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Film week showcases best of Nice
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NICE-HANGZHOU Film Week is underway in Hangzhou. Eight French movies, especially those filmed in Nice of southern France, are being screened at local cinemas through June 6. Free tickets are available to download at www.gewara.com.
Since Hangzhou and Nice became sister cities in 1998, a series of exchanges have been held, but this is the first film week.
“The culture exchanges between China and other countries is somewhat unbalanced. But this mutual film week gives us an equal opportunity to promote our own culture,” says Xiao Jun of the Hangzhou Administration of Culture, Radio, TV and Film.
Both the Nice and Hangzhou governments hope the film week will become a regular event in the future. A reciprocal film week devoted to Chinese movies will be held in Nice in October.
“In addition to film, we hope the two cities communicate more in fields like music and cuisine,” says Cyril Doutre of Nice’s government. “Nice is the paradise of France while Hangzhou is compared to heaven in China. The cities share many similarities.”
“The Transporter,” directed by French director Luc Besson and starring Chinese actress Shu Qi and British actor Jason Statham, opened the film week on May 28 and more than 100 people attended.
The movie wasn’t released in China when it came out in 2002.
Viewers were enthralled with the tense plot and picturesque Cote D’Azur, which is Nice’s most charming attraction.
“I had heard of this movie before, but never had a chance to see it. This film week has provided an opportunity to take a look at excellent French movies,” says a viewer surnamed Zhang. “It really makes me want to take a trip there.”
For the Nice government the week is a platform to introduce the city’s tourist attractions.
“Every year I come to Hangzhou two to three times to organize governmental and cultural activities. We consider Hangzhou a big potential market,” Doutre tells Shanghai Daily.
Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong are well known in France, but Hangzhou remains somewhat of a mystery to many French people. Using films to promote the city and its people makes a lot of sense because they entertain at the same time as educate, says Xiao.
TV channel HTV4, the Hangzhou West Lake Film Promotion Association, Muhoo Culture Creative Company, Hangzhou Alliance Francaise and the Nice government all helped organize the film week.
Alliance Francaise established a Hangzhou branch in 2009. And like its other branches around the world, the organization acts as a bridge between France and its host city.
“Every year at least 80 cultural activities are organized by Hangzhou Alliance Francaise including music concerts, floral art exhibitions and family activities,” says Jonathan Unlu, head officer of Hangzhou Alliance Francaise.
Unlu says one of the alliance’s tasks is to boost cultural exchanges in every field between Hangzhou and France.
“Compared with other Chinese cities, Hangzhou is more energetic and economically developed. It is ideal for holding cultural exchange events,” Unlu tells Shanghai Daily.
During the film week, Hangzhou Alliance Francaise organized a lecture with Unlu speaking about the importance of international cultural exchanges.
The week also includes a Nice photography exhibition, which is being held at Hangzhou SAGA Luxury Cinema through June 6.
The following films are to be screened over the next three days.
• “9 Month Stretch”
It is a 2013 French comedy film.
Date: June 5, 6pm
Venue: Yellow Dragon Cinema, 1 Huanglong Rd
• “Le Jour des Corneilles”
It is a French cartoon.
Date: June 5, 6pm
Venue: SAGA Luxury Cinema, 380 Fengtan Rd
• “Trouble at Timpetill
It is a 2008 French fantasy adventure film based on the novel of the same name by Henry Winterfeld, a German writer and artist famous for his children’s and young adult novels.
Date: June 6, 6pm
Venue: Yellow Dragon Cinema, 1 Huanglong Rd
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