Special Los Angeles red carpet premiere of FAGARA tomorrow, September 12th and will open to the general public on September 13th

China Lion and

Hyundai Motor America

Present

Li Xiaofeng, Megan Lai, and Sammi Cheng (Photo Credit- China Lion Film Distribution, Inc.)

Fagara / Hua jiao zhi wei

Directed by Heiward Mak

China, 2019, 120 minutes

China Lion Film Distribution has acquired and will release Fagara, with worldwide superstar Sammi Cheng in the lead role. Hyundai Motor America and its brand new 2020 Palisade SUV will be the official sponsor of the North American release, showcasing the film first at a special Los Angeles red carpet premiere on September 12th at AMC Atlantic Times Square 14 in Monterey Park.. The new film, written and directed by Heiward Mak, will open to the general public in celebration of the mid-autumn festival on September 13th throughout the United States and Canada. Mak is the award winning writer of the film Love in a Puff and the well regarded High Noon.

The film also stars actress Megan Lai, best known for Bromance, Miss Rose and Mars (all three are TV series), and actress Li Xiaofeng, best known for the films Love At First… and the Feng Xiaogang epic Youth. In addition to the lead cast of Sammi Cheng, Megan Lai and Li Xiaofeng, the film co-stars award winning actress Wu Yanshu, Liu Juei Chi and Richie Jen. Acting legend Andy Lau makes a special guest appearance in the film as well.

The film follows a woman (Sammi Cheng) who, in the wake of her father’s untimely death, rediscovers her connection with her two distant sisters. But with her own relationship uncertain and the future of her departed father’s hot pot restaurant in question, she worries her feelings for the past will add complications to the reunion. She finds that while their upbringing was different, they too experience ongoing trials and tribulations in their lives. Her sister from the Mainland (Li Xiaofeng) is pressured by her elderly grandmother to get married; her sister from Taiwan (Megan Lai) is plagued by a toxic relationship with her mother. Together, they decide to strive to find happiness, love and peace – the same peace their father was unable to provide to them during his life.

The film is currently set to open in the United States and Canada in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver, expanding to other cities in the weeks following. A complete theater list is available at www.ChinaLionFilm.com/fgra.

The film’s international trailer can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq4xnFALye0

China Lion to release THE DEVOTION OF SUSPECT X in North American and other markets on March 31st

China Lion

presents

The Devotion of Suspect X

Directed by Alec Su

China, 2017

China Lion Film Distribution has announced that it will release the Chinese language film The Devotion of Suspect X in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on March 31st, along with special United Kingdom screenings, the same weekend as the Mainland Chinese release date. The film stars Wang Kai, Zhang Luyi, Ruby Lin, Hou Minghao, Yan Xujia and Ren Xiqing and is directed by Alec Su, who previously helmed the hit film The Left Ear.

Based on Keigo Higashino’s award-winning novel The Devotion of Suspect X, the film follows a professor (Wang Kai) assisting in a murder investigation, only to find that a longtime rival and friend (Zhang Luyi) from his early university days may be involved. The book won Japan’s prestigious Naoki Prize for Best Novel and was a nominee for an Edgar Award and a Barry Award. It was chosen by the American Library Association as one of their Best Mystery Novels of the year. The English-language translation of the Japanese book is published by Macmillan imprint, Minotaur Books; it is the first of three novels that form the author’s “Detective Galileo" series, with “Salvation of a Saint” and “A Midsummer’s Equation” representing the latest entries. The novel was previously made into a Japanese feature of the same name, directed by Hiroshi Nishitani, and a Korean feature entitled Perfect Number, directed by Bang Eun-jin.

Film and television star Wang Kai previously co-starred in the China Lion film The Golden Era, the Hong Kong Film and Golden Horse film award winner from director Ann Hui. He also co-starred in the recent Jackie Chan led Railroad Tigers, which China Lion distributed in the United Kingdom. He graduated from the prestigious Central Academy of Drama. China Lion Film will release The Devotion of Suspect X in more than 40 cities in the U.S. and Canada, 20 cities in Australia and New Zealand, and feature special shows in the United Kingdom, all on the same weekend the film releases wide in the Mainland. The company acquired the film directly from Beijing Enlight Pictures, one of the largest film distributors in China.

