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The Chinese Dream (the equivalent of the American Dream) seems to entail moving from the country to the urban centers and making a life there. For the scores of Chinese people who follow this direction, however, things are not always rosy and life in the big cities can easily turn into something much worse than they expected. Liu Yulin's second feature focuses on a number of characters that face similar issues in the megalopolis, as their lives are eventually interconnected.

“In Our Prime” is screening at Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema

Yitian delivers weather and traffic information on the radio. She is also a single mom raising her son in the big city, although she prides herself for having managed to move from the town she was born in. Her life, however, is complicated on a number of levels. Ma Huai, her ex-husband has remarried and his new...

Keep up with the wild and wooly world of indie film acquisitions with our special edition of Tiff-only buys, just as the annual fall festival is wrapping up in the Far North.

– IFC Films has announced that the company has acquired U.S. rights to Philippe Falardeau’s “The Bleeder.” The film, directed by Falardeau and written by Jeff Feurzeig and Jerry Stahl, stars Liev Schreiber, Elisabeth Moss and Naomi Watts. The feature had its world premiere at the 2016 Venice Film Festival followed by its North American premiere in Toronto this week.

It is “is the true story of Chuck Wepner, the man who inspired the billion-dollar film series Rocky—a liquor salesman from New Jersey who went 15 rounds with the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali. In his ten years in the ring, Wepner endured two knockouts, eight broken noses, and 313 stitches. But his toughest fights were outside...

Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North American rights to Feng Xiaogang’s satire and has set an October 7 release.

Fan Bingbing, Guo Tao and Da Peng star in the film about a village woman accused of being an adulterer who embarks on an annual ‘journey of petition’ to Beijing to prove that her divorce was a sham and redeem her reputation.

The film is based on Liu Zhenyun’s 2012 novel I Did Not Kill My Husband and received its world premiere in Special Presentations last Thursday (Sept 8). It next screens to the public on Friday and will open wide in China on September 30.

Sparkle Roll Media Corporation presents the I Am Not Madame Bovary alongside Huayi Brothers Media Corporation, Beijing Skywheel Entertainment, Huayi Brothers Pictures and Zhejiang Dongyang Mayla Media, with Qi Jianhong, Wang Zhongjun, Song Ge, Wang Zhonglei and Feng Xiaogang.

Zhang Dajun produced I Am Not Madame Bovary and Wang Zhonglei, Zhou Maofei, [link...

Breaking: Well Go USA Entertainment will release the Fan Bingbing-starring I Am Not Madame Bovary after it releases first in China on Sept. 3oth. The company committed to handling distribution in North America after Thursday evening's world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The drama, from filmmaker Xiaogang Feng's (Aftershock) also stars Guo Tao (The Dead End) and Da Peng (Jian Bing Man), is based on Liu Zhenyun’s 2012 novel I Did Not Kill My Husband…...

Exclusive: Wartime drama stars Zhou Xun [pictured] and Eddie Peng.

Distribution Workshop is launching sales at Hong Kong’s Filmart on Ann Hui’s The Great Escape, starring Zhou Xun and Eddie Peng, a war drama set during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong.

Produced by Bona Film Group and Class Limited, the film is shooting in Guangdong and Hong Kong. Roger Lee is on board as producer and the cast also includes Guo Tao (White Deer Plain).

The story follows a group of plucky youths fighting for Hong Kong’s freedom when Japanese forces occupied the city during the Second World War.

New titles on Distribution Workshop’s slate also include Liu Guonan’s romantic comedy The Wedding Game, starring Sammi Cheng, and Yip Wai Man’s thriller Phantom Of The Theatre, starring Ruby Lin, Tony Yang and Simon Yam. Both films are in post-production.

