While Chinese film fans usually go for Hollywood blockbusters, local film makers still believe that homegrown movies on traditional themes can still draw both audiences and acclaim. Its producers are banking that Peacock still in production is an Asian film that will do well on domestic and international screens.

Peacock is the directorial debut of Oscar-nominated cinematographer Gu Changwei. Set in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it focuses on an ordinary Chinese family, and the hopes and dreams of the three children, a sister and two brothers.

The sister, played by actress Zhang Jingchu, escapes from the grim reality of daily life into a dream world. When she falls in love with a parachutist, she attaches a parachute to her bicycle and "flies" down the street, much to the amazement of the neighbors.

Zhang Jingchu, lead actress, said: "I was really enjoying myself shooting that scene. I even took both of my hands off the handlebar, just like an athlete sprinting and winning the race. I felt crazy about it."

Director Gu Changwei says the film is a subtle investigation of the human condition which will move, rather than shock, the audience. Asia Union Film Ltd., a major investor in Chinese movies, has sunk US$2 million into the project. The company is confident that its investment is safe and expects to win an international award when Peacock hits the festival circuit.

(CCTV.com August 27, 2003)