Wu Xia shows the continued rise of Chinese filmmakers

(AFP PHOTO / ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT)

China's cinema industry has this week had its attention turned to goings-on in Cannes as the world's most prestigious film festival saw the screening of the only Chinese production to be featured at this year's edition.

Hong Kong director Peter Chan's martial arts epic Wu Xia had a special Midnight Screening last Friday - and was immediately snapped up for international distribution by the powerful Weinstein Company, a move which almost guarantees the film a wide North American release.

That's good news for the international prospects of a number of China's leading filmmakers - among them Tsui Hark and Jaxkie Chan - who have similar big-budgeted and star-studded productions in the works. Wu Xia stars the current superstar of the martial arts world, Donnie Yen.

Closer to home, Chinese cinema-goers have over the past week been flocking to see the Vin Diesel-Dwayne Johnson actioner Fast Five which picked up 55 milion yuan (six million euros) on its first week of release to lead the charts.

Second place across China went to the super hero actioner Thor which had 26.6 million yuan (2.8 million euros) for a two-week total of 74.8 million yuan (eight million euros).

Japan over the past week saw the rise of the Oscar-winning Black Swan which pulled in an impressive US$6.1 million (4.3 million euros) in its first week. That was enough to relegate into second place the live-action version of the manga comic Gaku, which picked up just over US$2 million (1.4 million euros) for a two-week taking over just over US$8 million (5.6 million euros).

Hong Kong, meanwhile, was also caught in Vin Diesel's headlights, with Fast Five holding down number one spot for the second week running, its US$378,567 (266,138 euros) pushing takings to close on US$1.3 million (913,918 euros). That proved too much for the Oxide Pang-directed cop thriller The Detective 2, which collected US$354,974 (249,518 euros).

Check out the trailer
Wu Xia

MS