When Catherine Ying, president of CMC Pictures, presented Christopher MacBride's script, adapted from Mai Jia's bestselling novel "Decoded," to renowned filmmaker Chen Sicheng in 2020, he saw potential beyond a standard film.

A still image shows protagonist Rong Jinzhen in a dream of golden reeds. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

"Christopher's original script was more of a thriller, and he didn't know too much about our culture and history, but he did expand my imagination," Chen told China.org.cn. After rereading the 2002 novel, he decided to join the project as a screenwriter and director. Chen wanted to add a Chinese perspective on individual destiny amid changing times, which touched him most in Mai's book.

"Everyone is a unique code, and life is a process of decoding. This theme deeply moves me and is a central focus of the film," he explained.

As part of the "Filmed for IMAX" program, "Decoded" was shot entirely with IMAX-certified digital cameras. Set in the 1940s, the film chronicles the life of Rong Jinzhen (Liu Haoran), a young man with extraordinary mathematical talent who enters the dangerous world of cryptography. Over the years, he becomes an unsung national hero as he deciphers enemy communications. The film also stars Chinese cinema heavyweight actors Chen Daoming, Daniel Wu and Yu Feihong. 

Director Chen Sicheng works on set. [Photo courtesy of As One Production]

The movie blends epic drama, psychological thriller, adventure, and historical elements with surreal dream sequences, offering a unique cinematic experience.

The spectacular dreams portray visually stunning scenes, including a huge maze, a collapsing Ferris wheel, a room encircled by "ENIACs," vast blood-red sand beaches, a giant walrus, a pursuit on a train and a mysterious walrus-man. The walrus imagery ties into The Beatles song "I Am the Walrus," which Chen secured at considerable expense.

"This song uses walruses as metaphors, and its strange quality perfectly satisfied our dream sequences," Chen explained.

Chen is known for paying generously to secure iconic songs for his films, including Michael Jackson's "Heal the World" and Taylor Swift's "Welcome to New York" for his box office juggernaut, the "Detective Chinatown" franchise. This time, he paid even more for The Beatles' song, marking the first time the licensors granted a Beatles permit for an Asian film. "I'm a big fan of John Lennon, who was also an anti-war icon," Chen said. "I want to carry on his spirit and legacy. He was a genius."

A still image shows a spectacular dream scene in which a mountain-high walrus lies on a red sandy beach. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

Shooting with IMAX cameras and securing a Beatles song exemplify Chen's commitment to realizing his vision, regardless of cost. This time, other lavish feats included building a red sand beach set in a 5,000-square-meter studio using 105 tons of dyed sand, precisely recreating China's cryptographic headquarters and props, recording the score in Vienna with more than 100 global musicians, and hiring scientific consultants and historians. The project also involved an international cast and crew, including famous Hollywood actor John Cusack, who plays the mentor and rival of the film's protagonist.

Writer Mai Jia has lauded the film as the most faithful adaptation of his original novel among 13 movie and TV versions of his works. Chen's film is also highly international, from its content to its behind-the-scenes work and global release plans. CMC Pictures' CEO Ying noted that the company was using international film industry resources to support this Chinese-language blockbuster. "This approach is both practical and an excellent way to enhance communication and exchange between Chinese filmmakers and the international film community," she said.

A still image shows a dream scene in which the protagonist and his wife walk toward a dazzling Ferris wheel. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

"I'm a believer in cinema, and cinema is my religion," Chen said of his enduring passion. "That's why I've invested so much in this film project, to create something that keeps attracting audiences back to theaters and shows them that movies offer an experience that the internet and mobile devices cannot replace. This immersive experience can only be had on the silver screen."

Chen also paid tribute to all of the hidden heroes. "Although the character Rong Jinzhen is fictional, the codebreakers he represents are not fictional at all, nor are their deeds. These deeds have had a tremendous impact on the advancement of China. I feel that the narratives in previous films were insufficient; we owed them," he said.

A poster for "Decoded" shows a spectacular dream scene in which rival characters, played by John Cusack and Liu Haoran, play chess on a red sandy beach. [Photo courtesy of CMC Pictures]

"Decoded" hit Chinese theaters on Aug. 3 and grossed 172 million yuan ($24 million) over the weekend. CMC Pictures will also coordinate large-scale overseas releases of this psychological thriller in key markets such as North America, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

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