Local theatergoers will soon be able to see the multiple Academy Award winner "The Pianist" as its distribution rights on China's mainland have been acquired by Ng See-yuen.
Ng, a well-known Hong Kong film director, told Shanghai Daily yesterday that the film's lead actor Adrien Brody and director Roman Polanski may be invited to premieres of the film around the country.
Ng said he negotiated for "The Pianist" distribution rights while the film was still being shot. He wouldn't comment on the purchase price.
"I have always been fond of films directed by Polanski, so I was quite confident about 'The Pianist' even when it was not finished. The only problem is that the movie-import procedures in China are too slow," Ng said.
"I am cooperating with the China Film Group Corp to finish all procedures as soon as possible. The film is likely to be screened here in May."
"The Pianist" won three Oscars -- for best actor, best director and best-adapted screenplay -- at the ceremony last month in Los Angeles. Polanski was unable attend the ceremony because he is considered a fugitive in the United States after fleeing the country following charges of allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Since then he has lived in Europe.
Ng didn't regard Polanski's legal situation as an obstacle.
"Though he can't go to America, Polanski is still active in Europe and has made lots of great films. I do hope he can come to China this time."
The movie was based on the novel "Death of a City," the autobiography of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish Jew who survived the atrocities of World War II. It tells the story about the pianist composer.
In the film, Szpilman played the last live music over Polish radio before the Nazis occupied Warsaw. During their brutal occupa-tion, he eluded deportation, stayed in the Warsaw Ghetto and survived unimaginable risks and hardship.
(Eastday.com April 5, 2003)
