China Century Entertainment and the ImaginAsian Theatre are pleased to announce a new screening series of Chinese films from the library of China Century.

Screenings will take place bi-weekly on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 noon beginning October 8.

January 5-9, 2006 we will be a part of the fifth New York Times Arts and Leisure Weekend (this year expanded to five days), and will present daily screenings with two-for-one admission for New York Times Readers.

The series will culminate in a weeklong festival in celebration of Chinese New Year the week of January 29.

In recognition of Chinese National Day (October 1), the series will launch with two highly political films about the founding and early development of the People’s Republic of China:

December 3
Journey to the Western Xia Empire
Director: Lu Wei
1997, Color, 110 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

In the ancient China, it was not unusual to collect a tax in a form of human life. This was called a blood tax. Soldiers sent by the emperor to a village to collect this tax in the form of ten male babies to be trained as warriors. After losing one of the boys, the commander conscripts a pregnant woman. After she gives birth to a boy, he claims the child and leaves her alone in the desert. Unexpectedly, she follows the soldiers to take care of her son. Her bravery and perseverance through unbelievable adversity earns her the respect of the commander who finally risks his own life and honor to return her son to her.

December 4
Swordsmen in Double Flag Town
Director: He Ping
1990, Color, 90 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

Honoring his father's dying words, a man comes to the dusty desert village of Double Flag Town to claim his bride. Everyone looks down upon him because he looks inept and ignorant. When he kills a man who is attempting to rape his bride, he provokes the wrath of the Lethal Swordsman who is the rapist's brother and also the most awesome killer. Will our hero choose to escape with his bride or face the Lethal Swordsman? This is the highly stylized martial-arts film. Kind of Sergio Leone meets Hiroshi Teshigahara.

December 17& 18
Narrow Lane Celebrities
Director: Cong Lianwen
1985, Color, 90 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

A humorous but poignant depiction of three disparate families who normally shun each other's company, yet live close to each other in a typical, post-Revolution, narrow lane in western Sichuan Province. China's infamous Cultural Revolution forces them to put their prejudices aside in a desperate fight for their own individuality and survival. The story outlines the many humiliations Chinese citizens endured during the Cultural Revolution and what they did to survive.

New York Times A&L Weekend Films (January 5-9)
*Daily screenings with 2-for-1 admission for New York Times readers

January 5, 2006
Woman Demon Human
Director: Huang Shuqin
1987, Color, 115 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

A girl born in the "theatrical trunk" grows up under the lights of her parents' Peking Opera Company. This complete immersion into theatrical life naturally leads her to the stage. She is trained by her father to play traditional roles. Her dream was to be the first woman to play the more significant male roles. This was completely against tradition. She suffers discrimination and humiliation, but in the end turns adversity into admiration when she becomes the first woman to play a great mythical hero in Peking Opera, defying all tradition and destroying all precedents. Breathtaking performances and cinematographic artistry create a powerful and visually stunning tale. No less could be expected from the masterful hand of the brilliant female director, Huang Shuqin.

January 6, 2006
A Soul Haunted by Painting
Director: Huang Shuqin
1993, Color, 130 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

Based on the true story of a Chinese painter, Pan Yuliang(Gong Li), whose work was celebrated in Paris yet rejected at home. At fifteen years old, she was sold into prostitution. Her life changes when she marries with a high official. Through her husband, she finds expression in western painting, and furthers her studies in Paris. Although highly respected in Paris, it wasn't until after her death did she find the acceptance at home that she so desperately sought.

January 7, 2006
Woman Sesame Oil Maker
Director: Xie Fei
1992, Color, 106 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

This award-winning film is masterfully directed by Xie Fei. A beautiful film that boasts strong performances by one of China's most revered stars, Siqin Gaowa and a brilliant supporting cast.
A beautiful, intelligent woman seeks comfort from the stress of her business, a violent, alcoholic husband, and a mentally retarded son in the arms of another man. When the young girl she has arranged to marry her son discovers her affair and responds with sympathy rather than disapproval, she feels remorse. In an attempt to free the girl, she offers to dissolve the marriage. The young girl, however, is reluctant. She fears that no one can love her. Two women at the mercy tradition and circumstance, take control of their lives by supporting on another.

January 8, 2006
Outcast
Director: Yao Shougang
1986, Color, 110 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

In the midst of the Cultural Revolution, an innocent teenage girl volunteers to take care of a baby boy whose father is sent to the countryside to reform. Her decision is misunderstood and causes her to be shunned by everyone, even by her parents and her fiance. As a result, after the father is sent to a prison camp, she is forced to raise the child alone. The film focuses on the injustice, even madness of the times.

January 9, 2006
Early Spring
Director: Yao Shougang
1963, Color, 110 mins / in Mandarin with English subtitles

In 1926 many young Chinese intellectuals were confused when confronted with the various philosophies of the time and what direction to follow. A young high school teacher falls in love with his landlord's daughter, but his conscience forces him to decide to marry a poor widow left destitute after the death of her son. This decision causes him to be attacked personally and the widow to drown herself because of shame. These events drive him to plunge into the tide of revolution.

All tickets are $8. Screenings take place at the ImaginAsian, 239 East 59th Street, between Second and Third avenues.

China Century Entertainment Inc. is an independent U.S. company maintaining offices in Elk Horn, Iowa, U.S.A. and Shanghai, China. Established in 1996 to define and broaden the market for Chinese cinema in North America, CCE developed strong relationships with many important film studios in China to provide a dependable source of previously unavailable Chinese films with good English subtitles to North American audiences.

The ImaginAsian is New York City's premier Asian American theater. The film and entertainment center is solely dedicated to showcasing Asian and Asian American cinema and culture.

For further information, please contact Liza Case, 212 865 0164.