According to the Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures Classics has picked up the North American and Latin American rights to director Zhang Yimou's new martial arts romantic drama Curse of the Golden Flower.

 

　

 Zhang Yimou and Zhang Weiping at the shooting scene.

 

The film depicts power struggles in a dysfunctional royal family in Tang dynasty. 　　

 

SPC co-presidents Michael Barker and Tom Bernard say that they feel Curse of the Golden Flower will be a culmination of Zhang's great career." 　　

 

Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li, who star in the film, reportedly will soon be returning to American shores. 　　

 

Zhang's Hero action choreographer, Tony Ching Siu-Tung, also returns for similar duties on this film. 　　

 

This is Zhang Yimou's ninth project with Sony Pictures Classics. Sony hasn't yet set a release date for the film.

 

(CRI June 28, 2006)