LOST AND LOVE theatrical opening in North America on March 20th, 2015

China Lion Film to release East West Bank-sponsored

LOST AND LOVE (SHI GU)

starring Andy Lau, day-and-date with Mainland China

 Lost And Love / Shi Gu

Written and directed by Peng Sanyuan
China, 2015

China Lion Film Distribution has acquired and will release the drama Lost And Love (Shi Gu), which stars Hong Kong acting legend Andy Lau. East West Bank will be the official sponsor of the North America release.

Lost And Love will open March 20th, 2015, in select theaters throughout the US and Canada, including Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Edmonton, Lansing, Los Angeles, Montreal, New York, the Orange County/Irvine/Tustin area, San Diego, San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as throughout Australia and New Zealand, all day-and-date with the Chinese Mainland release.

By opening with the worldwide release, China Lion will allow audiences in both the U.S. and Canada to see the film at the same time as Mainland audiences. A complete theatre listing will be available in the coming weeks at the company’s official website, www.chinalionentertainment.com.

In addition to Lau, the film also stars Jing Boran, who co-starred in Rise of the Legend, The Guillotines and Love In Space and features special appearances by Sandra Ng and Tony Leung Ka-fai. It details a true story from the Hubei province of China about a father’s search for his long lost son after a suspected child abduction. The film is produced by Wang Zhonglei, Chan Pui-wah and Zhang Dajun and by the Huayi Bros. Media Group, Beijing Yuanhesheng Entertainment, Chongqing Film Group, Xiamen Navigation Media and Good Friends Entertainment. The film was acquired from IM Global, a leading independent film and television financing, sales and distribution company. Lau previously starred in the critically acclaimed China Lion Film release A Simple Life, directed by Ann Hui.

Synopsis:

After losing his two-year-old son, Lei (Andy Lau) begins a fourteen-year-long quest in search of his missing child. On the road, he makes a stop at a repair shop where he comes across a young repairman, Ceng (Jing Boran), who was also kidnapped at the age of four. Robbed of the life he was meant to live, Ceng can only vaguely remember snippets of home — a chain-link bridge, bamboo trees, and his mother’s long braids. Lost And Love (Shi Gu) is an uplifting portrait of two lost souls who forge an unlikely friendship and, in the face of a hopelessness and despair, inspire courage and perseverance in one another.

RUNNING MAN and SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW to be released in major markets by China Lion

China Lion Film Announces Acquisitions of Running Man 

and Somewhere Only We Know as January & February

Releases for US/Canada & Australia/New Zealand

China Lion Film Distribution has announced that it has acquired the films Running Man from Wanda Media Group and Somewhere Only We Know from Distribution Workshop. Running Man will open on January 29th in Australia and New Zealand and January 30th in the United States and Canada; Somewhere Only We Know will open February 12th in Australia and New Zealand and February 13th in the United States and Canada. Both releases will continue a day-and-date release strategy, allowing audiences in both areas of the world to experience the films in the same weekend as Mainland Chinese audiences.

Running Man from Wanda Media Group is the feature film spin-off of the very popular reality television show originally based on a South Korean variety format. The film stars Wang Baoqiang (Lost in Thailand), Li Chen (Aftershock), Zheng Kai (So Young), Angelababy (Love on the Cloud) Korean singer and TV personality Kim Jong-Kook and Chen He (Back In Time), among others. The show was adapted by Zhejiang TV in China and is produced by Zhenjiang Blue Star Media Co. Ltd., Huayi Bros. and Wanda Media and the story revolves around the celebrities divided into teams and competing against one and other for the ultimate annual prize. The film follows in the footsteps of the $100M USD Mainland grossing reality TV feature spin-off Where Are We Going Dad? which was released in the same weekend last year.

The trailer for Running Man can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHNBbiUlxU

Somewhere Only We Know from Distribution Workshop is set to be China Lion Film’s biggest release ever, celebrating both the Valentine’s Day Weekend and an early Chinese New Year. Directed and co-written by popular actress Xu Jinglei, the romantic drama takes place in Prague and stars Kris Wu, a former member of the popular Korean music group EXO, along with Claudia Wang and Gordon Alexander. The film will mark Kris’ debut as an actor, who has also contributed to the soundtrack with the song “There is a Place”. Xu also co-stars in the film, which centers on a love story across time; the film is produced by Kaila Pictures and is co-written by Wang Shuo, who wrote the Feng Xiaogang films (and China Lion Film releases) Personal Tailor and If You Are The One. Distribution Workshop is founded by veteran producers/filmmakers Nansun Shi and Jeffrey Chan, with Nasdaq listed Bona Film Group as one of its major shareholders. Based in Hong Kong, it aims to represent and produce the best quality Asian films for distributors worldwide.

