November 6 is said to be this year's coldest day in Shenyang, in northeast China's Liaoning Province. But despite the cold, the city's Zhao Benshan Film Center held the closing ceremony for the shooting of the new movie Fallen Leaves Return to the Roots. The organizers brought about 300 journalists to Shenyang via two charted flights from Beijing. 銆
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The director, Zhang Yang, and cast members including Song Dandan, leading comic star Zhao Benshan, famous actors Xia Yu and Liao Fan, and special guest, Song Zuying, a top soprano, who recently held a concert in the United States, all attended the ceremony. 銆
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It's not uncommon to make Chinese New Year movies, and audiences usually have high hopes for productions that can make them laugh. Fallen Leaves Return to the Roots claims to have some dark humour aspects, and entertains not only through portraying real life moments, but also by provoking deep thought. The movie tells the story of a 50-year-old farmer named Lao Zhao who is headed to Shenzhen to become a migrant worker there. However his friend Lao Wang dies in an accident, and he thus begins the journey of secretly carrying his friend's dead body back to their hometown. 銆
The movie's young director, Zhang Yang, said this is his most satisfying film to date. Unlike before, when Zhang was riddled with doubt as to his movies' reception by audiences, he is very confident this movie will be well liked. He also praised Zhao Benshan's performance in the movie. 銆銆
Most of the movie's scenes feature the main actor, who has been called the "Chinese Chaplin." Before now, it was very rare for Zhao Benshan to enjoy a solo show. The modest Zhao said, he comes from the land, he loves the people, and if an artist doesn't show any respect to the grassroots people, then he doesn't deserve to be called an artist. Fallen Leaves Return to the Roots reveals a happy manner to go through the hardest trials and tears in life, and the movie tugs at people's deepest heartstrings. 銆
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The movie will be premiered next February. 銆
(CRI November 7, 2006)
