, have never been allowed out of the country until now.Made two to three years ago, the films give an insight of China in the modernisation era where the directors highlight the conflicts of the changing times between the old generation with their traditional ways, and the new generation with their open lifestyles.
GSC distribution manager Tong Yau Kong said: "Golden Harvest, which has a branch in China, has secured the rights to these films together with Golden Screen Cinemas from the Hong Kong film market."
"They have successfully screened the movies in Hong Kong and now in Malaysia before proceeding to Singapore later this year."
Tong said this is the second time GSC is highlighting films from another country after organising the Iranian film week recently.
"Since the opening of GSC International screens last December, the management has promised to bring in more international films."
He added that most Malaysians have been exposed to Hong Kong films but not from China, therefore the international film week serves as a platform for the screening of these films.
"The basic idea is to expose Malaysians to films from other countries, and to heighten their awareness."
Meanwhile, Tong said with its open economy, China has gone through a rapid change recently, where there is growing conflict between the old and the new, and where traditional values clash with modern lifestyles.
"Therefore, it is not uncommon to see a Mercedes parked in front of a house on a dirt road, and those living in the cities returning to their villages."
He added that such metaphors are reflected in the current crop of Chinese films.
On the quality of the films, he said: "These are not film festival contenders but light-hearted fare depicting rapid changes in China today.
"Although the films have been censored, they do not contain any sensitive issues or ideas.
"All 12 films are commercial releases in China, but once they leave China, they can only be shown on the international screens."
The films did relatively well in Hong Kong and are expected to do well here.
* All 12 films have been classified under (U), suitable for general viewing. Normal price per ticket is RM12. A booklet containing 10 open vouchers for the film week will also be sold at RM100.
Reservations can be made at GSC Mid Valley (Internationsl Screens) at 03-93683366. ..TX: Synopsis of some of the films:
Colors of the Blind (directed by Chen Guo Xing, starring Tao Hong, He Bing, Jiang Kai): A blind woman runner falls for her coach while ignoring the affection of a blind man. She learns the difference between love and sympathy.Concert of Life (directed by Xia Gang, starring Wang Luo Yong, Yan Xiao Pin, and Da Shi Shang): A piano teacher has dedicated his whole life to music and his students. Now aged and critically ill, he is surprised by a visit from two of his former students who are now internationally acclaimed musicians.
Roses are Red (directed by Bao Zhi Fang, stars Vivian Wu, Zhou Li and Gao Shu Guang): Lin's marriage breaks up when her husband finds out she had a one night stand with her boss.Working Mistress (directed by Xu Geng, starring Sun Xing and Ru Ping): A modern tale based on a husband and wife who work at the same toy company and hide their relationship. Their love is tested when a misunderstanding arises due to work pressure.Peach Blossom (directed by Wang Xing Sheng, starring Chen Dao Ming and Li Lin): A young lady married to a retired eunuch falls in love with an actor. She has to choose between obligations and true love.Happy Angels (directed by Zhang Jian Yan, starring Shu Yao Xuan, Wen Xiang, Li Long Fei, and Goa Hu): A lively piece of family entertainment that sees a group of children battle a pair of musical conmen.
Journey to Wonderland (directed by Wang Ji Xing, starring Wang Zhi Wen, Li Zhi Yu, and Wu Jian): Two top scientists compete to make a breakthrough in nuclear science. They learn that in the world of science, it is the results that count not the personalities.Stand By You (directed by Wuo Tian Ming, starring Yuan Li, and Liu Yun Long): Days before his wedding, Tian meets with a tragic accident and goes into a coma. His fiance Shu dedicates her life to caring for him but Tian's best friend has his eyes on her.Xian's Finest (directed by Huang Jian Xin, starring Sun Min, Zhang Jia Yi, and Li Feng Xu): A small town veteran police officer, Wu was demoted after he accidentally injured a hostage during a rescue mission. The new job appears to be simple but Wu soon discovers there is more to it than meets the eye.
Beijing Herbs (directed by Ding Yin Nan, starring Shu Yao Xian, Wang Zhi Xia, and Zhu Xu): A tale spanning three generations of a Chinese family trying to understand life and its changes.
The Dream Factory (directed by Feng Xiao Gang, starring Ge You, Feng Xiao Gang and Liu Bei): Four friends come up with an unusual idea to act out any customer's fantasy for a small fee. They have fun as it gets pretty wild and eventually find they are really helping people, as well as gaining new insights into life.
Columbia Pictures Brings Out Chinese Filmmakers (2001-04-27)Chinese Filmmakers Seek Riches (2000-12-01)Award-winning Chinese movies enter Malaysia (2000-06-22)9 (11285)
