Chinese film festival in town

KATHMANDU, July 5: For those movie lovers who are looking for a change from the monotonous love stories or beaten comedies, then you should definitely not miss the Chinese Film Festival. Movies not only act as a means of entertainment but as a medium to exchange cultures across borders.

The new Chinese Ambassador is back among Nepali audiences with a handful of Chinese movies in the capital. The three day Chinese Film Festival , July 5 – 7, to be held at Kumari Cinemas will screen five movies. [break]

The festival will commence with a film dealing with political issues, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of China.

The film “The Founding of a Republic” will be shown, depicting the political instability that took place in China after the Second World War and the struggle they had to face to establish democracy.

Similarly, a film that Nepali society can identify with, “Walking to school” will be screened on July 6.

The story depicts the where the journey to school for little kids in the remote areas is the issue. The story is of a seven year old child who is traumatized by the memory of having to witness his little sister fall off a bridge and die, which is similar to the case that took place in Dhading a few days ago.

Focusing on kids, the festival will also have an animated movie called “The Dreams of Jinsha.” Dedicating the third day, July 7, to politics again, the film “Bodyguards and Assassins” will be screened. It is about struggles of Sun Yat Sen. This cinema is based upon the murder attempt on Sun Yat Sen when he had gone to visit

Hong Kong.

“Aftershock” is the last movie of the festival. It is based on natural disasters and human sorrows. It is about a little girl who, thirty-five years ago, ran away from the earthquake that shook Tang San in north China. This film made it to the top ten best movies’ list last year and grabbed many awards too.

However, this year, there are no movies of the famous Chinese director Jhang Yimu.

“The problems being faced in the Nepali society now and how China too has been facing them is the main issue that we’re trying to focus here,” said Dipak Sarkar, the President of World Cultural Net. “When people watch the movies, we hope that they can relate. That’s our aim for the festival.”

Kathmandu Plaza and World Cultural Net will provide entry passes, and this is a free event for anyone who wants to enjoy the show.

The movies will be screened at Kumari Hall II.

July 5

2:30 PM

The Founding of a Republic

Length: 140 minutes

Directors: Han Sanping and Huang Jianxin

Cast: Tang Guoqiang, Zhang Guoli, Xu Qing, and Liu Jin

The film was made to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. The story takes us to the 1940s war-torn China, depicting the founding of the New China’s system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation.

For the sake of democracy and people’s interest, the Communist Party of China and other Chinese democratic parties united together to struggle against KMT’s dictatorship and went through all kinds of hardships to obtain the last victory.

The film boasts the most number of China’s movie stars in one film. Many of the top stars were invited to star as leads, supporting characters, or just cameos in the film, reportedly including some of the top Chinese stars like Jackie Chan and Jet Li, who only have one shot or one line in the film.

July 6

2:00 PM

The Dreams of Jinsha

Length: 90 minutes

Director: Chen Daming

Xiao Long is a modern day middle-school student, who, after being transported 3,000 years back in time to the ancient kingdom of Jinsha, discovers his true destiny. Jinsha is a beautiful and magical place but plagued by a mysterious evil energy which its inhabitants fear they can’t hold off, much less defeat.

After the schoolboy witnesses the beginnings of the destruction by the forces of darkness on this ancient land, he is overcome with sadness and pledges to help.

Upon discovering a special connection with nature, Xiao Long gains the trust of the beautiful young Princess Hau’er and her loyal subjects and together they fight the wicked forces surrounding them to restore peace across the kingdom.

Along the way, Xiao Long reforms himself into a courageous boy who forgoes his self-centered behavior to coexist harmoniously with others.

4:30 PM

Walking to School

Length: 90 minutes

Directors: Peng Jiahuang and Peng Chen

Cast: Ding Jisli, Anamuling, and Cao Xiwen

Wawa is a seven year old boy from the Lisu nationality, one of the ethnic minorities in Yun Nan, China. Every day, his sister Nanxiang and her friends have to “liusuo” or glide along steel cable across the river to get to school. Wawa wishes to go to school like her sister.

One day, he secretly follows his sister across the river, and sees the school he has always admired.

Unfortunately, Naxiang meets with an accident and dies, leaving a deeply terrified Wawa. So, will the boy ever go to school, or the dream of having a bridge over the river be ever realized?

July 7

4:45 PM

Bodyguards and Assassins

Length: 135 minutes

Director: Teddy Chen

Cast: Donnie Yen, Wang Xueqi, and

Hu Jun

In 1905, in spite of the dangerous situation, the revolutionary leader Sun Wen decides to visit Hong Kong to meet the revolutionary representatives from 13 provinces in China. The ultimate goal is to overthrow the corrupt Qing dynasty.

However, at the same time, assassination plans for Sun is underway. As a revolutionary, Chen Shaobai, the head of China Daily is assigned as the bodyguard for Sun, and is helped by merchants, wagoners, peddlers and commoners.

6:00 PM

Aftershock

Length: 135 minutes

Director: Zhang Shu

Cast: Zhang Guogiang, Xu Fan, Zhang Baowen, Chen Daoming, and Chen Jin

In Tang Shan, the truck driver Da Qiang, his wife Yuan Ni and their twins Fang Da and Fang Deng are a happy simple family. On 27 July 1976, a devastating earthquake destroys Tang Shan, and Da Qiang dies while trying to rescue his children from their apartment. When a collapsed beam traps Fang Da and Fang Deng, Yuan Ni is forced to decide between saving her son or daughter and she chooses Fang Da.

However, her daughter Fang Deng overhears her mother’s choice and miraculously survives. She is rescued by a soldier and adopted by Mr. Wang and his wife with the name Wang Deng.

Thirty-two years later, after an earthquake in China, Wang Deng who is married with a Canadian lawyer and lives in Vancouver with her daughter, travels to China and voluntarily joins the rescue team. She meets by chance Fang Da and she learns of the drama of Yuan Ni along all those years.