By Li Zhenran, researcher of Chinese and foreign film and television cooperation and special commentator with Panview

The 6th Beijing International Film Festival is set to raise its curtains on April 16. The movie "Book of Love" with Tang Wei and Wu Xiubo, starring, and directed by Xue Xiaolu was selected as the opening film of this year's festival.

The movie "Finding Mr.Right" had reigned at the top of the Chinese love movie box office in 2013. Three years later, the original cast members have returned.

The director had spent two years preparing the movie script. Wu Xiubo and Tang Wei, popular Chinese actor and actress, are considered a national couple and have cooperated again. The story is an emotional dialogue, instead of a sequel to "Finding Mr.Right."

It still features love between different regions and warm-heartedness as the main elements.
 
Coincidental meeting brings warmth

In "Finding Mr.Right," the story develops from a Chinese woman giving birth in Seattle, USA. But, the film "Book of Love" follows a different story line, which portrays the intersection of love letters written by the hero and heroine who have never met.

The lovers seek a coincidental meeting. Yet, it is difficult to present a relationship when the hero and heroine have never seen each other. But the film's screenwriter holds his ingenuity to overcome such plot challenges, by narrowing the distance between the couple through letters.

A similar approach was used in the movie "A Love Story" and "Love Letter," which had proven effective. The "Book of Love" differs, since many other roles and events apart from letters are added to spark a special relationship between the two.

The audience may ask, will the couple meet in the end? The communication by letters, conveying information by a third party, the hero and the heroine's emotions are slowly intensified, reflecting the cast members' minds.  

Homesickness brings warmth

Many settings of home and family-life have appeared in the movie, which are embodied by letters and Chinese traditional poems and poetry that highlight oriental history; guiding the audience to a quiet, calm and warm pilgrimage.

Warm-heartedness under noisy settings

The heroine is not a mistress, but employed as a public relations person for Macau casinos. She behaves calm and seeks a warm space, amid the hustle and bustle of her professional career.

She has encountered many people and suffered shocking events at the casino, but still maintains a quiet mood, whether she meets a handsome guy, a rich middle-aged man, or gentleman.

She confronts numerous temptations and pleasures and remains a good moral person. She just waits to meet her ideal soulmate.

Real settings create warmth

Compared with "Finding Mr.Right," the story background is set more closely to reality. The film depicts true practical feelings in how characters solve problems dealing with emotional entanglements. The "Book of Love", doesn't get involved with marriage or international issues.

It presents a love between a couple who are unrelated, but have a complex friendship. Many young people want perfect love, but face the distance between cities, and distance between peoples' hearts. How to cure love between such long distances?

The movie depicts love found by accident, and not through seeking. The audience is expected to feel sincerity and artistic sense. Winning by diligence; moving by sincerity.

The "Book of Love" had assembled many super actors and actress, including Paul Chun, Kara Hui, Wang Zhiwen, Lu Yi, and Liu Zhihong. The movie was filmed in Macao and US cities to present a unique and beautiful romantic story.

The film will be released on April 29, and is expected to dazzle attendees at the 6th Beijing International Film Festival as well.

Li Zhenran, researcher of Chinese and foreign film and television cooperation and special commentator with Panview

( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

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