Hong Kong actress Michelle Reis has joined the cast of Bodyguards and Assassins (Shiyue Weicheng), a blockbuster featuring 14 mainland and Hong Kong A-listers and an one-to-one scale reproduction of Hong Kong in 1905.

This is Reis' first film character, after her marriage to Hong Kong business tycoon Julian Hui in 2008.

Her role is that of a woman who influences the life of a beggar.

The woman who changes one man's destiny

"If a woman can change a man's whole life, that's an attractive story to me," the 39-year-old says. "My role encourages a beggar to stand up to hardship and live with dignity and confidence. She makes me believe in love."

The film's producer, Peter Chan, invited Reis aboard as early as 10 years ago, when he started preparing for the project. Filming stopped when the investor committed suicide suddenly in 2004. In April 2009, the project re-started.

"Although the choice for who would play the beggar changed many times over the past 10 years, Reis has always been the only choice for her role," says director Teddy Chen. "She has the power to calm down, which has not changed in a decade."

Reis' co-stars include action star Donnie Yen, heartthrob Nicholas Tse, senior actor Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Eric Tsang, and mainland beauty Fan Bingbing.

The film, costing $23 million, describes how a group of kungfu masters helped revered Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen escape from an attempted assassination in 1905.

Sun, who is equally respected by politicians on the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan, played a critical role in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Chow Yun-fat was rumored to be playing Sun, but the story proved incorrect. The final casting decision is unknown.

To create a convincing Hong Kong in the early 20th century, the crew built a replica of the Central District of Hong Kong in Songjiang, surburban Shanghai.

Costing $5 million, the set took one year to complete and is about the size of 10 football fields. Streets, shops, rickshaws and signboards faithfully recreate the era.

At the film-wrap ceremony on Monday, Chan called the film the most exhausting one he has ever made, as well as the most unforgettable.

The woman who changes one man's destiny

The film is important for Reis, too.

"Peter and Teddy's perseverance in the project over the past decade really touches me," she says. "As one of Hong Kong's filmmakers, I was obliged to join in and pray for its success."

The film is the debut project of start-up production company Cinema Popular, a joint venture by Chan, mainland director Huang Jianxin and producer/distributor Polybona. The company intends to make 15 films in three years and expects a box office take of $290 million from them.

Bodyguards and Assassins will premiere on Dec 18 this year.

(China Daily July 30, 2009)