The teaser trailer for Somewhere Only We Know can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM8SJ74f2fU

The music video for “There is a Place” from Somewhere Only We Know can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye5hWLKwuSA

China Lion Film will release both films in major metro areas throughout North America in addition to Australia and New Zealand; specific release locations will be announced on the company’s website, as well as its Facebook and Weibo. China Lion Film Distribution recently released the films Breakup Buddies, Back In Time and Love on the Cloud.

WOMEN WHO FLIRT to open on November 26th in U.S. & Canada

China Lion Film Distribution has acquired the ensemble romantic comedy Women Who Flirt and set a Thanksgiving release date, with most U.S. and Canadian locations to debut the movie on Wednesday, November 26th, 2014. China Lion Australia/New Zealand will release the film the following day, Thursday, November 27th. Both North American audiences and audiences in Australia/New Zealand will be able to see the film ahead of the Mainland Chinese release on Friday, November 28th.

The Mandarin language film stars Zhou Xun (Painted Skin, The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate), Huang Xiao Ming (Eastern Bandits, The Guillotines), Sui Tang and Xie Yi Lin. Talented Hong Kong filmmaker Pang Ho-Cheung (Aberdeen, Vulgaria, Love in the Buff)  directed the film, which has also been known as Women Who Know How to Flirt Are the Luckiest. Personally, I think the shorter English title is a great improvement

Huang Xiao Ming (left)  and Zhou Xun

The film revolves around co-workers and longtime friends Angie (Zhou Xun) and Marco (Huang Xiao Ming). When Marco announces he’s seeing someone, it sends Angie on a mission to save him from his new and manipulative girlfriend Hailey (Tang Sui). With the help of a circle of friends led by May (Xie Yi Lin), Angie tries to convince him she’s the one for him.

China Lion Film will release Women Who Flirt in major metro areas throughout North America in addition to Australia and New Zealand, continuing its trend of releasing films day-and-date with Greater China; specific release locations will be announced on the company’s website, as well as its Facebook and Weibo.

The official website for the film is http://www.WomenWhoFlirt.com/.

China Lion Film Distribution recently released the film Breakup Buddies and But Always, films that respectively became the company’s #1 and #2 highest grossing pictures.

THE GOLDEN ERA acquired by China Lion for distribution in Australia, New Zealand, U.S. & Canada

China Lion Film Distribution has acquired Ann Hui’s historical epic The Golden Era from Edko Films for release in the U.S. and Canada, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The Mandarin-language film stars Tang Wei as female novelist Xiao Hong and will be released in theaters on October 16th in Australia and New Zealand and October 17th in the United States and Canada. The film, which is the official Hong Kong selection for consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its Best Foreign Language category, closed the Venice Film Festival this year and was an Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and the Vancouver International Film Festival. The Golden Era will have its U.S. premiere in Monterey Park in Los Angeles on October 7th sponsored by Hyundai USA at the AMC Atlantic Times Square 14.

Directed by Ann Hui (A Simple Life, God of Killers, The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), the film traces the life of Xiao Hong, one of China’s most famous essayist and novelist, reflecting the progressive thinking not frequently seen during the time period. Set in 1930s China, the film uses personal accounts and the author’s own writings in piecing together a turbulent life in a turbulent time. Tang Wei, a multiple award winner for her lead role in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution as well as her starring turn in last year’s blockbuster hit Finding Mr. Right, plays Xiao Hong, with Feng Shaofeng co-starring. Shaofeng recently was in the Chinese hit The Continent and will star in the upcoming film Wolf Totem, written by Jean-Jacques Annaud and John Collee, from the best-selling novel by Jian Rong.

China Lion Film released Hui’s last film, A Simple Life, to spectacular reviews and audience reception; the film was also featured at the previous year’s Venice Film Festival, winning multiple awards for star Deanie Ip and going on to make Roger Ebert’s Top Films of the Year before his passing. Additionally, China Lion Film released Tang Wei’s last film Finding Mr. Right and will be opening up the Xu Zheng/Huang Bo-starrer Breakup Buddies this Friday, October 3rd.

China Lion Film will release The Golden Era in major metro areas throughout North America, including in select college towns, in addition to Australia and New Zealand; specific release locations will be announced on the company’s website, as well as its Facebook and Weibo soon. China Lion Film Distribution previously released But Always on September 5th, which is still in limited release.

