Co-productions: One film, many visions

When two countries work together in an attempt to create a cinematic masterpiece, the results can be brilliant, but more often than not, fail to appeal to audiences across the cultural divide, Raymond Zhou writes.

Film co-production has become something of a holy grail, which many in the film industry relentlessly pursue yet few, if any, have attained. It is supposed to bring about an expansion of the market plus unquantifiable goodwill in cultural exchange. But the reality can be a different matter.

The road to co-production heaven is littered with dead bodies of those who had been tantalized by the prospect of mutually beneficial deals then devastated by mutual destruction.