Coming Home Sony Pictures Classics Reviewed by: Tami Smith, Guest Reviewer for Shockya. Grade: B Director: Zhang Yimou Screenwriter: Zou Jingzhi, Based on The Criminal Lu Yanshi by Yan Geling Cast: Chen Daoming, Gong Li, Zhang Huiwen, Guo Tao, Liu Peiqi, Zu Deng, Xin Baiqing, Zhang Jiayi, Chen Xiaoyi Opens: September 11, 2015 The Cultural Revolution took place in China from 1966 until 1976. One of its main purposes was to preserve the Communist ideology by purging capitalists from the Chinese society. China’s youth formed the Red Guard and many people were persecuted by public humiliation, imprisonment and harassment. These events provided the background to Yan Geling’s novel The Criminal [ Read More ]

The post Coming Home Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

Things Not Forgotten: Zhimou Returns to Period Tragedy with Middling Results

Chinese auteur Zhang Yimou, known recently for elaborate adventure films like House of Flying Daggers (2004) or Hero (2002) returns to the graceful vein of his earlier character driven classics, like 1991’s Raise the Red Lantern with Coming Home. Based on a novel by Yan Geling, who penned the source material for his last film, the 2011 WWII drama The Flowers of War, starring Christian Bale, theFifth Generation filmmaker isn’t able to attain the same sense of masterful melodrama here, with a scenario that’s sometimes emotionally potent but never quite convincing. Using this particular bout of misery to cast criticism on the aggressively untoward policies of the country’s troubled past, even these political underpinnings seem underutilized with this conservatively administered tale of familial woe.

In early 1970s China, the Cultural Revolution has begun to fade, but perhaps not quickly enough.

Pierre Jolivet's The Night Watchman (aka Jamais De La Vie) was awarded the Golden Goblet for Best Film on Sunday night at the 18th Shanghai International Film Festival, while Chinese crime drama The Dead End nabbed the Best Director prize for Cao Baoping and Best Actor, which was shared between the film's three leads: Deng Chao, Duan Yihong and Guo Tao. Best Actress went to Krista Kasonen, for her role in the Finnish drama Midwife (aka Katilo).The Jury Grand Prix was awarded to Jacek Lusinski's Carte Blanche, Patrick Tobin won Best Screenplay for the Jennifer Aniston starrer Cake, Vladislav Opeliyants won the Best Cinematography award for his work on the Russian film Sunstroke, while the Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement was presented to the South Korean...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Pierre Jolivet’s France-Belgium co-production The Night Watchman won best feature in the Golden Goblet competition of this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival (June 13-21), while Cao Baoping’s The Dead End won best director and actor.

The acting prize for The Dead End was split between Deng Chao, Duan Yihong and Guo Tao. The Jury Grad Prix went to Polish filmmaker Jacek Lusinski’s Carte Blanche, while best actress went to Krista Kosonen in Antti Jokinen’ Finland-Lithuania co-production The Midwife (see full list of winners below)

Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev headed the Golden Goblet jury, which also included Chinese director Cai Shangjun, Chinese actress Hao Lei, French filmmaker Philippe Muyl, Hong Kong producer Nansun Shi and Us producer Ron Yerxa.

Last Thursday, Iranian filmmaker Hooman Seyedi’s 13 won best film and cinematography at the Asian New Talent Awards. Best director went to Japan’s Momoko Ando for 0.5mm, while best actress...

Title: Drug War Well Go USA/Variance Films Director: Johnnie To Screenwriter: Wai Ka-fai, Johnnie To Cast: Louis Koo, Sun Honglei, Crystal Huang, Wallace Chung, Gao Yunxiang, Li Guangjie, Guo Tao, Li Jing, Lo Hoi-pang, Eddie Cheung, Gordon Lam, Michelle Ye, Lam Suet Screened at: Review 2, NYC, 7/2/13 Opens: July 26, 2013 In China the penalty for selling more than 50 mg of methamphetamine is death, which may not be the best idea. If you’re about to be caught, what would stop you from trying to kill the cops? You can’t be executed twice! That idea fuels the “Drug War,” Johnnie To’s movie said to be the first actioner to [ Read More ]

The post Drug War Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

“Crazy Stone” and “Crazy Racer” director Ning Hao returns with “Guns and Roses”, his biggest-budgeted and most ambitious film to date. Unsurprisingly, the film sees the Chinese sixth generation helmer sticking to the kind of comedy caper that he made his name with, though this time casting his net a little wider by including explosive action set pieces, along with a little romance and wartime intrigue. The film also sees him working again with his usual players, including Guo Tao, Liu Hua, and Huang Bo, who are joined by Fan Wei (“Beginning of the Great Revival”), Tao Hong (“You Deserve to be Single”) and Cheng Yuanyuan, with newcomer Lei Jiayin in the lead role. The film proved even more popular than Ning’s previous outings, emerging as one of the highest grossing hits during the 2012 Labour Day holiday season in China. The film is set in the 1930s in north-eastern Manchurian China,...

