Home>News Center>Life
         
 

Super hit 'Peacock' bucks art film trend
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2005-03-31 09:18

Chinese mainland director Gu Changwei's directorial debut "Kong Que" (Peacock) has proved that so-called art films can also be a big draw at the box office.


A scene for Gu Changwei's directorial debut "Kong Que" (Peacock)

The film, which picked up a Silver Bear at this year's Berlin International Film Festival, took in around 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) in roughly one month during its national screening, a record for Chinese art films.

Locally, ticket sales for "Peacock" exceeded 700,000 yuan during the same period after the film premiered on February 18.

"Peacock" has changed a stereotype that art films are usually box office poison, said Wu Hehu, marketing director of Shanghai United Cinema Lines, the city's leading cinema chain.

"It has even outperformed some commercial films screened on Valentine's Day."

The movie's international success, according to Wu, is a big impetus for its domestic ticket sales.

Soon after its success at the Berlin festival, the distributor printed 20 more copies to satisfy increasing demand from cinema chains across China.

"Makers of art films used to be low-key and had little sense of marketing," Wu added. "But the crew of 'Peacock' has been different. Their active role in promoting the movie around China gave it a strong momentum at the box office."

Xu hao, a movie buff, was upbeat about the future of Chinese art films.

"Actually we are surrounded by too many Hollywood blockbusters and commercial movies," he said. "We're hoping for a diversified film market, where art films will also play an important role."



Sofia: Tom Cruise and me
China's college students get okay to tie knot
Britney's bump: the latest
  Today's Top News     Top Life News
 

Paper-making giant probed for illegal logging

 

   
 

KMT, CPC parties open historic dialogue

 

   
 

Chemical tanker crashes, killing 27

 

   
 

China to curb surging investment

 

   
 

China lifts 50-year ban on student marriages

 

   
 

Beijing court hears wrangle on Viagra patent

 

   
  Rhythm of Chinese metropolitan folk moves city
   
  Bush girl accompanied by fellow Yalie beau
   
  71% of Chinese women sexually harassed?
   
  Transport officials top China's graft roster
   
  Super hit 'Peacock' bucks art film trend
   
  Nurtured child most likely good mum: study
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Debut director is as proud as a peacock
  Feature  
  1/3 Chinese youth condone premarital sex  
Advertisement