Among Hollywood actors Edward Norton probably knows more about China than most and has used his experiences to highlight the differences with the Western world in his new film The Painted Veil.

Norton, 37, plays the serious-minded British bacteriologist Doctor Walter Fane in the third film adaptation of the classic novel of the same title by Somerset Maugham. The love story set in the 1920s is about "a man of forgiveness and a woman of awakening" in Norton's words.

The mismatched Walter and Kitty, an upper-class woman played by Naomi Watts, move to Shanghai where she has an affair. When Walter discovers her infidelity, in an act of vengeance, he accepts a job in a remote village in China ravaged by cholera and takes her along. Their journey brings meaning to their relationship and gives them purpose in one of the most remote and beautiful places on earth.

As producer and leading actor in the movie Norton, who had studied Chinese history at Yale and lived in the southern Chinese city of Kunming with his father for six years, sought to expand the scope of the story in the film version during his six-year preparation for the production.

Norton commented, "When we came here we really had no idea what to expect in terms of what the experience of working with Chinese filmmakers, crew and actors would be like. China has a great tradition of filmmaking and how wonderful it was to discover that the level of experience and the professionalism here was at the highest level. We're so grateful for their good quality of work and commitment.”  　　　

"The book of The Painted Veil is a little bit narrow. It's really just about two British people. It's not really about China," explains Norton. He showed up with his Chinese counterparts the Hong Kong actor Anthony Huang, Xia Yu and model Lu Yan at the film premiere in Beijing on Thursday.

Norton explained what attracted him to the movie. "It's pretty unusual to see a script with such potential to become a big movie. I don't see many scripts like that and just the idea of going to China to make a film was a big part of it." 　　

The title of the film The Painted Veil has roused much interest. When asked about whether its name is a metaphor for the story Norton explains his understanding of it. 　

He observes, "Sometimes I'm a little bit reluctant to talk about the meanings. You know it has different meanings for different people. I'm more interested in what you think. But I think, in general, it comes from a poem. It refers to illusions -- the way people have illusions of their lives. And when your illusion passes away and you confront the truth you confront your real life." 　　

A famous US film director once said all the best films are love stories. But the actor thinks, more than an average love story dotted with romance and hailing commitment, the new film is a more complex story about relationships and the duties associated with them.

"We wanted to make a film in which you can really feel the presence of the country, the presence of the people and in which what was happening in China at that time is discussed with the Chinese people's perspective on that moment of history," says Norton.

Norton, who has twice been nominated for an Oscar including for his first feature role in the 1996 thriller Primal Fear, said Walter is ultimately forced to confront the fact that he can't help the Chinese if he simply imposes his vision of the world on them.

Norton, with screenwriter Ron Nyswaner and director John Curran, incorporated much of China's political situation at the time including an infamous massacre in Shanghai that occurred on May 30, 1925. British troops killed a large number of Chinese demonstrators at a major rally provoking unprecedented anti-foreign outrage and China-wide demonstrations.

"There was this incredibly chaotic moment during which half the country was screaming for the foreigners to get out," Norton has said in an interview.

A favorite book of Norton's called To Change China: Western Advisers in China by Yale history professor Jonathan Spence helped him and Curran organize their ideas about China and the film. The book illuminates the challenges of the countless foreign missionaries, soldiers, doctors, teachers, engineers and revolutionaries who've been trying to "change China" for more than 300 years.

Norton used some of the themes in the book to reshape the character of Walter - a western scientist who comes to rural China during the cholera epidemic and is utterly mystified when the Chinese don't welcome him with open arms.

"This book really helped bring Walter into focus for me," said Norton. "Walter became one of those people who's in China and rather myopically saying to himself, 'I'm not involved in politics or social reform. I'm just here to do science that will improve people's lives.' These people told themselves that they were not a part of the British military presence."

The Golden Globe Best Supporting Actor Edward Norton(M) showed up with his Chinese counterparts, Hong Kong actor Anthony Huang (L), Xia Yu (R) at the premiere for the film in Beijing on Thursday.

Hong Kong actor Anthony Huang at the premiere ceremony in Beijing on Thursday.

Lead actor Edward Norton in the movie The Painted Veil at the premiere ceremony in Beijing on Thursday.

Shang Wenjie, this year's Super Girl top winner, showed up at the premiere. She sings the theme song for the film.

(Xinhua News Agency, CRI December 22, 2006)