Direct Appeal?

Renowned director Chen Kaige’s new film Legend of the Demon Cat once again generated polarizing comments from audiences. The movie, adapted from a Japanese fantasy novel, features a Tang Dynasty (618-907) poet teaming up with a Japanese monk to investigate the sudden death of the beloved concubine of Emperor Li Longji. As one of China’s fifth-generation of modern directors, Chen devoted himself to exploring fantasy, poetry, reincarnation and destiny, but most scarcely registered with moviegoers. After his epic drama Farewell My Concubine, which was awarded the Palme d’or in 1993, Chen made a string of box office flops, including The Promise (2005) and Monk Comes Down the Mountain (2014). Six years in preparation and production, the new film seems to be an effort to revive his reputation. Chen says the days are gone when films were simply treated as art, but the film industry is still thriving, and he always tries to rebuild an ideal world in his productions.