubtless pick up trade from those tired of the sandwich selection available around Beijing, and will come as a welcome relief to those on their lunch break. Simon Fowler

Verdict: A rare decent sandwich option in the CBD.

What's New: Restaurants: Eight Birds Hokkaido Shabu Shabu

Daily 11am-10pm. 5/F, South Section, The Place, 9 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District (6587 1470)

Exuding the kind of tranquility you don’t usually expect from a hot pot restaurant, Eight Birds is a Japanese take on the DIY cooking experience. A number of set meals include your choice of meat or seafood – from chicken (RMB 148) to the fortuitously priced lobster (RMB 888) – as well as a standard selection of vegetables, sashimi, tea and dessert. With only a generic hot pot broth available, this place is set apart by its selection of dipping sauces. The prime shavings of beef (from RMB 98-880) combined well with the egg and soy sauce, while the frozen tofu (RMB 20) was better suited with the sesame sauce; and the radish tasted superb in the mashed garlic and shallot sauce. The quality of the ingredients cannot be faulted, especially the beef. Afterwards, the almond tofu dessert was perfect for cooling the mouth. Alarmingly attentive staff were there every step of the cooking process. Private Japanese-style washitsu rooms are also available. Simon Fowler

Verdict: Definitely a place for some hip hot pot action.

How Not to Get Buzzed

It’s about this time of the year when I don’t touch anything. I have my phone in my hands at all times, tapping it on door handles, taxis, my television, all in the hope that it will magically remove that static electrical charge that I hate so much.

Well apparently there are a few more practical things that you can do to avoid that annoying little buzz. We had a look around the web to find some of the best ideas for you to try:

• Because the air is so dry in the winter, running a humidifier in your home will eliminate some the pesky shocks
• Wear natural fibers. Synthetic fabrics are knows to generate more shocks, so make your kids wear cotton and wool clothing
• Moisturize! Dry hands make for more shocks, so be sure to have a tube with you during those cold winter mornings
• There’s a company in Hong Kong that sells a spray for clothing that “irons,” removes germs and prevents static buildup from clothing

If you’re like me, you’ll be stocking up on woolen clothing, humidifiers and moisturizer for those long winter days.

FreeRice.com

The poverty stricken regions of the world need food. Students studying for exams, be it SAT, IB or GCSE, need to boost their vocabulary skills. FreeRice.com is the very definition of a win-win situation.

Every time you visit FreeRice.com, you have the chance to play a word game. For every word that you correctly identify the synonym for, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) will distribute 10 grains of rice to impoverished regions around the world. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but already the site has donated 1,194,402,960 grains of rice. The site works by exposing you to advertising banners along the bottom of the screen while you play.

The best thing is that the program adjusts to your language ability, and selects from the thousands of words in the database that are best suited for your level. The longer you play, the more you learn.

Currently I’m hovering around 38 points, and have donated 1200 grains of rice – beat that!

Tuesday Film Roundup for Nov 6

by Simon Fowler and Paul Pennay

What got cut from Lust, Caution?
Lust, Caution opened at Beijing Cinemas last week and today (see screening times below) is your chance to catch the long-awaited Ang Lee film (yes – it has English subtitles) at half price. For those who are wondering just what got cut from the shorter 143 min version being screened at Beijing's cinemas (and no, it’s not just the sex scenes), Roland Soong over at ESWN has provided a partial translation of a recent article on the subject in the Southern Metropolis Daily.

New Cinema for CBD
Last Week the HK Cinema group UME announced that they’ve begun construction of a new five star cinema complex in the CBD area. Set to open in mid 2008, the Cinema will be the second UME complex in Beijing and, by the sounds of it, will be even more modern than the current complex located on North Third Ring Road by Renmin Daxue. At the press conference to announce the new project last Friday, UME revealed that the new cinema will be located in Fuli Guangchang (just south of Zhaolong Fandian on East Third Ring Road) and will host premieres for major films along with other movie-related events.

Holy Toxic Water Batman!
Christian Bale has been busy down in Hong Kong filming The Dark Knight, Christopher Nolan’s sequel to the critically acclaimed Batman Begins. It seems that even his utility belt and patent leather costume were no match for the dastardly inhabitants of the sea between Hong Kong harbor and Kowloon.

The South China Morning Post quoted a member of the crew saying, “The plan was for Batman to be seen jumping into the water and then climbing up some bamboo, or something similar, on to a pier. But when they checked a water sample, they found all sorts of things, salmonella and tuberculosis, so it was canceled. Now the action will cut to inside a building,"

Is it just me, or did superheroes used to be made of sterner stuff?

