Every day while CFI’s Hollywood readers take in the business of the Chinese film industry, the actual movies can sometimes seem exotic or remote. But in major US cities, mainstream Chinese films are increasingly available: thanks to Wanda’s purchase of AMC and distributors like China Lion, they get American theatrical releases practically simultaneous to their premieres at home. Though they receive virtually no publicity outside the non-Chinese community, these films are more than worth seeking out by anyone serious about engaging the Chinese industry, understanding the Chinese sensibility and familiarizing themselves with China’s talent pool. Periodically, CFI will review and point readers in the direction of noteworthy US releases of contemporary commercial and independent Chinese titles.
Director Ann Hui’s World War II Hong Kong resistance drama Our Time Will Come, now playing in select theaters in North America, works from an enviably clean script by Ho Kei Ping to tell the complex story of the fight against the invading Japanese from 1941-45.
The spirit of young people from all walks of Hong Kong life willing to pull together to help Chinese intellectuals and artists flee the draconian Japanese military police to unoccupied territory on the mainland, is well-captured in the real life character of Fang Lan (Hung Sau-Fong in Cantonese), beautifully played by mainland actress Zhou Xun.
