Movie Box Review

The film CHA WU CI REN today held a press conference on the eve of the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival closing ceremony. Director and writer Keelson Zhu and actors Law Kar Ying, Qiao Renliang, Yu Xiaowei and others appeared. The film was their most daring

performance in their career yet. Old friends Law Kar Ying and Vivian Wu in the film also gave a passionate performance.

In the film an expert heart surgeon at his father's funeral discovered that his father's ashes were stolen. During his investigation he had a car accident. When he woke up he was on a remote island. The director said that this was not simply a suspense thriller. Everyone was under suspicion in the story. It would be hard to guess who was behind it all before the final minute.

Law Kar Ying and Vivian Wu were known to be actors of substance who have been in show business for years. Their collaboration on CHA WU CI REN added a lot to the film. Law Kar Ying said, "We have known each other for years and are very happy to work together for the first time." When asked about Vivian Wu's acting, Law Kar Ying revealed, "Vivian Wu in the film had a very explicit rape scene that absolutely was daring."

In the film Yu Xiaowei's nude scene became the media focus. Yu Xiaowei said, "My first nude scene in the film was quite a challenge for me, but you have to wait until you get to the movies to find out how far I went."

The Wayne Wang directed film SNOW FLOWER AND SECRET FAN starred Li Bingbing, Gianna Jun Ji-Hyun, Hugh Jackman, and Vivian Wu.

Li Bingbing in the film had 10 costumes from the age of 17 to the forties. Yesterday photos of the modern scenes were released. Li Bingbing and Jun Ji-Hyun danced at a bar. Their hair was a mess as they gazed intently at each other. The first collaboration between the Chinese and the Korean star actually set off many sparks, but also seemingly confirmed rumors that this film was a "homosexual" film. Wayne Wang however denied and said, "The film and the original had no homosexual content at all. They are only sworn sisters."

The film was based on writer Lisa See's English novel of the same name. It was two emotional stories about two women at the end of the Qing Dynasty and in modern times. This was a fully Chinese film but with a Hollywood team. Li Bingbing once joked, "Everyone I see on the team was foreign. After the shoot, my English was much better than before. Because I had to communicate with the team, everyday I ignored whether the grammar was correct or not and spoke from the beginning to the end. After speaking it everyday, I started to change my lines. This bonus was great!"

In the film, Li Bingbing and Jun Ji-Hyun both played two characters, their modern "selves" their end of Qing Dynasty "grandmother's grandmother". The film's costume parts were shot in Hengdian, while the modern part was shot in Shanghai and other locations.