Upcoming Films:

Nov 9
Live Free or Die Hard
Also known as Die Hard 4. A criminal plans to take down the computer system that supports the world economy. Only detective John McClane can foil the evil plan, assisted by a young hacker.

Nov 15
The Bourne Ultimatum
The third installment of the most profitable movie franchise of all time comes to China this week with the release of the Bourne Ultimatum. The high-octane spy movie sees Mat Damon playing Jason Bourne, the CIA spook in search of his true identity and those responsible for his apparent amnesia. Full of well choreographed action sequences and moments of gripping suspense, The Bourne Ultimatum is worth checking out.

Screening Times for English Language Films in Beijing – Tuesday Nov 6

(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)

Haidian
UME International Cineplex

Lust, Caution
10:20 15:40 21:00
Digital Screening: 15:00 16:30 17:10 17:40 19:10 19:50 20:20 20:50 21:50 23:00 23:30

Ratatouille
15:05

Transformers (IMAX)
13:00 18:20
RMB 50

CBD
Wanda International Cinema

Lust, Caution
9:50 10:40 11:10 11:40 12:40 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:30 16:20
Digital Screening: 16:50 17:20 18:20 19:10 19:40 20:10 20:40 21:45 22:00 22:30

Ratatouille
18:20　

Art Gallery
Changhong Cinema

Lust, Caution
10:45 13:50 16:40 19:30 12:50 15:40 18:30 21:20
Digital Screening: 12:00 14:50 17:40 20:30 20:00

Ratatouille
13:05 17:05 21:00

Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema

Lust, Caution
10:00 11:00 11:40 12:20 13:40 14:20 15:00 15:40 16:20 17:00 17:40 18:20 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:00 21:40 22:20 23:00

Ratatouille
10:20

Wangfujing
Xindong'an Cinema

Lust, Caution
09:50 10:30 11:10 11:50 12:40 13:20 14:00 14:40 15:30 16:10 16:50 17:30 18:10 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:00

Ratatouille
16:50 18:50 20:50

Star City

Lust, Caution
9:50 10:30 11:10 11:50 12:40 13:20 14:00 14:50 15:30 16:10 16:50 17:40 18:25 19:00 19:45 20:30 21:15 21:50 22:30

Ratatouille
12:30 16:40

East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema

Lust, Caution
9:40 11:00 12:25 13:50 15:10 15:40 16:40 17:50 18:20 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:40 22:00

Ratatouille
11:20 13:30 15:40 17:50

Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex

Ratatouille
10:45 14:40 18:30

Lust, Caution
10:30 11:15 11:50 13:15 14:00 14:30 16:00 16:45 17:15 18:45 19:30 20:00 21:30 22:15 22:45
Digital Screening: 10:00 12:45 15:20 18:00 20:45 23:30
(Screenings also available with Korean subtitles – call for more info)

Xidan
Shoudu Shidai Cinema

Lust, Caution
10:00 11:00 12:40 13:40 15:20 16:20 18:00 19:00 20:40 21:40

Ratatouille
12:45 14:50 16:55

Links and Sources:
ESWN: Lust, Caution: The Mainland Version – scroll down to the bit below the tiger
CNN: 'Batman' no match for Hong Kong's pollution
Tom.com: 华星影城明年CBD将开分店吴思远出席签约仪式
UME Official Site

Tuesday's Film Roundup

by Simon Fowler and Paul Pennay

I have a recurring nightmare about being chased around Beijing by Megatron, leader of the Decepticons. He chases me around Nanluogu Xiang, forcing me to duck and weave my way through the hutongs. If only Optimus Prime would come and rescue me … Well, the imaginings that inhabit the dark recesses of my subconscious are soon to become a reality, as Obiwan will be screening a series of short Chinese transformer-style animated films in November as part of the Beijing Film Festival. Of course, the films have nothing to do with the Michael Bay-helmed blockbuster, but it’s still cool to see robots kicking the heck out of each other in a hutong.

The fighting robot film is just one of many films showing at the Beijing Film Festival. Showcasing new and independent talent from China and abroad, the festival will be held at some of the most versatile “cinemas” in Beijing including venues like D-22 and MAO Livehouse. Films already confirmed to be screened over the next couple of months include The Naked Life of Qin Yongjian, which depicts the life of a nude male model, a series of short zombie animations, and Lost in Wu Song, which is described as being similar to Terry Gilliam’s Lost in La Mancha. For more details and a schedule check out the organizer’s website as it’s updated.

