Musical movie Perhaps Love with a Hong Kong director set a box office record in China's mainland in its first week show since December 1, bringing more than 18 million yuan (about US$2.2 million).

The movie took in 2.7 million yuan (US$332,000) in Shanghai in its first week, the largest proportion of the overall box office.

Perhaps Love, featuring a triangle romance, is produced by renowned Hong Kong director Peter Chan Ho-sunis.

With a cost of US$10 million, it brings together some renowned stars: Hong Kong singer and actor Jacky Cheung, Chinese actress Zhou Xun, Taiwan-born Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Ji Jin-Hee, an actor from the Republic of Korea.

The film was chosen to conclude the prestigious Venice Film Festival, in September this year. And it was designated to represent Hong Kong to compete for an Oscar nomination for best foreign film.

The release of Perhaps Love ushered in a busy year-end period for China's market, when many movies are scheduled to be shown.

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2005)