[2010.08.14] ARVIN CHEN HAS NO INTENTION TO CHALLENGE CAPE NO. 7 BOX OFFICE

AU REVOIR TAIPEI's Taiwan director Arvin Chen (Chen Chun Lam) yesterday came to Hong Kong. AU REVOIR TAIPEI was released in March in Taiwan and its opening week box office exceeded the earlier hit CAPE NO. 7 and made over NT$25 million at the Taiwan box office. At various world film festivals it won different awards, like the Berlin International Film Festival Best Asian Film award, the Deauville Asian Film Festival jury prize and the Barcelona Asian film festival Golden Durian award.

Director Chen Chun Lam expressed that AU REVOIR TAIPEI's box office still could not catch CAPE NO.7's. It remained quite far behind but the performance was considered decent. Director Chen said, "Since CAPE's success, Taiwan film development has improved. In the past no Taiwan film made any money, now 2 or 3 out of 10 could profit. This time the entire film's investment budget was NT$30 million, with the overseas sales it broke even." Director Chen stated that this time he did not want to challenge CAPE. At first he was very worried that AU REVOIR TAIPEI's Taipei background and romantic comedy genre would be unknown to foreign viewers. As for whether the new film promoted Taiwan tourism, Director Chen said, "Now viewers are too smart, if the goal is to promote they won't watch it. Yet after watching this film, they would definitely want to come to Taipei." Director Chen pointed out that this film would participate in film festivals in Tokyo and other cities.

Chen Chun Lam expressed that he was planning his new film and would like to work with Simon Yam Tat Wa. He said, "I grew up in the U.S., Director Wong Kar Wai brought my attention to Chinese films. Later I rather admired Director (Johnnie) To Kei Fung. My next film's subject

will be the 80's Taiwan. Earlier I saw ECHOES OF THE RAINBOW (SHUI YUET SUN TAU), I really wanted to work with Yam Tat Wa. However I believe it will be very hard to land him."