Against all odds

The Pursuit of Happiness opened in cinemas this week. 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. When his girlfriend (Thandie Newton) walks out, Chris is left to raise his son on his own. Against the odds, Chris becomes a Wall Street legend.

Directed by award-winning director Ma Liwen, Lost and Found opens this weekend. Adopted 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 officials, a real estate tycoon and an undercover cop. Writer Liu says the story is about how "a sheep eats wolves".

The End of the Year, a low-budget film 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.

Other films showing include:

Lucky Dog: Tale about a retired working-class man by first-time writer-director Zhang Meng.

Blinkers: Spanish soccer comedy

Linger: Spiritual romance, directed by Hong Kong director Johnny To, tells of a touching love story between a young girl (played by Li Bingbing) and her undying love for her late lover who died in a car accident.

In Love with the Dead: Shawn Yue and Stephy Tang star is this chilling yet thought-provoking, thriller.