The movie "Deng Xiaoping" depicting the contribution of the late Chinese leader to the country's opening-up and reform has raked in box office takings of 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million), the highest of the 10 domestic movies released this year.
Jointly produced in late February by the Zhujiang Film Studio and the Guangdong Provincial Film Company, the movie cost 20 million yuan (US$2.4 million) to make and was an instant hit in the Chinese film market.
Liao Shuhui, general manager of the Zhujiang Film Studio, said 2.73 million yuan (about US$330,000) of the total box office earnings came from south China's Guangdong Province.
Directed by Chinese director Ding Yinnan, the movie depicts several historical events, including Deng's evaluation of Mao Zedong, negotiations with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher over Hong Kong and the decision to build special economic zones in China.
(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2003)