It’s been a year of Chinese movies making waves at foreign film festivals, and the latest to garner attention is The Western Trunk Line (西干道 Xi Gan Dao), which won the Special Jury Prize at the 20th Tokyo International Film Festival on October 28. Li Jixian’s movie is set in a remote Chinese town at the end of 1970s and has taken the director over ten years to get it on to the big screen. Franco-Israeli film The Band's Visit (Bikur Ha-Tizmoret) took top honors at the festival, another trophy to add to the this film's growing collection – it won Un Certain Regard honors at Cannes earlier this year.

Finally, Lust Caution (Se, Jie 色, 戒), or at least a trimmed down version of it - though we're not sure if it will be "about nine" or 30 minutes shorter than the 2 hour 36 minute version that they're watching in other countries – will finally open at Beijing cinemas this Thursday. The film's release date has already been pushed back twice, but it looks like it's really going to happen this time. According to local media reports, some cinemas will be holding midnight screenings on Wednesday, Oct 31. It seems only fair that Shanghai host the star-studded Chinese premiere – Ang Lee, Tony Leung and Tang Wei will all be there – tomorrow night at 7pm, as the film is after all set down there.

The film has received a few bad reviews: the New York Times was less than positive: "a sleepy, musty period drama about wartime maneuvers and bedroom calisthenics," however, reader's comments on the review have defended the film's reputation. For a broader perspective you can check out some more reviews here.

A good quality trailer of Lust Caution is available at this site.

NetEase is offering free tickets to a 9.50am screening of the film on Thu Nov 1 at the Star City cinema. All you need to do is send an email about your understanding of the relationship between lust and caution to this address: 163xunbao@163.com. We guess that they're expecting responses in Chinese, but who knows, maybe a response in English will qualify as one of their best 20 answers. Don't forget to include your name and a contact number. Sina has also organized a similar competition but we had a bit of difficulty getting our heads around the rules - you can have a look for yourself here.

Screening Times for English Language Films in Beijing – Tuesday Oct 30

(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)

Haidian
UME International Cineplex

Ratatouille
20:05 21:35　

Transformers (IMAX)
16:50 19:40 22:30
RMB 50

CBD
Wanda International Cinema

Ratatouille
15:00 17:20 18:50 19:40 21:10 22:00

The Sun Also Rises
21:30

Landao
Ziguang Cinema

Ratatouille
16:10 18:20 20:30
RMB 50

Art Gallery
Changhong Cinema

Ratatouille
16:10 18:30 20:30

Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema

Ratatouille
15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00

Wangfujing
Xindong'an Cinema

Ratatouille
16:50 18:50 20:50

Star City

Ratatouille
12:50 14:50 16:50 18:50 20:50

Links and Sources:
New York Times: Lust, Caution (2007)
npr: When 'Lust' Meets Caution, Is It Still Art?
Xinhua:Cutting of "Lust, Caution" renews calling for film rating system in China

11/13/2007 Tuesday's Film Roundup

Lost in Beijing finally turns up.

It's half-price movie day in Beijing and along with our regular handy roundup of what English language films are showing around town, we also offer some snippets of news about what's going on in the world of Chinese cinema.

Hungarian Film Festival
With a culture and history as rich as Hungary’s, it’s odd that most people would be hard pushed to identify any real classics of Hungarian cinema. Well fear not, as the Hungarian Embassy in Beijing will screen some of the best Hungarian films from recent years at Cherry Lane Movies from November 14-18.

Not to be missed is tomorrow's (Nov 14) screening of Mephisto. The film took the prize for best foreign language feature at the 1982 Oscars, and the screening will be preceded by the film’s director István Szabó addressing the audience. The story focuses on a left-wing actor in pre-war Germany, who allows himself to be supported, and then used, by the Nazis in return for fame. This Faustian tale is well worth a watch. Other films to be screened will be Paths of Light, Fresh Air, Just Sex and Nothing Else, Hukkle, Bedlam and The Miraculous Mandarin. See the Cherry Lane website for more information.

Sequel Hungry
It’s weeks like these that make me think this Onion article isn’t so far from the truth. This Thursday Bruce Willis' John McClane in his dirty wife-beater goes head to head with Matt Damon's more cerebral Jason Bourne in a battle of Hollywood sequels. The showdown of the yin and yang of American action heroes was brought about by the postponement of the release of the fourth installment of Die Hard (Live Free or Die Hard) which was originally scheduled to be released on Nov 6 and then later Nov 9 before finally being pushed back to this coming Thursday Nov 15. Chinese media have reported that officials in the Chinese Film Administration delayed release of Die Hard 4 in order to give Lust, Caution a chance to make some money at the box office.

