Ben Chaplin Gets In Touch With Michelle Yeoh (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

August 31, 2001

After months of searching, Michelle Yeoh has finally nailed Ben Chaplin to play her character's ex-boyfriend in THE TOUCH. The film will be directed by Academy Award winner Peter Pau, the cinematographer of COUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, and solely produced by Michelle Yeoh's own company Mythical Films, after Media Asia Production quitted the project.

Seven hundred years ago on the Silk Road, a Lama placed a priceless treasure in an underground chamber filled with booby traps. He trained an acrobatic family to protect the treasure and prophesied the unearthing of treasure. In present day's Chinese city Qingdao, the latest generation of the family, Yan Fei (Michelle Yeoh) and his younger brother Yue Tong are working for an international circus. An antique collector tries to get his hand on the treasure and Yan Fei's ex-boyfriend gets trapped between treasure hunting and emotions. To protect the treasure, Yan Fei traveled through mountains and desert to try to find it first ..

Video: Michelle Yeoh Looking for a young girl to play the early years of her character (Media Player): 56k 100k

Photo courtesy: IMDB

Chinese Films At The 58th International Venice Film Festival (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

August 31, 2001

ZUO TIAN (QUITTING) (Mainland China)
The film is based on the true story of Jia Hongsheng, with Jia Hongsheng playing himself. This is director Zhang Yan's third feature film, after Ai Qing Ma La Tang (Spicy Love Soup) and Xi Zao (Shower). In the late 80s a new film star, Jia Hong Sheng, emerged in China. Labelled “the thug idol”, he gained fame playing gangsters and heroes in a series of Chinese ‘B’ movies. He then starred in a stage version of The Kiss of the Spider Woman directed by Zhang Yang, becoming the actor of choice for many acclaimed directors. Jia’s naturally fragile mental/psychological state coupled with his experimentations with drugs gradually led him into a state of despair. He stopped acting and cut himself off entirely from all his friends, locking himself in an apartment listening to tapes of his favorite music over and over again. Distraught at their son’s addiction, Jia’s parents left the job they’d had through their whole life, packed up all their belongings and traveled to Beijing to be with their son.

HEUNG GONG YAU GOK HOR LEI WOOD (HOLLYWOOD, HONG KONG) (Hong Kong)
The third film of director Fruit Chan's Durian Trilogy. In the last impoverished shanty-town of Hong Kong, a family of three very fat males, a young gangster and a huge pig experience a surge of excitement by the presence of a mysterious girl from mainland China (Zhou Xun). She lives in the luxury apartment behind them in the “Hollywood” complex. She arouses desire and love in these men, which slowly turns to fear and hate. As the shanty-town faces its imminent demolition, these men also face their uncertain futures, because the girl has cheated them of their love and money. They are unable to face the reality of being taken by a girl from the mainland. In their final act of vengeance and reconciliation, they venture up to where she lives – in Hollywood, Hong Kong.

HAI XIAN (SEAFOOD) (Hong Kong)
Directed by Zhu Wen and played by Jin Zi and Cheng Taisheng. Xiao Mei has been a prostitute in Beijing for three years. Around Chinese New Year, she starts having trouble with her boyfriend, and in an angry frame of mind she decides to go to Beidaihe, a small seaside town, to commit suicide. With the approach of winter, the resort town is covered in ice and snow and the tourists all go home. There she bumps into a policeman, Deng Jianguo. He figures out her plan to kill herself and uses very coarse methods to try and stop her. Xiao Mei crosses over to Shanhaiguan to carry out the deed, but Deng follows her and brings her back, and their relationship becomes rather complicated. Finally, Xiao Mei ends up killing Deng, and returns to Beijing to continue life as a prostitute.

CHE SISHISI (BUS 44) (Hong Kong / USA)
The second film by Chinese American director Dayyán Eng after EAST 22ND STREET and staring Gong Beibi.On the outskirts of a small town, a bus driver and her passengers encounter highway robbers.

Photo courtesy: La Biennale di Venezia

Wu Lin (World of Martial Art) (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

August 31, 2001

Co-produced by Hong Kong's Universe Entertainment Ltd. and a Korea studio, the historical martial art movie will be shot in Heng Dian Studio in China, starting November 5. The male lead Korean star Ahn Jae Wook will have four features in the movie, Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lighting. Taiwanese star Lin Hsin-Ru (Ruby) will play his lover.

Photo courtesy: Oriental Daily

Ahn Jae Wook

Lin Hsin-Ru (Ruby)

KILLER GIRL Telling The True Story Of Thomson CSF Arms Sales Scandal (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

August 29, 2001

In 1991, French government greenlighted Thomson CSF to sell six frigates to Taiwan. To seal the 16 billion France Francs deal, Thomson CSF has reportedly spent 2.5 billion France Francs to bride French and Taiwanese officials. While investigation is underway and more secrets being unveiled, several key figures of the scandal have died in mysterious way.

KILLER GIRL (translation) will base on the event, produced by newly formed Taiwanese studio 8100. In the movie, A woman killer, under the cover of a bride, was sent to Taiwan by French arms dealer to erase the evidence. Investment will come from Hong Kong and France. Zhou Xun from mainland China is in talk for playing the killer.

