Doha: Doha Film Institute (DFI) will screen award-winning films from China and Hong Kong at the Chinese Film Week from November 3 to 7 at the Museum of Islamic Art auditorium as part of the Qatar-China 2016 Year of Culture.
The selection includes John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow, Bruce Lee’s Way of the Dragon, Xiaogang Feng’s Back to 1942, Jia Zhangke’s Still Life, Yimou Zhang’s Coming Home, Jackie Chan’s Police Story and Ann Hui’s A Simple Life.
The series begins on November 3, 7.30pm with John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow (1986). Starring Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung and Chow-Yun-fat, the film has had a significant impact on Hong Kong’s film industry, and has been ranked second in the list of Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures.
On November 4 at 4.30pm, watch legendary martial artist Bruce Lee’s directorial venture Way of the Dragon (1972) that stars Lee with Chuck Norris and Nora Miao. An action comedy, the film is about a man who visits his relatives at their restaurant in Italy, where he defends them from some brutal gangsters.
Also on November 4, 7.30pm is the screening of the compelling historical film Back to 1942 (2012) directed by Feng Xiaogang. Starring Guoli Zhang, Hanyu Zhang and Wei Fan, the film is based on a novel by Liu Zhenyun about a deadly drought that wreaks havoc in China’s Henan province during the war against Japan.
Jia Zhangke’s Still Life (2006) will be screened on November 5, at 4.30pm. Making its premiere at Venice Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion for Best Film, it stars Tao Zhao, Zhou Lan and Sanming Han. Still Life is an evocative drama that is set in Fengjie county, which is being gradually flooded to make away for The Three Gorges Dam.
At 7.30pm, discover the marvel of the historical drama Coming Home (2014) by Zhang Yimou. Starring Chen Daoming, Gong Li and Zhang Huiwen, the film premiered at Cannes Film Festival. Based on the novel by Geling Yan, the film is about a devoted couple, Lu and Feng, who are forced to separate when Lu is arrested and confined to a labour camp as political prisoner during the Cultural Revolution.
Gear up for some high-wattage action with actor Jackie Chan’s much-loved Police Story (1985), screening on November 6, at 7.30pm. Playing the lead role of the Hong Kong police detective Kevin Chan Ka-Kui, it went on to win the Best Film honour at the 1986 Hong Kong Film Awards.
The special event concludes on November 7, 7.30pm with the screening of the heart-warming film A Simple Life (2011) by Ann Hui. Starring Andy Lau and Deanie Ip, it has won several honours including the Best Actress Award for Ip at Venice Film Festival. Tickets are priced QAR35, and can be purchased in person from the MIA Box Office or online at www.dohafilminstitute.com.