Matt Damon plays amnesiac CIA operative Jason Bourne in search of answers about the training program that cost him his memory and gave him his high-level espionage skills. Julia Styles plays Bourne’s confident and ally within the agency, who tries to help him in his quest for truth. With the film franchise recently being dubbed the most profitable set of movies ever, it’s hard not to think of Bourne being as the American James Bond, but hopefully that wont mean another 18 films rehashing the same plot for the next 40 years. Expect fight scenes, explosions and tense drama in this intelligent action thriller. Take a look at a trailer here and if you're still interested, see below for details of showing times.

Lost In Beijing Gets a Release Date
[insert name of Chinese film] wins prize / critical acclaim at [insert name of prestigious European film festival] only to find that Chinese government [demand cuts to the original feature / delay release of movie].

It seems a week doesn’t pass without some form of the above story making its way into the news. This weeks contender is Lost in Beijing (aka Pingguo), which has finally been given the release date of November 30, nine months after it premiered on the festival circuit.

The film, like so many other Chinese features this past year, made waves at the Berlin film festival, but some reports suggested that Chinese censors, unhappy at the film’s subject matter, had demanded 15 edits to be made or they would block the publics showing of the film. The producers managed screen the film in Berlin, under the agreement that the changes would subsequently be made, but with nine months having passed it looked unlikely that the film would make it to screens in Beijing. What form the film will take when it arrives has yet to be seen. Reports that a 3-second shot of Tony Leung’s backside has been removed are, as of the moment, unconfirmed.

Those who can't wait until Nov 30 can catch the film at Cherry Lane on Nov 23 and 24.

Screening Times for English Language Films in Beijing – Tuesday Nov 6

(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)

Haidian
UME International Cineplex
Lust, Caution
10:20 15:40 21:00
Digital Screening: 09:40 11:10 12:20 13:50 15:00 16:30 17:10 17:40 19:10 19:50 20:20 20:50 21:50 23:00 23:30

Transformers (IMAX)
13:00 18:20
RMB 50

CBD
Wanda International Cinema
Lust, Caution
9:50 10:40 11:10 11:40 12:40 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:30 16:20 16:50 17:20 18:20 19:10 19:40 20:10 20：40 21:45 22:00 22:30

Ratatouille
18:20

Art Gallery
Changhong Cinema
Lust, Caution
10:45 13:50 16:40 19:30 12:50 15:40 18:30 21:20
Digital Screening: 12:00 14:50 17:40 20:30 20:00

Ratatouille
13:05 17:05 21:00

Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema
Lust, Caution
10:00 11:00 11:40 12:20 13:40 14:20 15:00 15:40 16:20 17:00 17:40 18:20 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:00 21:40 22:20 23:00

Wangfujing
Xindong'an Cinema
Lust, Caution
09:50 10:30 11:10 11:50 12:40 13:20 14:00 14:40 15:30 16:10 16:50 17:30 18:10 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:00

Star City
Lust, Caution
9:50 10:30 11:10 11:50 12:40 13:20 14:00 14:50 15:30 16:10 16:50 17:40 18:25 19:00 19:45 20:30 21:15 21:50 22:30

Ratatouille
12:30 16:40

East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema
Lust, Caution
9:40 11:00 12:25 13:50 15:10 15:40 16:40 17:50 18:20 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30 21:00 21:40 22:00

Ratatouille
11:20 13:30 15:40 17:50

Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex

Lust, Caution
10:30 11:15 11:50 13:15 14:00 14:30 16:00 16:45 17:15 18:45 19:30 20:00 21:30 22:15 22:45
Digital Screening 10:00 12:45 15:20 18:00 20:45 23:30
(Screenings also available with Korean subtitles – call for more info)

Xidan
Shoudu Shidai Cinema
Lust, Caution
10:00 11:00 12:40 13:40 15:20 16:20 18:00 19:00 20:40 21:40

Ratatouille
12:45 14:50 16:55

Links and Sources:
that's Beijing: Cinefile: Lost to Lust
that's Beijing: No Labels, Please - Lost in Beijing director Li Yu breaks down the barriers
Sina.com: 英雄同日撞车 《谍影重重3》遭遇《虎胆龙威4》