While The Promise is still topping the box office in domestic cinemas and getting mixed reviews from audiences and film critics, Chen Kaige's earlier film, Killing Me Softly, will be screened January 15 on the Chinese mainland.

 

Killing Me Softly, Chen's Hollywood debut in 2002 starring Heather Graham (Say It Isn't So) and Joseph Finnes (Shakespeare in Love), tells an unusual love story of a scientist and a mountaineer.

 

It mixes sex, horror and love. Despite major promotion, the film was a box-office disappointment in the United States and Europe.

 

In the United States, the film was given an R-rating for its strong sexuality, violence and adult language.

 

Many scenes will be dropped from the horror film, especially some sex scenes, before it can be put into mainland cinemas, according to its distributor, China Film Digital Co. A "Not for Children" notification is being considered.

 

"We selected this film because of Chen Kaige's fame. As Chen's The Promise is vying for an Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film, and the Academy Awards nomination list will be out in mid-January, we think mainland audiences will be eager to see another film by Chen in a different style during that period," said an official surnamed Jiang from China Film Digital Co.

 

Chen, who is currently promoting The Promise, said he was happy his American production could be shown on the mainland. He explained that despite the seeming difference between Killing Me Softly and his art-house works, the 2002 film has the stamp of his style, for example the narration of a love story.

 

"This movie is actually similar to The Promise, as both are about people's attitudes toward love. When you fall in love with somebody that you do not trust, the more you love, the less you are able to trust him or her. I think the two films will not compete at the box office but will help draw more viewers," said Chen.

 

(Shenzhen Daily December 27, 2005)