Poster of Confucius

The year has only just begun but already there’s been rumbling about more than just one film in the Chinese Mainland. While James Cameron’s new film Avatar has overwhelmed ticket offices in cinemas across the country, with queues as long as one kilometer outside some venues, the spotlight is about to shift to female director Hu Mei (胡玫)’ s new epic Confucius（孔子）. The film, starring Chow Yun-Fat as Confucius will premier across the nation on January 22nd.

The epic blockbuster depicts the life of the ancient Chinese philosopher from the age of 51 to 73. Confucius (551 BC to 479 BC) is considered the most influential thinker and philosopher in Chinese history. However, the film’s plot has been shrouded in mystery and the first trailer released doesn’t reveal much of the plot, while the newly released second trailer only confirms the fact that the film contains large-scale battle scenes. Could it be that the plot may outrage more people than it will please? The very fact that an epic movie about the philosopher has taken so long to appear, echoes the fact that China’s relationship with the philosopher, who strongly encouraged personal and governmental morality, correctness and sincerity, did not always have the best relationship with the state – he was shunned by the Chairman for belonging to the feudal state and his grave was destroyed by the Red Guards. Western media obviously seems much less enthusiastic about the film’s historical accuracy and content. As one American blogger put it: “How will they handle the rather un-Confucian aspects of Confucius's life?  Like his supposed divorce from his wife (which would seem to break a vow and deny an obligation that should be rather central to a Confucian family-oriented ethic)? Or the fact that his parents died young and he never faced the duty of caring for them when he himself was an adult?”

Another source of pessimism comes from the choice of leading role. The majority of Chow’s roles see him as a Hong Kong gangster armed with machine guns, although his most famous role to date is arguably that of Li Mubai in Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. However, it’s not Chow’s roles as gangster that’s causing the real skepticism but the fact that Chow is too handsome. Confucius was not a man known for his looks so will this detract from the essence of the philosopher’s teachings? And more importantly, are aesthetics more important in Chinese film than historical accuracy?

Pre-premier criticism aside, since the reforms Chinese leaders have once again begun to embrace Confucianism and this film is no doubt hoped to give some moral guidance to a nation that is fast developing materialistic values so unavoidable in a consumerist culture. Confucian texts have been given a greater prominence in Chinese universities and one of Beijing’s maximum security prison even plans on making the learning of Confucius’s Analects compulsory among inmates this year.

To ensure that the film will be a big hit (which it surely will), China’s most famous pop star Wang Faye (王菲) is singing the theme song for the film. After five years of silence, the starlet’s return is one of the biggest surprises in the entertainment industry. Another draw of the film is the star-studded cast; apart from Chow, A-List actor Chen Jianbin (陈建斌) and actress Zhou Xun (周迅) are also starring. Confucius was jointly produced by the state-run China Film Group and Beijing Dadi Century with a budget of about $2.8 million. Movie goers can also look forward to stunning film sets. Thirty-five hundred sets and props were apparently used to recreate the ancient scenes – a record for Chinese cinema.

On January 22nd we will see whether Confucius will outshine the success of Avatar and whether people will form 1 km queues hours in advance just to snatch up a ticket. The film will be shown with English subtitles in most cinemas across China. See the list below to see where the film is screening near you.

Beijing
Beijing Jinyi International Cinema
Add: B1/F, The Gate City Mall, 19 Zhongguancun Dajie, Haidian District, Beijing
地址: 北京中关村大街19号新中关大厦B1
Tel: 010 8248 6800/06
Website: http://www.jinyifilm.com

Mega Box (Sanlitun Branch)
Add: B1/F, The Village, Sanlitun, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址: 北京朝阳区三里屯village地下一层
Tel: 010 5986 3777
Website: http://www.imegabox.com

 

 

Mega Box (Zhongguancun Branch)
Add: 3F, La Vita, Zhongguancun Plaza Shopping Center, Haidian District, Beijing
地址: 北京海淀区中关村广场购物中心津乐汇三层
Tel: 010 5986 3777
Website: http://www.imegabox.com

Wanda International Cineplex
Add: 3F, Bldg 8, Wanda International Plaza, Jianguomen, Beijing
地址: 北京朝阳区建国路93号万达广场8号楼3层
Tel: 010 5960 3399
Website: http://www.wandafilm.com

UME Cineplex (Shuangjing)
Add: 5-6F, Viva Fuli Square, Shuangjing Bridge, Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
地址: 北京朝阳区东三环中路双井桥北富力广场5-6层
Tel: 010 8211 5566, 8211 2851, 5903 7171
Website: http://www.bjume.com/index1.html

UME Cineplex Haidian
Add: 44 Kexueyuan Nanlu, Shuangyushu, opposite to Shuang’an Department Store, Haidian District, Beijing
地址: 北京西北三环路双榆树科学院南路44号，双安商场对面
Tel: 010 8211 5566, 8211 2851, 5903 7171
Website: http://www.bjume.com/index1.html

Shanghai
Shanghai Film Art Centre
Add: 160 Xinhua Lu, near Fanyu Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai
地址: 上海徐汇区新华路160号
Tel: 021 6280 4088
Website: http://www.filmcenter.com.cn/

Broadband International Cineplex
Add: 6/F, Shanghai Times Square, 99 Huaihai Lu, Huaihai Zhonglu, Shanghai
地址: 上海淮海中路99号大上海时代广场6楼，近普安路, 地铁1号线黄陂南路站
Tel: 021 6391 0363, 6391 0351, 6391 0755
Website: http://www.swy99.com

Wanda International Cinema
Add: 3/F, 58 Guobin Lu, Yangpu District, Shanghai
地址: 上海市杨浦区国宾路58号3楼五角场万达商业广场三楼
Tel: 021 5566 0926
Website: http://www.wandafilm.com

Kodak Cinema World
Add: 5F, Metro City, 1111 Zhaojiabang Lu, near Tianyaoqiao Lu, Xujiahui, Shanghai
地址: 上海肇家浜路1111号美罗城5楼
Tel: 021 6426 8181
Website: http://www.cinemaworld.com.cn/index.html

UME International Cineplex
Add: 5/F South Block Xintiandi, No 6, Lane 123, Xingye Lu, near Madang Lu, Shanghai
地址: 上海新天地国际影城UME 兴业路123弄新天地南里6号5楼（新天地广场内）
Tel: 021 6373 3333 ext. 807, 63841122 ext. 807
Website: http://www.ume.com.cn/

Guangzhou
UME International Cineplex Guangzhou
Add: 6F, Grandbuy Sunny Mall, 498 Baogang Dadao, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市海珠区宝岗大道498号广百新一城广场6楼
Tel: 020 8425 7979, 3422 9004
Website: http://www.gzume.com/

Warner Jinyi International Cinema
Add: 3F, Weijiasi Plaza, 188 Huangpu Dadao Xi, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市黄埔大道188号珠江新城维家思广场三楼
Tel: 020 8759 8889, 8758 8855

Shenzhen
Warner Jinyi Cinema Shenzhen
Add: Inside Central Walk, Fuhua Lu, Futian District, Shenzhen
地址: 深圳福田区福华路怡景中心城内
Tel: 0755 8280 1168
Website: http://www.jycinema.com/

Golden Harvest Shenzhen Cinema
Add: 3F, The MIXc Middle Building, 1881 Bao'an Nanlu, Shenzhen
深圳宝安南路1881号华润中心万象城中座三楼
Tel: 0755 8266 8182 ext.4
Website: http://www.yingyuan.cn

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