China Lion to release Chinese language comedy BREAKUP BUDDIES in October

 Breakup Buddies

Directed by Hao Ning
China, 2014

China Lion Film Distribution has announced that it has acquired the Xu Zheng/Huang Bo starrer Breakup Buddies at the Toronto International Film Festival from leading independent film financing, sales and distribution company IM Global for North America and Australia/New Zealand. The Mandarin language film is directed by noted Chinese comedy director Ning Hao (Crazy Stone, Crazy Racer, No Man’s Land) and reunites Xu Zheng and Huang Bo in their first comedy since the massive Mainland hit that was Lost in Thailand.

The film will be released in theaters on October 2nd in Australia and New Zealand and October 3rd in the United States and Canada.

The film, which co-stars Zhou Dongyu, finds Gene Hao (Huang Bo) heartbroken after a divorce, leading to a night of heavy drinking followed by a visit to the hospital. His best friend, Hao Yi (Xu Zheng), breaks him out and the two proceed on a cross country road trip from Beijing to Shanghai to Dali in Southwest China, seeking out new women to make them forget their troubles. Along the way, they encounter a motley crew of interesting personalities as they unwittingly find real meaning in life.

Breakup Buddies was produced by Injo Films Limited, Beijing Asian Union Culture & Media Investment, Ltd., Beijing Galloping Horse Film Co. Ltd., China Film Co. Ltd., Beijing Shine Land Culture, Beijing Talent International Film Company Limited, Beijing Skywheel Entertainment Co. Ltd., HuangBo Studio.

BUT ALWAYS opens in theaters today

China Lion

presents

But Always / Yi Sheng Yi Shi 

Written and directed by Snow Zou

Starring Nicholas Tse and Yuanyuan Gao

China, 2014, 106 minutes

This romance/drama opens in theaters in select cities in the U.S. and Canada today, Friday, September 5th. For city & theater information and to buy tickets, click here.

The film begins with a shot of a handsome young man (Nicholas Tse) walking near the Hudson River, just west of the World Financial Center's Winter Garden. The north tower of the World Trade Center looms tall in the background, to the east. Chinese characters and their English translation indicate that it's New York City in September, 2001. This brief opening scene sets a mood of ominous threat, as the terrorist plane attacks that will destroy both towers, and indeed the entire WTC complex, must surely be imminent.

The film then shifts to Beijing in 1976. An Ran is a cute four year old girl living outdoors in a tent with her mother and father in the wake of the Tangshan earthquake. Her mother is a doctor and leaves for Tangshan with a rescue team, never to return after the team has some sort of an accident.

Then it's 1982 and An Ran's father sends her to a Beijing school that's far away from where they live so that her schooling won't be affected by their neighbors gossiping. There she meets Zhao Yongyuan, an unkempt ragamuffin who takes to following her to her bus stop every day. Zhao lives with his grandmother. Their household is quite poor financially, as opposed to the relatively well-off one of An Ran and her father.

The bus stop where they wait together for her bus to arrive acquires great significance to each of them. They are separated when Zhao has to go live with an uncle, Old Ji  (veteran Hong Kong character actor Lam Suet), but reunite in 1993 when she is a medical student following in her mother's footsteps and he and his uncle have returned to Beijing where they are street merchants.

At this point in the film, the now 21 year old An Ran is played by Mainland Chinese actress Yuanyuan GAO (Caught in the Web, Beijing Bicycle) and Zhao, who presumably is about the same age, is portrayed by Nicholas Tse (Bodyguards and Assassins, Shaolin), who makes his return to romantic dramas after a ten year absence during which he appeared in a series of action films including The Bullet Vanishes and The Viral Factor (both of which China Lion Film acquired for the North American market).

The remainder of the film charts the course of these two friends who would be lovers over the ensuing years, up to 2001 and beyond. Anran pursues her med school graduate work and Zhao becomes an entrepreneurial businessman, eventually also coming to New York as we've seen in the opening scene.

The two separate and come together, sometimes due to circumstances, sometimes because of their personal decisions. But fate seems to want them to be with one another. The only question that remains is will Zhao survive the 9/11 plane attacks on the World Trade Center, or will be be one of the lucky ones whom fate and circumstances spare.

