Screen Time: Aftershock Opens & Celebrity Spotting at BC MOMA

It’s been a busy week in Beijing for big-name Chinese film people, with Feng Xiaogang’s Aftershock opening nation-wide last night, Gong Li spotted shooting in town, Jia Zhangke’s new documentary screening at BC MOMA, and Wang Xiaoshuai’s new film unveiled last night to a sold out audience.

First to Feng’s new effort, which according to the Hollywood Reporter is “the first non-English Imax film." Although Feng is best known for his string of Spring Festival hit comedies, Aftershock is in a more tragic vein. Released to commemorate the infamous Tangshan Earthquake of 1976 that killed at least 242,000 people (many believe the real death toll was much higher), the massive production cost US$20 million to produce – big money in China, although a small figure compared to the average Hollywood blockbuster. Feng has already had to fend off criticisms of obvious product placements in the film.

With China breaking all domestic box office records this year – thanks largely to Avatar – there are hopes that Aftershock will put annual domestic takings for 2010 into the stratosphere, and become the highest grossing Chinese film of the year.

Aftershock opened on 3,500 screens nationwide last night, and is on at virtually every cinema in Beijing including Sanlitun Mega Box. You can catch it in all its Imax glory at Wanda Shijingshan (3rd floor, No. B18, Shijingshan Lu, Shijingshan District, 石景山区石景山路乙18号万达广场3层) or at UME International Cineplex (Renmin University).

Beijing’s sole arthouse cinema, BC MOMA, also had a big night yesterday. Gong Li was spotted outside the cinema filming in the futuristic surrounds of the MOMA complex. According to BC MOMA Programming Manager Wu Jing, the shoot was part of the star actress’ new feature Shui zhi nv ren xin, which we've roughly translated as Who Knows a Woman’s Heart?

Inside, BC MOMA hosted the Beijing premiere of Wang Xiaoshuai’s Chongqing Blues yesterday evening. Wang is a key director in the “Sixth Generation” of Chinese filmmakers who rose to prominence in the late 1990s, and is best known for his 2001 film Beijing Bicycle, which features an extended bike chase through the hutong around Houhai.

His new film Chongqing Blues is a mystery drama, tracing the attempts of a father to uncover the events surrounding the shooting of his son by police. Wang beautifully captures the crowded streets of the southern city in all their steamy glory.

Attendees at the sold-out premiere were treated to a spontaneous Sixth Generation love-in when star director Jia Zhangke (Still Life, 24 City) joined Wang Xiaoshuai on stage during the post-screening Q&A. They were soon joined by Lou Ye, who has been banned from making films in China several times for controversial works like Suzhou River (2000) and Summer Palace (2006).

Jia read out an article he had written for the Southern Metropolis Daily about the Sixth Generation’s philosophy and their desire to document stories otherwise excluded from Chinese screens.

Wang Xiaoshuai’s Chongqing Blues will be released in Beijing next month.

Jia Zhangke’s new documentary about Shanghai, I Wish I Knew, is currently screening at BC MOMA. Judging by reviews, Jia’s new work takes the documentary-drama hybrid approach of 24 City one step further in delving into the past of China’s most internationally famous city. Jia is the most inventive and internationally acclaimed of China’s contemporary directors, so it’s worth making the trip up to BC MOMA to check out his new work. The film has English subtitles, and screening times are available here. You can read about Jia’s earlier films here.