Modest but affecting rural drama that conceals much beneath its placid surface.
Although resplendently shot and elegantly appointed, this fusty biopic of Chinese novelist Xiao Hong recounts events without exploring the mind of an intellectual woman of her time.
Like a latte with caramel on top and coffee residue at the bottom, "First Time" starts off as a treacly teen daydream and changes course halfway through to deconstruct its own romantic myth.
CF: Golden Goblet Awards Presented at Shanghai International Film Festival Closing Ceremony
Both local nominated films won prizes, Gao Qunshu's Beijing Blues for best director and Falling Flowers for best cinematography.
CF/Global Times: Small Movies with Huge Audiences
A growing trend is to include celebrity casts and crews. "We have films in line featuring big stars like Christine Fan, Elva Hsiao, Rainie Yang, Berlin Chen and Lin Chi-Ling," Liu said. Similarly, Youku has also launched a project in collaboration with famous directors and actors. Some of their big names include Gu Changwei, Ann Hui and Wang Xiaoshuai.
A growing trend is to include celebrity casts and crews. "We have films in line featuring big stars like Christine Fan, Elva Hsiao, Rainie Yang, Berlin Chen and Lin Chi-Ling," Liu said. Similarly, Youku has also launched a project in collaboration with famous directors and actors. Some of their big names include Gu Changwei, Ann Hui and Wang Xiaoshuai.
Invited by the SIFF organizers, Hong Kong singer and actress Gigi Leung tried directing for the first time with her film Fortune Cookie. Leung, who was involved in writing the script, portrayed the lead character in the film. The story is about a biscuit store owner who explores life through her customers. Leung said her multiple roles in the production were "interesting and challenging."
Like Leung, actress Huang Yi also tried the director's seat. In her directorial debut Exchange, Huang told the story of a university student from Guizhou Province who managed to build a new school building using her incredible skills at bartering.
My Love was directed by the young Jin Yimeng, who made her name with the film Sophie's Revenge which featured stars like Zhang Ziyi and Fan Bingbing. Her short film My Love tells the story of how a terminally ill woman addresses problems at the very end of her life. Another film directed by Tian Yuan tells of a woman psychologist and her relationships with her patients.
Poster for Huang Yi's micro film "Exchange"
Huang Yi at the SIFF (Sina)
Stills of Zhao Wei in "Painted Skin 2"
More publicity stills for "The Four" featuring Liu Yifei. Opens July 12.
Poster for "The Four"
There's John Shum (in yellow)
And, look, there's Teddy Robin, too!
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