Photo courtesy: SINA.com

Tian Zhuangzhuang Remaking 40's Classic SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

August 29, 2001

It has been eight years since Tian Zhuangzhuang directed Blue Kite, which still has not been released in China. Since then he has been actor, art director and producer in various films. Now he has taken the helm of SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN (XIAO CHENG ZHI CHUN), a remake of the same name classic.

The original SPRING IN A SMALL TOWN, shot in 1948, is the last long feature film done by Fei Mu (1906 - 1951). In a small town, housewife Zhou Yuwen and her husband Dai Liyan lived normal but boring life. Dai Liyan was suffering from severe depression, after lost his family fortune during the World War II. When a young doctor, Zhang Zhichen, old friend of Dai Liyan and ex-lover of Zhou Yuwen came to visit them, the young couple was thrown into turmoil. Meanwhile, Dai Liyan's younger sister Dai Xiu started to fall in love with the charming doctor. Though had little public reaction at the time of release, it is unquestionable one of the best Chinese films of all time.

The script is penned by well-known Chinese writer A Cheng. Tim Yip, won an Oscar for his artdirection works in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, has taken the role of costume designer. Chi-paos, the traditional Chinese dress, he designed are very simple, dark and cold, which is in the opposite side from those of Wong Kar-Wai's IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. The camera man, Lee Ping-Bing is the long time working companion of Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien.

Co-produced by Beijing Film Studios and Beijing Rongxinda, shooting has started on August 14. Most of the scenes will be shot in an abandoned old house, in Dongshang outside of Suzhou city of Zhejiang Province. The same town has also shown up in Zhang Yimou's SHANGHAI TRIAD.

Photo courtesy: SINA.com

Sammo Hung's FLYING DRAGON, LEAPING TIGER Released In China This Month (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

August 27, 2001

No word on release dates for other regions.

BOOK SWORD LOVE HATE, The English Translation (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

Official Site (Hong Kong)

Leon Lai has been cast as the Emperor Qian Long in Tsui Hark's BOOK SWORD LOVE HATE. Set in the time of 18th century, the same time frame of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, the film will be shot in two parts. The first part is about the story of Chen Jian Luo (Andy On) and his brother Emperor Qian Long and the second part is about the story of Princess Xian Xian and her sister Huo Qing Tong.

Tsui Hark is planning MASTER Q 2003, the sequel of MASTER Q 2001. Remaking of THE THIRD MASTER'S SWORD (DEADLY DUEL) is also on the agenda. Cast will include Leslie Cheung, Jin Cheng-Wu and Hsu Chi (Shu Qi). In addition, he is thinking about a comedy with Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui.

FULLTIME KILLER Goes To Toronto Film Festival (MonkeyPeaches Exclusive)

Fulltime killer O (Takashi Sorimachi) lives in a lonely and low-profile live but his cleaning lady Chin (Kelly Lin) starts to uncover his secret. Tok (Andy Lau), a former Olympic contestant for China who lost his chance of winning a gold because of his brain decease, is on his way to challenge O as the number one killer in Asia. Under the pressure from Tok and International Police Chief Inspector Lee (Simon Yam), O asks help from his boss C7 (Teddy Lin). What O does not know is that C7 is Tok's older brother, who also lost his chance of winning a gold for the same decease. Tok wants to have a showdown with O and C7 have to save O from the hand of Lee …

Official Site

Three days ago, the entire production has vanished from Akesay location. Some reports suggested that the Dunhuang Tour Festival is coming and Zhang Yimou does not want the location being jammed with tourists. Other reporters said that shooting was suspended because there are too many "casualties" of the hash weather and environment. Either way, we may see all quiet on the western front for up to several weeks.

Days ago, Jet Li was spotted in Mogaoku (Mogao Caves), the historical Buddhist relic. Locals have seen Maggie Cheung cycling in the street. Two reporters have talked to Zhang Ziyi and even got her autographs.

Director Zhang Yimou
by Yi Jie from Langzhou Morning News

Another picture of him

There outdoor sets has been built, located in the old Dunhuang city (10 km from current Dunhuan city), Dangjin Mountain in Akesay (150 km from Dunhuang) and Yardang area, all around Dunhuang city of Gansu Province on the silk road. Dangjin Mountain has very unique looking. About 4000 meters above the sea level, it is in pure white.

Director Zhang Yimou and Zhang Ziyi currently stay at a hotel in Dunhuang. Director of cinematography Christopher Doyle and cinematographer Hou Yong have arrived in Akasay. Jet Li, Maggie Cheung and Leung Chiu-Wai have not come because shooting of their scenes have yet to start.

The production is huge with hundreds of crew members. Plus hundreds of extras provided by the Army, there are almost one thousands people are working on the project in those very remote areas. Under strong ultraviolet radiation, many people faces were severely tanned after only one day. Scarves were issued to protect them from the sun.

There is a very interesting scene: a man called No Name told the King of Qin, actually one man's pain is not pain compared to people's pain; enmity between Qin and Zhao is not enmity to people's enmity. The King said, the one knows me the most is you.