First Trailer for Zhang Yimou's Chinese Spy Thriller 'Cliff Walkers' (Exclusive)

Jessica Kiang When the urgent desire to make something beautiful overrides the desire to tell a particular story — and when you are Zhang Yimou, rebounding from a run-in with the Chinese authorities over your last picture, “One Second” — you might end up with a film like “Cliff Walkers.” A gorgeously snowbound period spy movie insulated beneath layers of contorted plotting just as its cast is swaddled in snow-speckled winter furs and fedoras, the film is a muddle of a plot wrapped around a

Zhang Yimou's spy thriller Cliff Walkers was the best reviewed new release to open over China's lucrative May Day holiday weekend, but it was far from the biggest earner. Youth romance My Love, from Beijing Enlight Pictures, overcame withering reviews to dominate the start of the long holiday frame, earning $65.1 million from Friday to Sunday.

Rebecca Davis editorZhang Yimou’s snowy period spy thriller “Cliff Walkers” debuted in China this Labor Day holiday weekend with $37.7 million. But it was outrun by local rom-com “My Love,” which took a comfortable box office victory.That tale of young love starring Taiwan’s Greg Hsu and Zhang Ruonan of the popular TV show “Cry Me A Sad River” opened Friday to earn $65.1 million over three days, according to data from Artisan Gateway.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefZhang Yimou’s “Cliff Walkers” is kicking off a multi-territory release this weekend, with day and date outings in North America, New Zealand, and Singapore coordinating with the espionage thriller’s official launch in mainland Chinese theaters on Friday.That makes it one of the first major Chinese pictures to take advantage of the improving theatrical conditions in the U.S.

Rebecca Davis editorMove over, “Nomadland” — Italy’s “Pinocchio” is now set to become the first film nominated at this year’s Oscars to hit China.Although Chloé Zhao’s film nabbed best picture and two other major prizes at the Academy Awards on Sunday, it was pulled quietly from its planned China release on April 23 in the wake of nationalist backlash against her there.

Rebecca Davis editorChinese authorities are investigating top Chinese actor Zheng Shuang for tax evasion and a sky-high salary exceeding government-approved limits, the Xinhua news agency said Wednesday.

Rebecca Davis editorThe organization Chinese in Entertainment, the non-profit behind the Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival (LACFF), is changing its name to remove the word “Chinese” after internal discussions about the political implications of the term.After some soul-searching, the team decided that the new name Sino Entertainment Association (SEA) would be better aligned with its goal of championing inclusivity and diversity.

Ten years after his last documentary, “I Wish I Knew” (screened in Un Certain Regard, Cannes 2011), acclaimed Chinese auteur Jia Zhang-Ke (“Ash Is Purest White,” “A Touch of Sin“) returns to non-fiction with “Swimming Out Till the Sea Turns Blue,” the final panel in his trilogy about the arts in China. It follows Venice winners “Dong” (2006) and “Useless” (2007).

Another classy Chinese action thriller whose dazzling style seems to take place in a deliberate narrative void, Cliff Walkers (previously titled Impasse) marks leading Chinese director Zhang Yimou’s first foray into the espionage genre.

Four days before its premiere, Netflix is giving fans the trailer for its highly anticipated anime series, .Inspired by the little-known tale of a legendary Black samurai,  follows a real-life man of African origin who served under the Japanese lord Oda Nobunaga in the 1500s.

Director Zhang Yimou returns to theaters this weekend with Cliff Walkers, an espionage thriller set in 1930s China. It’s a change of tone for the director of Shadow, House Of Flying Daggers and Hero, who also helmed Matt Damon-starrer The Great Wall in 2016.

An Oscar-nominated actor is lending his voice to Netflix’s action-packed new trailer for “Yasuke”.

Lakeith Stanfield brings the legend of Yasuke, the real-life Black samurai in feudal Japan, to screen in the trailer for Netflix and MAPAA’s latest anime.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefSouth Korean media were quick to celebrate the Oscar win, as best supporting actress in “Minari,” for veteran Yuh-jung Youn. It was a first ever acting win for a Korean actor.

Chloe Zhao completed her awards season sweep on Sunday, taking home the Academy Award for Best Director for her stunning 2020 film, “Nomadland”. With the win, Zhao becomes the first woman of colour, and second woman ever, to take home the Oscars’ top directing honour.

Chloe Zhao completed her awards season sweep on Sunday, taking home the Academy Award for Best Director for her stunning 2020 film,.

Chloe Zhao made history Sunday night at the 93rd Academy Awards as she became the first Asian woman and woman of color to take home the Oscar for best directing. The Nomadland helmer also became the second woman ever in the award ceremony’s history to win the directing award, following The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow in 2010.

Oscars history.The 39-year-old filmmaker is the first Asian-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director, taking home a golden statuette for “Nomadland” Sunday.“My entire ‘Nomadland’ company what a crazy once-in-a-lifetime we’ve been on together.