Taiwanese love story will play mainland

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-11-4  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

TAIWAN'S box-office hit, "Cape No. 7," will play on the Chinese mainland, an official with the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said yesterday.

"The movie went through the official examining procedures last week," said a SARFT official surnamed Zhou, who declined to give his full name. "The date for screening depends on the film maker's schedule," he added.

"Cape No. 7," directed by 40-year-old Wei Te-Sheng, was the second most nominated movie for the 2008 Golden Horse Awards, a much coveted Chinese-language film prize. It bagged nine nominations last Thursday, including best director, best picture and best supporting actor. The award ceremony is set for December 6 in Taizhong, in Taiwan.

The movie will also compete for an Oscar for best foreign language film at the 81st Academy Awards.

"Cape No. 7" is about the romance between a Japanese teacher and a Taiwanese woman when the island was a Japanese colony in the 1940s.

With an investment of NT$50 million (US$1.5 million), the movie became a hit after debuting in August in Taiwan. By October, it had raked in more than NT$400 million, second only to "Titanic" in Taiwan's cinematic history.

The movie has been warmly reviewed on blogs and by the Bulletin Boards System, known as BBS, which helped spread the movie's popularity.

"Any of us can find a favorite role in the movie and relate to it," said a 27-year-old blogger named Niu Niu.

"I was moved to tears when it ends, moved by the love story," said Charles, 30, in his blog.

The success of "Cape No. 7" gives hope to other Chinese movies at the international box office.