Cinema Roundup

For Chinese cinema, 2007 was a year characterized by outstanding performance on the foreign festival circuit. If the events of the first months of 2008 are anything to go by, we can expect more of the same.

Hoping to get in on some of that action is director Wang Xiaoshuai. His new movie, In Love We Trust, is in competition at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival later this month. The story focuses on a distraught mother who goes to unusual lengths to try and save her child who is suffering from cancer. The film will face tough competition from Paul Thomas Anderson’s already critically acclaimed There Will Be Blood, but it would be great to see Wang go one better than his movie Beijing Bicycle did, which won the Silver Bear at the same festival back in 2000. Also screening at Berlin (those Germans just can’t get enough of Chinese films) is Johnnie To’s Sparrow. To has suggested that his new film will have more romance and a kind of child-like innocence – quite a change from his shockingly brutal triad movies Election and Election II. The film follows the fortunes of a pickpocket, played by Hong Kong heartthrob Ren Dahua who also starred as the ruthless mob boss in the Election movies.

Someone well used to basking in the accolades of film festivals is Wong Kar Wai, but his most recent cinematic effort received lukewarm reviews from critics. Part of the reason, as the director recently suggested, might have been that he instructed first-time actress Norah Jones not to undertake acting lessons so that he could “capitalize on her inexperience.” After watching her performance you’ll probably agree that she should stick with singing.

But it’s not awards that make a film successful, as Peter Chan is well aware. With a distinct lack of American blockbusters to compete with, heroic action flick The Warlords was able to rake in a hefty RMB 260 million (USD 35.7 million) in ticket sales from December to early January, making it the highest grossing Chinese film for 2007 and only the second film ever to gross over RMB 200 million domestically.

Another homegrown talent looking to make a pretty penny at the box office is Stephen Chow. The Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer actor-director is set to release his latest film, CJ7, over the Spring Festival period. The film is a departure from Chow’s usual cinematic fare, with trademark kung fu-slapstick style being replaced with a sci-fi flavor, to tell the tale of a down-on-his-luck dad who discovers a strange toy from another planet ... Expect big laughs, and huge box office takings from Chow’s homage to Stephen Spielberg.

Cinema Round Up: February 2008

For Chinese cinema, 2007 was a year characterized by two things: triumphs on the international festival circuit and scores of controversy. If the events of the first months of 2008 are anything to go by, we can expect more of the same.

Director Li Yu woke up in 2008 to find that her movie Lost in Beijing had had its screening license suspended by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), meaning the film is now effectively banned in China. SARFT claimed that scenes that had been edited out of the movie to make it suitable for release were being illegally distributed over the Internet and on DVD. It’s a sad end for the film that spent most of last year waiting for a theatrical release to build on the favorable critical reaction it received at the Berlin International Film Festival. In other directives recently announced by SARFT, films containing “rape, prostitution and explicit sex” will be not be considered for competition in festivals. How this will affect the new breed of Chinese filmmakers – many of whom prefer not to shy away from the grittier side of contemporary life in China – remains to be seen.

Hoping to receive the same acclaim as Lost in Beijing (but none of the controversy), is director Wang Xiaoshuai. His new movie, In Love We Trust, is in competition at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival later this month. The story focuses on a distraught mother who goes to unusual lengths to try and save her child who is suffering from cancer. The film will face tough competition from Paul Thomas Anderson’s already critically acclaimed There Will Be Blood, but it would be great to see the director go one better than his movie Beijing Bicycle did, which won the Silver Bear at the same festival back in 2000.

It’s been around two months since Variety claimed (only for the Chinese government to deny) that there would be a three-month “blackout” of US movies from Chinese cinemas. With no sign of I Am Legend or any other big Hollywood releases, it does make you wonder when we’ll next be able to see some American produce on the big screen. Still, Peter Chan isn’t complaining. With no American blockbusters to compete with, heroic action flick The Warlords was able to rake in a hefty RMB 260 million (USD 35.7 million) in ticket sales from December to early January, making it the highest grossing Chinese film for 2007.

Another homegrown talent looking to make a pretty penny at the box office is Stephen Chow. The Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer actor-director is set to release his latest film, CJ7, over the Spring Festival period. The film is a departure from Chow’s usual cinematic fare, with trademark kung fu-slapstick style being replaced with a sci-fi flavor, to tell the tale of a down-on-his-luck dad who discovers a strange toy from another planet ... Expect big laughs, and huge box office takings from Chow’s homage to Stephen Spielberg. Simon Fowler

Cracking Open the Water Cube

by Simon Fowler

Yesterday saw the opening of what promises to be one of the most iconic buildings of the 2008 Olympics: the National Aquatic Center, or as it’s more commonly known, the Water Cube.

