Once a pan-Asian phenomenon, Japanese cartoon cat Doraemon made
its return to China this week with the local premiere of a second
animated film. The blue, moon-faced robot cat led its troupe of
cartoon friends in greeting audiences of mostly children at the
premiere in Beijing. Doraemon the Magic is the second Doraemon
film to be screened in China, where the enchanted robotic cat
who possesses magical abilities came to small screens and comic
books more than a decade ago. In its homeland of Japan, the comic
character has spawned nearly 30 fi lms since 1980. However, it was
just in the past summer that Doraemon made its big-screen debut in
China.
Female director Ma Liwe's Lost and Found has won mixed opinions
from viewers and critics. Adapted from writer Liu Zhenyun's novel
My Name is Liu Yuejin, Lost and Found is set largely in Beijing's
CBD, following Liu Yuejin, a construction site cook, as he searches
for a lost bag. Along the way he encounters prostitutes, thieves,
killers, corrupt offi cials, a real estate tycoon and an undercover
cop. Writer Liu says the story is about how "a sheep eats
wolves".
Other films now showing include:
The Pursuit of Happiness: Oscar nominee Will Smith stars in this
moving tale inspired by the true story of Chris Gardner, a San
Francisco salesman struggling to build a future for himself and his
5-year-old son Christopher.
The End of the Year: a low-budget fi lm by Chinese director Wang
Jing, touches on a perennially popular topic-the ordeal migrant
people face trying to get train tickets home at the end of the
lunar year. Chen Nan
Lucky Dog: Tale about a retired working-class man by fi rsttime
writer-director Zhang Meng.
Two Stupid Eggs: a Chinese adaptation of the Spanish movie
Torroemolinos 73 (2003). Poor book salesman Wen Yao resorts to
playing the roles of various people to promote his self-made book,
Guideline to the Newly Married.
My Blueberry Nights: follow Nora Jones and Jude Law
in this moody road movie by Wong Kar-Wai. It's his first English
feature film.
(Beijing Weekend February 2, 2008)
