Tonight in Beijing
There's always a few late-breaking events that come to our attention after our weekly 7 Days in Beijing newsletter has gone out, and so, in an effort to give the Beijinger readers the widest possible range of events to choose from, we offer this regular series of posts covering events taking place in the capital every Thursday.
Mad About English
Beijing's Channel Zero Media will host the premier screening of what looks like a very well-made documentary that examines the experience of various Chinese people in their attempts to learn English. Directed by Lian Pek and produced by Siok Sian Pek-Dorji, you can find more information about Mad About English here. For more info about the "Crazy English" phenomenon, see this recent article in the New Yorker. Get there early as they’re expecting a lot of people to attend. Free.
7pm. Channel Zero Salon (8855 0623)
Red Cliff
Red Cliff (赤壁 Chibi), alternatively known as The Battle of Red Cliff, is a Chinese epic film that recreates the story surrounding the legendary Battle of Red Cliff that took place immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period. Red Cliff is to be released in two parts throughout Asia, with the first part premiering today and the second part in January 2009. Outside of Asia, a single 2½-hour film will be released in January 2009. Despite this, we've been assured that the print being released at cinemas across Beijing will include English subtitles. The film is directed by John Woo and stars Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-ling and Zhao Wei. With an estimated budget of USD 80 million, The Battle of Red Cliff is the most expensive Chinese film to date. Trailer (with English subtitles) available here. For a more complete list of screening times (in Chinese) click here.
CBD
Times available here
Xidan
14:15 14:35 14:55 15:15 15:35 15:55 15:55 16:15 16:45 17:05 17:25 17:45 18:05 18:25 18:45 18:45 19:05 19:30 19:55 20:15 20:35 20:55 21:20 21:35 21:35 21:55
Haidian
14:20 15:00 15:50 17:00 17:40 18:00 18:20 19:00 19:40 20:20 20:40 21:00 21:40 22:20 23:00 23:20
Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex
Digital: 14:20 15:40 17:10 18:30 20:00 21:20 23:00
15:00 16:30 17:50 19:20 20:40 22:20
Wangfujing
13:00 13:40 14:10 14:40 15:20 15:50 16:30 17:00 17:30 18:40 19:20 19:50 20:20 21:00 21:30 22:10 22:40
Dongsishitiao
Times here
Zhongguancun
Times here
16:10 16:40 17:10 17:40 18;20 18:50 19:20 19:50 20:20 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:30 23:00
Xinjiekou
14:00 14:45 15:30 16:00 16:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:35 21:00 21:30 22:00 22:25 23:30
Yayuncun
Digital: 15:00 15:40 17:40 18:20 20:20 21:00
14:20 16:20 17:00 19:00 19:40 21:40 22:20
East Fourth Ring Road
14:20 14:45 15:20 15:50 16:25 16:55 17:25 17:55 18:25 19:00 19:30 20:00 21:00 20:30 21:35 22:05 22:35
Dongcheng Dictrict
15:00 15:30 15:50 16:00 16:15 16:30 18:30 18:50 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:55 21:30 22:00
3rd Beijing International Art Biennial
Not surprisingly, the theme of the show is “Colors and Olympics”, but the show is much more than a line-up of Fuwas “passing on the humanist message of the Olympics in an artistic way”. Among the 747 pieces from 81 countries, are a few provide a well-timed reminder about one of the basic functions of sports – fun. More information available here. RMB 20, students RMB 10.
Daily 9am-5pm – last ticket sold at 4pm. National Art Museum of China (6400 6326)
Dance: Don Quixote
Spanish contemporary dancers portray the life of someone in an insane asylum, whose troubled mind jumps from reality to fantasy, with thoughts of chivalry and bizarre Spanish Golden Age visions. The performance is in two acts, all based on Cervantes' timeless character. RMB 80-580.
7.30pm. NCPA Theatre (6655 0000)
Sadari Movement Laboratory: Woyzeck
Based on the life of a German soldier who underwent torturous medical exams after being found guilty of killing his mistress in 1824, this performance is brought to you by the South Korean Sadari Movement Lab, known for integrating "kinetic imagery" into traditional Korean dance. Repeat performance on Jul 11. RMB 100.
7.30pm. TNT Theatre (8599 6011)
Liu Yue Trio
Guitarist Liu (who is also Cui Jianís bassist) leads his trio, which includes Cui Jianís drummer Beibei and Golden Buddha's Huang Yong on bass. Free, reservations required.
9.30pm. East Shore Live Jazz Cafe (8403 2131)
Panjir
Part of their regular series of weekly shows, this collective, led by David Mitchell, show off their improvised Uighur jamming skills on traditional instruments, with a twist of jazz ... Free with RMB 20 drink purchase.
9.30pm. Jiangjinjiu Bar (8405 0124)
Neo-Discovery @ TAO
TAO offers up a three-course Mediterranean dinner with four glasses of Shiraz and Chardonnay from Australia and South Africa. RMB 188.
7-9.30pm. Tao Dine and Bar (5867 0209)
Links and Sources
Youtube: Mad About English
CBC.cn: Mad About English
Channel Zero