The film marks the debut of Snow ZOU as both writer and director, and he's done an admirable job. As the film moves around in time and between two distance cities, there's never a doubt as to where  and when what we are watching is taking place. The complications that arise and keep separating An Ran and Zhao are perhaps a bit too much, but not unduly so.

But Always is a solid romance that makes one care about the two lovers. particularly whether they will ultimately realize that they were meant to be together and, if they do, will fate permit it.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; recommended for the type of film it is, a very touching romance.

BUT ALWAYS hits North American theaters this Friday, September 5th

China Lion

presents

 But Always

Written and directed by Snow ZOU

China, 2014, 106 minutes

The Chinese romance/drama But Always begins its North American theatrical run this coming Friday, September 5th. For theater information and to buy tickets, click here.

The film, which marks the directorial debut of Snow ZOU, who also wrote the screenplay, stars Hong Kong star Nicholas Tse (Bodyguards and Assassins, Shaolin) and Mainland Chinese actress Yuanyuan GAO (Caught in the Web, Beijing Bicycle) as two best friends who have lost touch but find each other again. The feature will be Tse’s return to romantic dramas after a ten year absence during which he appeared in a series of action films including The Bullet Vanishes and The Viral Factor (both of which China Lion Film acquired for the North American market).

“I’ve grown used to the sound of his footsteps.”
Friends An Ran (Yuanyuan GAO) and Zhao Yong-yuan (Nicholas Tse) are separated as children and meet again years later in Beijing in the early 1990’s, when An is a university student and Zhao is a hawker. They rediscover their childhood friendship. Zhao helps her raise funds to study abroad. They fall in love, but try to hide it. When Zhao sees An off he cannot help but tells An he wants to take care of her for the rest of her life. An is overwhelmed but does not stay…

“I’ve followed you for so long, of course I can recognize your footsteps.”
Everything has been going wrong for An when in 2001, now successful businessman Zhao runs into her in New York. He wants to be with her. An has given up on their past, but Zhao’s persistence moves her. They decide to get married, but another accident results in their being separated once more. Convinced they will never meet again, An returns to Beijing. And then…

THAT DEMON WITHIN opens tomorrow in limited release

China Lion

presents

That Demon Within / Mo jing

Directed by Dante Lam

Hong Kong/China, 2014, 112 minutes

That Demon Within is the latest film by veteran Hong Kong director Dante Lam (Unbeatable, The Viral Factor). It will open in North America tomorrow, Friday, April 18th, day-and-date with its Hong Kong release. The movie will screen in major metro areas throughout the U.S. and Canada, including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., Toronto and Vancouver.(Check local listings.)

Golden Horse Award-winner Daniel Wu (Overheard, Hot Summer Days, Control) stars as Dave Wong, a 35 year old who's been a police officer for 17 years. In that time he's served in 23 of Hong Kong's 42 precincts. The reason is that he's a stubborn, overly conscientious cop who gets along with no one. He's currently assigned to manning a post at a hospital E.R. in West Kowloon by himself.

Daniel Wu as troubled police officer Dave Wong

One night a wounded man comes into the E.R. He's Hon Kong, an armed robber and a cop killer. He needs blood, but the hospital is very low on his blood type. Kong is played by Nick Chueng, who recently won the award for Best Actor at the 33rd Hong Kong film awards for his performance in Unbeatable (2013).

Wong, who is unaware of who and what Wong is, happens to be the same type and he donates the blood that saves Kong's life. Soon thereafter he's roundly berated by Sr. Inspector C.F. "Pops" Mok for saving not just a notorious criminal, but a cop killer to boot.

Nick Cheung as Hon Kong

It quickly becomes clear that Wong has some serious issues, ones that for the most part originated in the enormous demands his father placed on him during his youth. As a result, he's very guilty about having been instumental in saving Kong's life. Wong's supervisor, Liz Kwok (Christie Chen, in her second feature film) has her sister Stephanie, who's a psychiatrist, examine Wong to ascertain just how severe his problems are.

As the film heads towards it's violent conclusion, the key question is will Wong be able to master the demon within him or succumb to its self-destructive power.

Two of the thieves in their demon masks during a shoot-out with police

There were several aspects of the film that brought other movies to mind. At the beginning, the gang of crooks don demon masks that made me think of those worn in The 5 Deadly Venoms. The street battles between the thieves and police were reminiscent of Heat. Finally, the female shrink examining an officer of the low reminded me of Infernal Affairs. This is not to suggest that I found That Demon Within derivative, because I didn't. I mention these comparison only because they kicked off the associations I mention. Maybe Lam intended them to be references or homages, maybe not.

