by Jian Ping

CHICAGO, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- A special Chinese film was presented at the ongoing Asian Pop-Up Cinema Film Festival in Chicago in celebration of the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival at a drive-in theater in Chicago on Thursday night.

"The Climbers" was directed by Daniel Lee, and stars Wu Jing, Zhang Ziyi, Zhang Yi and Jing Boran, all household names in China.

The film is based on a true story about the first Chinese mountain climbers' journey to Mount Everest from the North Ridge, the most challenging side of the mountain. The perilous climb takes its toll on the mountaineers, forcing them to make life-or-death decisions at every turn. Fifteen years later, new climbers join them, demonstrating the same tenacity and spirit.

"It's our utmost pleasure celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with a blockbuster highlighting the majestic climb to Mount Everest by some Chinese climbers," said Sophia Wong Boccio, founder and executive director of the cinema.

In the face of COVID-19 pandemic, "we need to stick together and help each other in order to overcome any difficulties and climb any mountains," Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Jian said in a video message played during the screening event. "Just like the story of the first Chinese climbers to summit Mount Everest that we are watching tonight."

"This is such a wonderful film," Susan Garvey from Chicago told Xinhua. "It's all the more powerful because it's based on a true story."

Garvey added she was so moved by the heroic undertaking and spirit of the Chinese mountaineers, and was also thrilled to experience the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival and taste a moon cake for the first time.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asian film festival this year has been switched from indoor theaters to an outdoor drive-in venue and virtual streaming. Of the 22 films presented at the festival, seven are being screened at the drive-in theater, providing an in-person, large-screen viewing experience for audiences during the pandemic.

"What impresses me most is the breadth of these (Chinese film) choices," said Ron Falzone, moderator of Asian Pop-Up Cinema and associate professor of Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College Chicago. "This is especially true since 'Best Director' and 'All About ING' come from first-time directors while 'A Touch of Spring' is coming from a woman based outside of China."

Many cinematic methods have been engaged in the films, Falzone said, adding that "a real sense that each (director) is willing to experiment with the form to say what they want to say."

"I love this because it is in this experimentation that Chinese cinema will continue to grow and potentially influence what is going on in the rest of the world cinema," he added.

According to Boccio, executive director of the cinema, there are five more films to be screened at the drive-ins following this blockbuster.

The Asian Pop-Up Cinema Film Festival in Chicago kicked off on Sept. 10 and will run until Oct. 31. Enditem

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