Many a writer has rhapsodized about the exterior of the cube, which was designed by PTW Architects, but now was the moment for the world's media to experience the inside of the structure. Inside is as aesthetically pleasing as you would imagine, with masses of bright white walls, straight metallic edges and a bubble theme running throughout. The facilities are equally impressive, with the training pool, diving boards and competition all matching the overall aesthetic of the building. The center is due for its opening event on Jan 31 with the Good Luck Beijing 2008 China Swimming Open.

Bizarrely, the ceremony had little in the way of "bang" to mark to occasion. As close as it came to any excitement was when organizing committee president, Liu Qi, and Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong, walked sedately around the pool and dipped their fingers in. With nothing captivating to grab their attention, the scrums of photographers jostled to find the defining shot of the water cube. Here is a selection of what our man Simon Lim managed to bag.

In other Olympic-related news:
BOCOG have released the results of the second phase of Olympic ticketing. Those who applied for tickets should be getting an e-mail from BOCOG's ticketing center soon. Despite attracting requests for about 4.5 million tickets, the trouble prone second-phase only managed to assign 450,000 of the 1.8 million tickets on offer, as buyers all wanted to get their hands on tickets to a narrow range of popular events.

Speaking of tickets, don't get nervous about reports that BOCOG are asking for photo ID and personal information of Olympic ticket buyers, as these strict regulations only apply to those who successfully booked tickets to the opening or closing ceremonies.

Construction of the Olympic Village has been completed.

Links and Sources:
Official 2008 Beijing Olympics Site: National Aquatics Center
Urbane: The Olympic Builder
http://www.urbanechina.com/images/pdf/200802/Features.pdf
Official 2008 Beijing Olympics Site: National Aquatics Center delivered for use
QQ: Watercube by Night

State of the Art-House

Beijing's best independent cinemas

With all the state-of-the art multiplexes that are springing up around town these days, the movie buffs at that’s Beijing thought it would be nice to profile some of the city’s lesser-known, more quirky offerings. It used to be that Cherry Lane was the only non-mainstream option in Beijing, but now there’s a wealth of smaller cinemas – discreet, sometimes cluttered, but always unique venues – that combine the comfort of home cinema with everyone’s favorite pastime of going to the movies.

Compiled by Simon Fowler, Michaela Kabat, Alice Xin Liu, Iain Shaw

French Cultural Centre
Showcasing French-language celluloid on a generously sized screen, the FCC’s film programs address topics such as the environment, social issues and seasonal tie-ins – such as last year’s Spring Festival-inspired “pig month.” Director of Cinema Programs Olivier Heux says the Center uses cinema to “break the stereotypes and present a new face of France.” Nevertheless, Heux stresses, the focus remains cinema itself: “We want people to see that there are many different types of cinema, and many different ways to express ideas.” Expect the likes of Amélie and French New Wave. Look out for visits by directors and actors such as Cedric Klapish and Jean Reno.

RMB 20, 10 (students). Daily (except Thu). Call ahead for schedule and subtitle information. 16 Gongti Xilu, Chaoyang District (6553 2627) www.ccfpekin.org

Cherry Lane at Yugong Yishan
Cherry Lane Movies has made a habit of screening movies in unconventional settings. While their spiritual home of an old Peking Opera theater is being refurbished, they have relocated to rock locale Yugong Yishan for a series of biweekly screenings. The mission of their Film and Filmmakers series is to present contemporary classics from Chinese cinema accompanied by Q&A sessions with folks who were involved in making the film. This month, Jia Zhangke is bruited to be appearing at a screening of his movies Still Life and Dong, proving that the people behind Cherry Lane are committed to bringing the English-speaking community the best of what China has to offer.

RMB 30, 20 (students). Every Sun. Doors open at 7.30pm. Yugong Yishan (6404 2711)

Italian Embassy Cultural Office
Italian expats – as well as Chinese students of Italian – flock here each Thursday night to catch some of their country’s classic cinematic offerings. Subtitles can be misleading, since Chinese subtitles are sometimes superimposed over English ones – so be prepared to do some multilingual guesswork, which can either be fun or a little off-putting (most likely the latter).

Expect Italian films (surprise, surprise!) such as L’isola (The Island) and Mediterraneo. Hungry cinemagoers can pop next door to the affiliated Chinese restaurant, which does special deals on the night.

Free. Call ahead for schedule. 2 Sanlitun Dong Er Jie, Chaoyang District (6532 5015)

9.30 (Jiudian Ban)
Located opposite Salud in Nanluogu Xiang, Jiudian Ban is a Hong Kong-movie buff’s wet dream. Movies are screened every day at (surprise!) 9.30pm. Expect Jordan Chan (Chen Xiaochun) or Leslie Cheung (Zhang Guorong) in action.

