Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200812/20081218/article_384940.htm
Mainland showing for Taiwan blockbuster movie
Created: 2008-12-18 1:34:48
Author:Tom Qian
THE biggest box-office hit in Taiwan this year will soon be shown on the Chinese mainland despite previous media reports that the film could be blocked because the film has its setting when the island was a Japanese colony from 1895 to 1945.
The film "Cape No.7" will appear in mainland cinemas, Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a news conference in Beijing yesterday, and the state-run China Film Group was making the arrangements.
"It is normal for any artwork such as movies, TV series, novels and paintings to spark different comments among the public when they are released," Li said.
"Speculation that the mainland will block the film is groundless," he added.
"Cape No.7" tells the story of a Taiwanese rock musician who returns to his hometown and is forced to play in a hastily assembled amateur band that will open for a Japanese pop star.
He falls in love with a Japanese publicist overseeing the show.
Another thread portrays the romance between a Japanese teacher and a Taiwanese woman.
The film was written and directed by Wei Te-sheng.
Costing NT$50 million (US$1.5 million) to make, the movie became a big hit in Taiwan after debuting in August. By October, it had taken in more than NT$400 million at the box office, second only to the worldwide blockbuster "Titanic" in Taiwan's cinematic history.
The film has won six awards, including Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year at the 2008 Golden Horse Awards, a much coveted Chinese-language film prize.
The film "Cape No.7" will appear in mainland cinemas, Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a news conference in Beijing yesterday, and the state-run China Film Group was making the arrangements.
"It is normal for any artwork such as movies, TV series, novels and paintings to spark different comments among the public when they are released," Li said.
"Speculation that the mainland will block the film is groundless," he added.
"Cape No.7" tells the story of a Taiwanese rock musician who returns to his hometown and is forced to play in a hastily assembled amateur band that will open for a Japanese pop star.
He falls in love with a Japanese publicist overseeing the show.
Another thread portrays the romance between a Japanese teacher and a Taiwanese woman.
The film was written and directed by Wei Te-sheng.
Costing NT$50 million (US$1.5 million) to make, the movie became a big hit in Taiwan after debuting in August. By October, it had taken in more than NT$400 million at the box office, second only to the worldwide blockbuster "Titanic" in Taiwan's cinematic history.
The film has won six awards, including Outstanding Taiwanese Film of the Year at the 2008 Golden Horse Awards, a much coveted Chinese-language film prize.
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