9 Foreign Films in Chengdu April 2019
For April, we get a respectable nine, but the biggest news comes in the form of the new Avengers:
China gets it TWO days before the rest of the world!
Haha! Time to #spoil it for our friends back home who’ve spoiled all those other films over the years…
In addition to our fave superheroes, we also get another universe’s superhero, a couple more from Japan, and one each from France, New Zealand, and India. They’re all gonna rock like Korg!
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Mirage
海市蜃楼
hǎi shì shèn lóu
aka Durante la tormenta
Director: Oriol Paulo
Actors: Adriana Ugarte, Chino Darín, Javier Gutiérrez
China Release Date: Thursday, March 28, 2019
Note: this film is in Spanish with Chinese [and possibly English] subtitles
We are loving this trend of Netflix movies being released in China and hope to see many more in the coming months.
Two storms separated by 25 years. A woman murdered. A daughter missed. Only 72 hours to discover the truth. Just wow.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
The Blind Melody
《调音师》
diào yīn shī
aka Andhadhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Actors: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte
China Release Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Note: this film is in Hindi with Chinese subtitles
Another critically acclaimed Bollywood film comes to China! Releasing on a Wednesday, so the theatres will be empty.
Akash, a blind pianist, is preparing for a London concert. Sophie’s scooter bumps into Akash and upon finding out he’s a pianist, she takes him to her restaurant run by her father and offers him a job.
Akash meets 70s actor Pramod Sinha at the restaurant who asks him to do a private concert of his songs at his residence to surprise his wife Simi. The next Day upon reaching his house a shocking surprise is waiting for Akash.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Shazam!
《雷霆沙赞！》
léi tíng shā zàn
Director: David F. Sandberg
Actors: Zachary Levi, Michelle Borth, Djimon Hounsou, Mark Strong, Asher Angel
China Release Date: Friday, April 5, 2019
We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise fourteen-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam.
We’ve heard good things about this one so far, and the critics seem to like it, too! Might be a fun family viewing this weekend.
Friday, April 5, 2019
Into the Rainbow
《源·彩虹》
yuán cǎi hóng
Directors: Norman Stone, Gary Wing-Lun Mak
Actors: Willow Shields, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Bruce Hopkins, Archie Kao
China Release Date: Friday, April 5, 2019
This joint production between New Zealand and China will most likely be in English with some Chinese thrown around here and there.
When teenagers Rachel and Grace travel inside a super-powered rainbow to China, they disturb nature’s balance. Using Rachel’s connection to the energy of the rainbow and with help from their new friend Xiao Cheng, they must race against time to save the Earth.
Friday, April 12, 2019
The Crimes That Bind
《祈祷落幕时》
qí dǎo luò mù shí
aka 祈りの幕が下りる時
Director: Katsuo Fukuzawa
Actors: Hiroshi Abe, Junpei Mizobata, Rena Tanaka
China Release Date: Friday, April 12, 2019
Note: this film is in Japanese with Chinese subtitles
Michiko came to Tokyo to visit Hiromi, but is instead found murdered. The renter of Michiko’s place is missing. The police is having a hard time finding clues and solving the case.
There are not any clues and a connection between the dead and absent is not forthcoming. The only hint is an item found near the corpse, but it complicated the matters because it makes the file personal to one of the detectives assigned to the murder.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Tall Tales: The Magical
Kingdom of Antoon Krings
《虫林大作战》
chóng lín dà zuò zhàn
aka Drôles de petites bêtes
Directors: Arnaud Bouron, Antoon Krings
Actors: Justin Long, Kev Adams, Anne Tilloy
China Release Date: Saturday, April 13, 2019
Note: this film is in French with Chinese subtitles
Also note, this poorly reviewed cartoon is from over two years ago.
When Apollo, a cricket with a big heart, arrives at the village of small animals, he does not delay disrupting the life of the Kingdom, on the eve of the jubilee of the Queen resulting in a massive conspiracy.
Your kids might like this one, but you probably won’t.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Papillon
《巴比龙》
bā bǐ lóng
Director: Michael Noer
Actors: Charlie Hunnam, Rami Malek, Damijan Oklopdzic, Christopher Fairbank
China Release Date: Friday, April 19, 2019
Released last year, wrongfully convicted for murder, Henri Charriere forms an unlikely relationship with fellow inmate and quirky convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega, in an attempt to escape from the notorious penal colony on Devil’s Island.
And it has new Oscar winner Rami Malek.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Bleach
《境·界》
jìng jiè
Director: Shinsuke Sato
Actors: Sôta Fukushi, Hana Sugisaki, Ryô Yoshizawa
China Release Date: Friday, April 19, 2019
Note: this film is in Japanese with Chinese subtitles
A Japanese teenager can see ghosts and sees a cute girl fighting an evil monster. He ends up with her reaper power and she as human in his high school class.
He discovers a connection between his mom’s death and these monsters. Soooo mysterious!
Friday, April 19, 2019
Wonder Park
《神奇乐园历险记》
shén qí lè yuán lì xiǎn jì
Director: –
Actors: John Oliver, Kenan Thompson, Ken Keong, Sofia Mali, Jennifer Garner, Ken Hudson Campbell
China Release Date: Friday, April 19, 2019
June, an optimistic, imaginative girl, discovers an incredible amusement park called Wonderland hidden in the woods. The park is full of fantastical rides and talking, funny animals – only the park is in disarray.
June soon discovers the park came from her imagination and she’s the only one who can fix it, so she bands together with the animals to save this magical place and bring back the wonder in Wonderland.
No idea why this one doesn’t have a director listed. Maybe they’re too ashamed?
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Avengers: Endgame
《复仇者联盟4：终局之战》
fù chóu zhě lián méng sì zhōng jú zhī zhàn
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Actors: Robert Downey, Jr., Everyone Named Chris, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Brie Larson, Winston Duke, Karen Gillan, Bradley Cooper, Josh Brolin, et al
China Release Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2019
An entire country will be going to the midnight showing of this, so get your tickets early! Nuff said.
The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, Avengers: Endgame.
Thanks to imdb.com, douban.com, all the movies’ websites, and Wikipedia for the information used. And a huge thanks to the team at Culturability. They consistently write useful content. Follow their WeChat platform by scanning below:
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