The endless pleasures of film and the best of Chinese cinema awaits avid moviegoers as premier lifestyle destination Shangri-La Plaza plays host to the very first film festival of the year.
Presented by the Ateneo de Manila University Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies and the Confucius Institute, together with the Ateneo Celadon, the Chinese Spring Film Festival features riveting and critically-acclaimed productions from January 27 to February 1 at the Shang’s Premiere Theatre.
In the Jingle Ma ChoSing directed period drama Mulan, China is faced with the impending threat of invasion which leads to a nation-wide draft. Here, legendary Hua Mulan disguised herself as a man to take her ailing father’s place in the army. At the camp, she gains the attention of the battalion’s vice commander, and through the harsh military training proves herself an outstanding warrior, eventually assuming a historically critical role in defending the nation during a time of war.
A rural girl suffers from a failed romance and vows to concentrate all her efforts into becoming a real and renowned chef. The comedy Queen of Cooking tackles the unique techniques and styles of preparing Chinese cuisine, and follows a woman as she makes her journey through a three-year apprenticeship and works towards winning the prestigious Master of the Kitchen competition.
Director Chen Kaige delves into the turbulent life of Mei Lanfang ―a legendary innovator in the world of Beijing opera. With a cast that includes Leon Lai and Zhang Ziyi, Forever Enthralled is a lavish biopic that chronicles Mei’s rise to fame in China and his subsequent success around the world. The story also features Mei’s famous rivalry with performer Swallow 13 and his tragic relationship with onstage partner Meng Xiaodang who hoped for a real-life romance with the married actor.
The Grand River is set during the early years of Communist China where idealistic young men struggled to develop the country’s northwest areas, particularly the Tarim River that needed technology to conserve water and present disaster. Experts worked with Soviet colleagues on the project, and a blossoming romance accompanies its development into the 1990s. Here is a film that showcases the government’s efforts to help the native people of Xinjiang to develop their territory and honor their traditions.
For inquiries, contact 633-7851 loc.113 or log on to www.shangrila-plaza.com.