Free. Daily, 9.30pm. 91 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District (6402 9800)

One Way Street Library (Danxiang Jie)
One Way Street shows documentaries and art-house films by local directors on certain Saturday nights. What’s more, the directors are often on hand for Q&A sessions after each screening (which take place outdoors during the summer months). The movies themselves and the stimulating discussions that often follow them more than compensate for One Way Street’s inconvenient location.

Free. Call ahead for schedule and subtitle information. East gate of Yuanmingyuan (enter the parking lot and keep heading north past the entrance to the park and then turn left), next to Mima Cafe. Haidian District (6257 0357, onewaystreetlibrary@gmail.com) www.onewaystreet.cn

Space for Imagination (Hezi Kafei Guan)
Manager Feng Xiaolong fondly recalls a several hundred-strong audience that packed Hezi for a screening of Stanley Kwan’s Lan Yu, but an average movie night here is far less busy. Perhaps inspired by the underground aesthetics of its chosen films, Hezi is hidden away from street view in a Soviet-style xiaoqu, with a stealthy curtain drawn across the back of the cafe to make a snug, makeshift movie-theater. Expect programs that are director-centered (think Bergman, Jia Zhangke), with alternative seasons spotlighting Chinese short films. Directors and cast members occasionally attend screenings.

Free. Call ahead to check schedule. 5 Xiwangzhuang, Shuangqing Lu (just inside Xiwangzhuang xiaoqu), Haidian District (6279 1280) www.hzcafe.com

Obiwan
Obiwan has introduced a weekly movie night, with a screen set up on the first floor (or the terrace in the summertime). Movies are accompanied by a themed dinner (Italian cuisine for The Godfather, chicken fingers with tomato sauce for the gory Kill Bill), though some might find the layout less than conducive for dining. Still, the food, venue and movies themselves certainly make the trek to Xihai worthwhile. Expect popular yet critically acclaimed fare such as City of God and Trainspotting.

Free. Every Thu, 8pm or 10pm. 4 Xihai Xiyan (300m from Jishuitan subway station), Dongcheng District (6617 3231) www.clubobiwan.com

Ladies' Book Saloon
Anyone excited by the name’s connotation of a Wild West-style tavern patronized by bookworms of the fairer sex will be disappointed. This is in fact a bookshop, and it is indeed aimed principally at ladies. But equality rules, as both ladies and gentlemen are welcome to the Saturday film nights, which are screened in a small, violet-tinged room. The saloon’s selections tend towards arty, with recent programs revealing a penchant for French cinema. Films shown in original language, usually with Chinese subtitles.

Free. Every Wed and Sat, 7pm. 69 Chengfu Lu, Haidian District (6270 1928)

Instituto Cervantes
Showings are less frequent than at the French Cultural Center, but Spain’s Instituto Cervantes proves its dedication to cinema as a means of cultural expression, with twice-weekly screenings in its modestly sized – yet state-of-the-art – auditorium. Attracting a mixed crowd, el Instituto presents Spanish cinema across the genres, with particular emphasis on more contemporary offerings.

Free. Fri, Sat 7pm. Call ahead for subtitle information. 1A Gongti Nanlu, Chaoyang District (5879 9666)

D-22 Bar
It would be easy to criticize D-22’s failings as a “cinema,” but it’s nice to know that there’s a place in Beijing where you can wander in, down a drink and watch something a little different from the average popcorn movie. Expect offerings such as Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries or even Spinal Tap to be projected onto the generously proportioned screen just in front of the stage.

Free. Wed, Thu, 7pm. 242 Chengfu Lu (two doors west of 13 Club), Haidian District (6265 3177, charles@d22beijing.com) www.d22beijing.com

Story Club (Lao Gushi Canba)
Located inside the CCTV Story Channel compound, which itself is part of a space that hosts the Female Directors’ Club, Story Club is at the heart of what could be described as Beijing’s Hollywood. Prestigious neighbors include the Beijing Film Academy, where the likes of Zhang Yimou studied, and the Beijing Film Studio (where much of Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor was filmed). The movies shown have a strong cultural and educational theme, such as Yilun Mingyue (A Bright Moon).

Free. Call ahead for schedule and subtitle information. 61 Beisanhuan, Haidian District (8207 1909 ext 1202)

The Seventh Prison (Diqi Jianyu)
Director-cum-proprietor Zhang Jiangnan opened Seventh Prison so he could share his jaw-dropping collection of independent films with fellow film-lovers. The directors will occasionally be on hand to talk about their movies after they are screened. Expect the likes of Wednesday, Thursday (Xingqi San, Xingqi Si) or Stanley Kwan’s Lan Yu.

Free. Call ahead for schedule and subtitle information. 7 Baimi Xiejie, Qianhai Nanyan, Shichahai, Dongcheng District (6403 2968)