He told reporters that this movie has enabled him to throw away of the obsession that movies must end in a tragedy.

He said through the movie he wanted to "retrieve family love from the cutthroat Chinese society."

In his previous movies such as Farewell My Concubine, Chen focused on Chinese history, but in this movie, he provided a precise, everyday-life picture of a modern family.

Korean filmmakers such as movie director Kim Hyung-ku, lighting director Lee Kang-san, costume designer Ha Yong-soo participated in making the film and added a Korean touch to the movie. Chen Kaige complemented Kim as being one of the world's best.

In the movie, there is a scene in which a young man secretly takes out a picture of Kim Hee-sun, a popular Korean actress. Regarding the scene, Chen said, "Kim is so popular among Chinese teenagers that women ask the plastic surgeons to make them look like exactly like her."

(Cri.com.cn February 21, 2003)