The Hindu Business Line : Chinese films hog the limelight

Director of ‘Invisible Wings’, Mr Feng Zhenzhi of China, holds child prodigy and festival jury Aditya in his arms at the 15th International Children’s Film Festival at I-Max in Hyderabad on Sunday.

K.V. Kurmanath

Hyderabad, Nov. 18 It was films from Iran that used to capture the imagination of film-lovers in earlier editions of the International Children’s Film Festival. This time, it was the turn of China at the ongoing 15th edition of the festival here.

Films like Invisible Wings, Marine Friends, Honeymoon, No Crocodile Tears, The Big Fighting Between Wukong and God Erlang — all from China — were received well by both school children and delegates.

In fact, on popular demand, the organisers had to reschedule the timetable to show Invisible Wings, the real-life story of a Chinese handicapped girl.

“It, however, is not a sudden development,” says Ms Wang Xiu, the producer of Honeymoon, when asked how Chinese films could make such a stunning impact. “We do produce a number of films for children every year,” she says.

Directed by her husband Mr Chen Jun, Honeymoon depicts the story of a young man, Yangfei, who runs away from home as he could not accept his stepmother.

But what awaits him in the cyber world is not friendly either. Ultimately, he finds love and happiness in a village by the Yellow River. Yangfei’s yearning for motherly love ends as the family reunites.

Unlike in Iran, where the Government-promoted Farabi Cinema Foundation fosters children’s cinema, in China, independent film-makers are making quality films.

“We have spent $2,00,000 on making Honeymoon. It is not that we get all the money back, but we make the films. We get support from the Government for good films, but only after making them,” Ms Xiu says.

Directed by Mr Feng Zhenzhi, Invisible Wings is about Zhi Hua, a teenage girl who loses her hands after an electric shock.

“I was touched when I heard about the girl, who went on to achieve laurels, despite losing both her hands. I thought I should make a film on her life,” Mr Zhenzhi said.

The 93-minute movie on how Zhi Hua clears all obstacles, doubling her legs as hands and managing to do what others can.

“I spent two years working on the script before shooting. We have spent all our family savings making the movie,” he said, explaining what actually went into making the film.

Mr Zhenzhi was mobbed by children and elders alike seeking autographs and photos after the special screening on Sunday.

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