"Perhaps Love" Draws Crowds

Original URL: http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/349/2005/12/05/60@34390.htm

2005-12-05 09:07:29 Shenzhen Daily

NO doubt about it. "Perhaps Love," said to be China's first musical film in 30 years, is definitely a crowd pleaser.

The musical romance, directed by Peter Chan, brought in 300,000 yuan (US$37,000) in box-office receipts during its first weekend at Shenzhen's Golden Harvest cinema. 　　

The love triangle's international cast stars Hong Kong "song god" Jacky Cheung, South Korean actor Ji Jin-hee, Taiwanese-Japanese actor Takeshi Kaneshiro and Chinese actress Zhou Xun. 　　

The US$10-million film's handsome photography and lavish costuming for 1930s Shanghai create the atmosphere for the love triangle played by Cheung, Kaneshiro and Zhou. 　　

While the characters break into song and dance at dramatic moments, moviegoers leary of musicals needn't worry. One fortysomething moviegoer said: "The film gave me a bit of Broadway-style musical, but it has a clear structure and well-narrated story."
　　
Although all the stars are successful pop singers, Chan said in an earlier interview that the cast was selected for their resemblance to the characters rather than their singing abilities. Chan told Hong Kong newspapers that the film is "all about a love story," not just a plotless musical. 　

In September, "Perhaps Love" edged out Jackie Chan's "The Myth" and Stanley Kwan's "Everlasting Love" as Hong Kong's Academy Award entry for best foreign film Oscar. Earlier this year, "Perhaps Love" was the closing film at the Venice Film Festival.