“Million Dollar Crocodile” is a genuine cinematic milestone, marking China’s first proper foray into the CGI creature feature genre. As the title suggests, director Lin Li Sheng’s film follows the exploits and adventures of an oversized crocodile who goes on a mild rampage around a small countryside town, while Taiwanese starlet Barbie Hsu (“Bodyguards and Assassins”), popular Mainland actor Guo Tao (“Crazy Stone”) and reliable Hong Kong character veteran and Johnnie To regular Lam Suet all try to stay one step ahead of its jaws. The fun kicks off following a young boy called Xiao Xing, whose best friend just happens to be Amao, a giant 36 foot crocodile kept in a sanctuary run by Bald Liu (Shi Zhaoqi, “The Message”). Unfortunately, Liu is forced to sell the crocodiles to sleazy businessman Zhao Da Zui (Lam Suet), who plans to use to poor animals for luxury meat dishes. Amao manages to escape,...

Never smile at a crocodile, unless of course it literally holds the location of 1 million dollars! Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu leads the way in what appears to China's answer to 'Lake Placid' meets 'Rat Race'. The new CGI boosted comedy horror flick 'Million Dollar Crocodile' has unleashed a new action-packed trailer featuring plenty of looks at the gigantic CGI-croc, looking pretty impressive, and causing havoc. Hong Kong's veteran actor Lam Suet, Guo Tao, Lin Xue, Shi ZhaoQi, Xiong XinXin and Ding JiaLi also star. Check out the full plot synopsis plus the new trailer below....

No this isn't the reptilian sequel to Million Dollar Baby (although that would be awesome), but closer to a Mainland Chinese reimagining of Greg McLean's Rogue. Taiwanese starlet Barbie Hsu (Connected, Reign Of Assassins) plays a vengeful bride-to-be who goes after a giant maneating crocodile after it eats her purse. The escaped reptile, apparently named Mao (surely there isn't a political subtext there?), flees its captors when in transit to a new wildlife reserve. While wreaking havoc on the local community, Mao inadvertently swallows Hsu's handbag, which contains 100,000 Euros worth of wedding cash!! So, in her desperation she hires a gang of hunters, including Guo Tao and Lam Suet, to track down and kill the beast.Set to open in China on 8 June, the...

Sex. Martial arts. Tomb raiding. Intrigue. Comedy. Creepy girls with long black hair. The upcoming Chinese hybrid “Deadly Will” has just about everything you could possibly want in a motion picture, as well as a handful of stuff you may not. And while the specifics escape me — being an ignorant American who only speaks one language definitely has its disadvantages — I’m still captivated by the pair of trailers positioned below. The film, which stars Patrick Tam, Cecilia Han, Tao Guo, opens in China on April 7th, 2011. via Film Smash function getVideo() { var so = new SWFObject("http://cdn.springboard.gorillanation.com/storage/xplayer/yo033.swf", "mplayer", "590", "375", "8", "#000000"); so.addParam("wmode","transparent"); so.addParam("swliveconnect", "true"); so.addParam("allowscriptaccess", "always"); so.addParam("allowfullscreen", "true"); so.addVariable("pid", "byhw013"); so.addVariable("siteId", "243"); so.addVariable("videoId", "266937"); so.addVariable("autostart", "false"); so.addVariable("file", "http://cms.springboard.gorillanation.com/xml_feeds_advanced/index/243/3/266937/"); so.addVariable("pageUrl", document.

A 3D Wuxia epic who knew!? It was news to us, but now we know about it we’re keeping em peeled for more info on this! Two new posters have just dropped for China’s first ever 3D Wuxia film, Don Quixote. Loosely based on the Spanish novel about the chivalrous knight Quixote’s adventures, this Chinese adaptation will be set against the backdrop of the ancient Chang'an dynasty. Guo Tao, Huang Bo and Liu Hua are starring and the movie has apparently already hit post production, with a release due later this year. Check the poster out larger below.