Whatever the case, Lam, who co-wrote the screenplay with Wai Lun Ng, has fashioned a gripping psychological action-thriller. If it's playing near you, by all means check it out. It's well worth your time and money.

ACF Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; a good film, solidly recommended.

Info and video clips at That Demon Within's official website.

Further info about That Demon Within can be found at China Lion on Facebook.

Dante Lam’s action thriller THAT DEMON WITHIN opens this Friday

China Lion

presents

That Demon Within / Mo jing

Directed by Dante Lam

Hong Kong/China, 2014, 112 minutes

That Demon Within a psychological action thriller directed by Dante Lam (Unbeatable, The Viral Factor), will open in North America this coming Friday, April 18th, day-and-date with its Hong Kong release. The movie will screen in major metro areas throughout the U.S. and Canada, including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., Toronto and Vancouver.

That Demon Within stars Golden Horse Award-winner Daniel Wu (Overheard, Hot Summer Days, Control) as Dave Wong, a dutiful police officer who doubts himself after saving the life of a notorious and ruthless killer played by Nick Chueng (On the Edge, The White Storm). Unsure if he did the right thing by protecting a cold-blooded murderer, Wong's actions come back to haunt him when the killer and his gang become the leading suspects in a bloody armed robbery.

Info and video clips at That Demon Within's official website.

BEIJING LOVE STORY opening on Valentine's Day in North America

China Lion

Presents

Beijing Love Story

Directed by Chen Sicheng

China, 2014, 122 minutes

China Lion will be offering a Valentine's Day treat with the North American theatrical release of the Chinese romance movie Beijing Love Story on Friday, February 14th. The film, which stars Tony Leung Ka Fai and Carina Lau, takes a look at love and commitment from multiple generations. It's a spin-off from the hit Chinese TV series of the same name and marks the feature film directorial debut of Chen Sicheng, who also wrote the screenplay and has a starring role.

Beijing Love Story is slated to open in these locations:

- DC Area: AMC Loews Rio (Gaithersburg)
- Los Angeles: AMC Atlantic Times Square 14 (Monterey Park)
  - an additional Los Angeles area location for the 14th is likely to be added
- New York: AMC Empire 25 (Manhattan)
- San Francisco/San Jose Area: Camera 12 Cinemas (San Jose)
  - an additional San Francisco proper location for the 14th is likely to be added
- Toronto: Cineplex Odeon Yonge Dundas
- Vancouver: SilverCity Riverport

AsianCineFest is expecting a screener to arrive in time for a review on or shortly before the Valentine's Day opening, so be sure to check back here.

PERSONAL TAILOR sets record in China and is doing well in the U.S.

 Personal Tailor / Si Ren Ding Zhi

Directed by Feng Xiaogang

Screenplay by Wang Shuo

China, 2013, 117 minutes

Some interesting news has been coming out about Personal Tailor.which opened in China on December 19th and in limited release in North America on the 20th.

First off, it set a new opening day record for a 2-D film in China. After 6 days the comedy had earned the equivalent of  $65.1 million U.S. dollars and was the top grossing film for the week of December 16-22.

In the U.S., distributor China Lion has been very happy with Personal Tailor's performance and is still playing it throughout most of the initial locations, including here New York City.

See my December 19th review of Personal Tailor here.

PERSONAL TAILOR opens tomorrow

Huayi Brothers and

China Lion present

 Personal Tailor / Si Ren Ding Zhi

Directed by Feng Xiaogang

Screenplay by Wang Shuo

China, 2013, 117 minutes

Personal Tailor, the new satirical comedy from Chinese director Feng Xiaogang, opens tomorrow in several major metro areas in the U.S. and Canada. This is in keeping with China Lion's policy of releasing films theatrically here to closely coincide with their release in China, where Personal Tailor is to formally open today, December 19th. Check IMDb, Fandango or local listings for theaters and showtimes in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, Washington D.C, Honolulu, Vancouver and Toronto.

The film's title is the name of a dream fulfillment service whose corporate motto is, "What you don't dare imagine, we dare to do." For a short period of time, typically a day or two, the four members of the company will help an individual realize something that they otherwise would never experience. Yang Zhong (Ge You, The Banquet, a.k.a. Legend of the Black Scorpion, 2006) is the director of dreams; Miss Bai (Bai Baihe) serves as the personal fantastician to the clients; Miss Lu (Li Xiallu, Blood Brothers, 2007) is the caterer of whims; and Ma Quing (Zheng Kai, My Lucky Star, 2013) is the spiritual anesthetist.

