New crime thriller adopts unique perspective
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 8, 2021
A new art-house crime thriller tells the story of a crime from a unique perspective – through the eye of the suspect.
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" focuses on the journey of atonement by protagonist Wang Xueming, played by actor Eddie Peng, an air conditioner repairman who accidentally kills a man in a car accident in 1997 in Guangzhou. However, he later peeps at the lives of others in the darkness and discovers he has become part of a larger conspiracy that intertwines the fates of several people, including the man's widow, played by veteran actress Sylvia Chang. The film's title is borrowed from a famous track sung by American icon Elvis Presley.
Peng, who was absent from the Sunday premiere in Beijing due to a recent COVID-19 outbreak, greeted the audience via a video link. He lost 16 kilograms to prepare for the role.
"The story is about a person who has to brave his unbearable past in order to embrace the sunshine," Peng said. "Sometimes young people make mistakes, so how should they face their own mistakes? They may choose to escape and dare not face them, but it seems that when you face these mistakes, you will find a bright path ahead."
The crime film is produced by renowned Chinese filmmaker Ning Hao and is a part of the 72 Transformations Film Project by Dirty Monkeys Studio, which aims to foster young talented film directors and incubate innovative motion pictures in China. Many high-quality blockbusters produced under the project have been made, including Wen Muye's drama "Dying to Survive" and Lu Yang's martial arts film "Brotherhood of Blades."
Featuring meticulous detail, a captivating plot, a distinctive aesthetic and rich colors, "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" is the directorial feature film debut by Wen Shipei. He stated that the film is about memories and redemption and took 4 years to make. It's also a refreshingly original take on the crime genre, and is bound to leave lingering impressions with viewers.
"The director gives us a very unique perspective, and the human side of the story touched my heart," filmmaker Ning Hao said at the premiere.
"This film is a kind of emotion, a kind of feeling, but you can't explain this kind of feeling clearly. So, you don't have to explain it, just feel it," actress Sylvia Chang added.
The film's pitch was nominated for the SIFF film project at the 20th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2017. One year later at the Talent Project Market of the 68th Berlin International Film Festival, it won the VFF Talent Highlight Award making it the first-ever Chinese winner of the award.
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" will hit theaters nationwide on June 12, and will be the only new-released IMAX film during China's Dragon Boat Festival holiday.
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