Once a pan-Asian phenomenon, Japanese cartoon cat Doraemon made its return to China this week with the local premiere of a second animated film. The blue, moon-faced robot cat led its troupe of cartoon friends in greeting audiences of mostly children at the premiere in Beijing. Doraemon the Magic is the second Doraemon
film to be screened in China, where the enchanted robotic cat who possesses magical abilities came to small screens and comic books more than a decade ago. In its homeland of Japan, the comic character has spawned nearly 30 fi lms since 1980. However, it was just in the past summer that Doraemon made its big-screen debut in China.
Female director Ma Liwe's Lost and Found has won mixed opinions from viewers and critics. Adapted from writer Liu Zhenyun's novel My Name is Liu Yuejin, Lost and Found is set largely in Beijing's CBD, following Liu Yuejin, a construction site cook, as he searches for a lost bag. Along the way he encounters prostitutes, thieves, killers, corrupt offi cials, a real estate tycoon and an undercover cop. Writer Liu says the story is about how "a sheep eats wolves".
Other films now showing include:
The Pursuit of Happiness: Oscar nominee Will Smith stars in this moving tale inspired by the true story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman struggling to build a future for himself and his 5-year-old son Christopher.
The End of the Year: a low-budget fi lm by Chinese director Wang Jing, touches on a perennially popular topic-the ordeal migrant people face trying to get train tickets home at the end of the lunar year. Chen Nan
Lucky Dog: Tale about a retired working-class man by fi rsttime writer-director Zhang Meng.
Two Stupid Eggs: a Chinese adaptation of the Spanish movie Torroemolinos 73 (2003). Poor book salesman Wen Yao resorts to playing the roles of various people to promote his self-made book, Guideline to the Newly Married.
My Blueberry Nights: follow Nora Jones and Jude Law
in this moody road movie by Wong Kar-Wai. It's his first English feature film.
(Beijing Weekend February 2, 2008)
