Old story gets new twist

A unique take on a much-loved Chinese folk tale is vying for box-office honors, Xu Fan reports.

Film director Zhao Ji is very familiar with the traditional folk tale Legend of the White Snake, but has always been puzzled by it.

In the tale, which originated in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Bai Suzhen, a white snake spirit which longs to be a human, transforms itself into a beautiful woman.