(2002/11/18)

To celebrate 30th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, Chinese Embassy in Japan held a film reception at the embassy's film projection hall on November 15th. Two films, a special-topic film China the Divine Land and a Chinese-made feature film Thatched House were screened. Spoke at the reception were Cultural Attaché with the rank of envoy of Chinese Embassy in Japan Qiu Guohong and director of the film Thatched House Xu Geng who specially came to Japan to seek former-stage publicity for the film. Director of Japanese Cultural Exchange Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nukazawa and people of all circles, nearly 200 in number, attended the reception.

The feature film Thatched House, shot in 1999 by Nanjing Film Studio and awarded Golden Rooster prize in the same year, was co-released by Japanese Herald Film Company and Tokyo Iwanami Cinema. To mark 35th anniversary of the founding of Iwanami Cinema, it is planned to show the film at the cinema starting from December 12th. For many years, Iwanami Cinema has screened a lot of Chinese films, all have been reacted favorably, in particular the Chinese-made film That Mountain, That Man and That Dog shown in 1999, which once caused a sensation in Japan and attained the highest total admissions of 150,000.

To cooperate with the film projection unit, the director of the film Xu Geng specially came to Japan on invitation to seek former-stage publicity for the film. During his stay in Japan, he interviewed reporters from several major newspapers and magazines, and were present for many times at trial projections of the film. All who has watched the film, according to the Iwanami Cinema, were deeply touched by its simple and clear plot and exquisite portrait of characters. Now the cinema is full of confidence in the successful screening of the film in Japan.

By He Jing

(Cultural Office of Chinese Embassy in Japan)