Miss Lu and Ge You as visiting dignitaries to the chauffeur who would be a powerful person

After an introductory sequence that plays like a black-and-white World War II movie set in Europe, the film switches to color. There are three main stories in this omnibus film. The first, "Honest Instincts," stars Fan Wei (Back to 1942, 2012) as a chauffeur. A succession of his past corporate bosses have been convicted of corruption and his fantasy is to be in a position of power to prove that he's incorruptible and would therefore make an outstanding cadre.

Miss Lu, Ge You, Miss Bai and Ma Quing watch a performance by their vulgar film director client

In "Bloody Vulgar" Li Chengru portrays a film director who has made nothing but cheap, vulgar entertainment. His desire is to go art house. The staff of Personal Tailor come to realize that they are all vulgar, so they should follow their instincts, then do the exact opposite. Fans of Seinfeld will recognize this ploy from the episode in which the George Costanza character does exactly that and turns his life around, albeit temporarily. This segment features a brief cameo by Jackie Chan, and one minor character brings to mind Vulgaria director Pang Ho-cheung, at least judging by their distinctive hairstyles.

Mrs. Song and Ge You

The final fantasy is "Mo' Money," which stars Dandan Song (House of Flying Daggers, 2004)) as Mrs. Song, an old woman who once saved spiritual anesthetist Ma Quing when he fell  into a river during an earthquake. She dreams of being immensely rich, and the lengths to which she, assisted by the staff of Personal Tailor, will go in order to "spend" her wealth are among the funniest moments in the film.

Which brings me to the dilemma of rating and evaluating Personal Tailor. As far as I'm concerned,  comedies are the most difficult category of films both to make and to review. For the filmmaker it's a matter of generating at least an adequate number of laughs from the intended audience, whether it's a broad and general one or a specifically targeted audience. As a reviewer, I feel I have to consider not only what made me laugh and if these things are likely to make others laugh, but also will things that I didn't find funny possibly or likely amuse others.

The situation is compounded with a foreign film, where viewers not understanding the language have to deal with subtitles. (This of course doesn't apply, or barely applies to physical comedy, which transcends language. Witness, for example, the widespread appeal of such silent film stars as Chaplin, Keaton, and Harold Lloyd.) And a satirical comedy has the additional factor of how familiar does one need to be with what is being satirized in order to appreciate the humor.

All in all, I have to say that Personal Tailor succeeds quite well as comic satire from a foreign country. I'm sure that the more familiar one is with present day mainland China, the more one is likely to be amused by the film. But the subjects of the three main sections -- sanctimonious self-righteousness, artistic pretensions, and the flaunting of obscene wealth -- are all topics that know no borders. Feng does a fine job of puncturing their respective bubbles,

I enjoyed the movie a lot and I'll go on record as believing that anyone inclined to see it will find Personal Tailor quite entertaining and amusing. Go see it, give it a chance, and find out for yourself.

ACF 2049: Theatrical release of PERSONAL TAILOR set for Dec 20th

On Friday, December 20th, China Lion will release the Feng Xiaogang comedy Personal Tailor in theaters in select cities. It’s said to be a very unique film and akin to The Dream Factory, a prior project of his.

Personal Tailor will be playing at:

AMC Empire (New York)
AMC Atlantic Times Square (Los Angeles area/Monterey Park)
AMC Puente Hills (Los Angeles area/Rowland Heights-City of Industry)
SilverCity Riverport (Vancouver)
Cineplex Odeon Yonge & Dundas (Toronto)
Regal Cinemas Dole Cannery (Honolulu)

Check local listings for showtimes.

Feng's previous works also include Back to 1942, a drama about a terrible famine that struck China’s Henan province during World War II. That film, also released by China Lion and available on Netflix streaming, was China’s submission to the Foreign Language category for the Academy Awards this year. For my review of Back to 1942 at the 24Framespersecond website, click here.

I'm excited about the upcoming release of Personal Tailor from this talented, controversial and outspoken Chinese filmmaker. I expect to receive a screener soon, so look for a review here at AsianCineFest on or before December 20th.

ACF 2016: China Lion acquires Dante Lam's THAT DEMON WITHIN

China Lion Film picks up Dante Lam’s THAT DEMON WITHIN post-AFM

from Emperor Motion Pictures for North America, Australia/New Zealand

China Lion Film Distribution announced today that it has acquired and will release Dante Lam’s That Demon Within in the U.S. and Canada, as well as Australia and New Zealand. The film features Chinese stars Daniel Wu, who has been featured in over 60 films and has won Golden Horse Awards for acting (New Police Story) and directing (The Heavenly Kings), and Nick Cheung, who has starred in Lam’s previous film The Beast Stalker, which won him international acclaim, and who was nominated for a Golden Horse Award for his performance in Lam’s recently released highly-acclaimed Unbeatable.

That Demon Within follows a dutiful Hong Kong policeman who saves the life of a betrayed gang leader. The policeman joins forces with the gang leader, engineering a plan to shut the gang down, but soon finds himself on the run from the law, wanted for murder.

China Lion Film will release That Demon Within in major metro areas throughout both North America and Australia and New Zealand, continuing the trend of releasing Lam’s films day-and-date with China; specific release locations and dates will be announced.

China Lion Film Distribution previously released Lam’s The Viral Factor, starring Jay Chou and Nicholas Tse, which stands as one of the company’s most successful films. Dante Lam has also directed numerous other blockbusters, including The Twins Effect and The Beast Stalker, both of which made him a household name throughout Asia.

China Lion North America can be found on the web at http://www.facebook.com/chinalionfilm.

China Lion Australian/New Zealand can be found at http://www.facebook.com/ilovechinesefilms. 

ACF 1991: THE KING OF THE STREETS - Region 1 Blu-ray review

The King of the Streets

Directed by Yue Song and Zhong Lei

China, 2012, 88 minutes

An action film set in modern day China, The King of the Streets will be available tomorrow, Tuesday, August 6, 2013, on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.

The film's story is a simple one. It centers on Fang (martial artist Yue Song in his feature film debut), who is a bad-ass street brawler in Beijing. In the opening set piece, he is a teenager who engages in a one-against-many fight in a playground. Eight years later we find him released from prison, where he's served a manslaughter sentence, though exactly what happened has not yet been revealed to the viewer. Fang gets a menial job and lives in a storage room at the company that's hired him.

One day he comes to the aid of lovely Yi (Becky Li) who's been assaulted by some street toughs. She works at a private orphanage run by Mr. Zhou (Wang Zaihe). A Mr. Lee, whom we never meet, wants to buy the orphanage because it is located in the center of a resort he is planning to build. Unfortunately, his son, who's in charge of the acquisition, has gambled away the project money and is using strong-arm tactics to get Zhou to sell the site "for a song" (pun intended). Naturally Fang comes to the aid of Zhou, Yi and the orphans.

The film is a mixed bag. First, the negatives. The plot is a bit too slight, even for a simple martial arts movie. Two characters, co-workers of Fang, are employed to bring another character, who will later be a significant opponent of Fang's, into the story, but then they pretty much are forgotten. An opportunity for a somewhat richer story that would involve Mr. Lee's reaction to his son's dastardly actions is never explored. And too often the relatively short film replays things we've already seen as Fang recalls them in his mind. This starts to feel a bit like filler after awhile.

On the other hand there are quite a few fine action set pieces, both one-against-many and one-on-one. And the way the film eventually shows what happened that sent Fang to jail is very well done in my opinion.

Yue Song

Besides his starring role, Yue Song wrote, co-directed (with Zhong Lei), served as action director, and co-edited the film. Because of this, Derek Elley's review of the film at Film Business Asia described The King of the Streets as "a vanity production." I don't care for that characterization because, for me, it carries the connotation that the person doesn't have the talent to deserve the project.

Rather, I see The King of the Streets as a commendable showcase of Song's current talents and abilities as both a performer and filmmaker. While it may be too strong to describe it as auspicious, it is certainly a most promising cinematic debut.

ACF rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars, a fairly good film. Some evident weaknesses, but some good points as well.

Two more points remain to be made. First, as this review is being posted, there are no entries at IMDb for either the film or for Yue Song. Hopefully, someone involved with the film's production or distribution will promptly address these omissions.

Finally, I have no idea what the tattoos on the back of the figure on the Blu-ray and DVD artwork have to do with anything. The best I can come up with is that someone in marketing thought they would convey toughness. A straightforward image would have sufficed.