Chow Yun Fat and Liam Neesom Star in Film on Chinese Railroad Workers
The influx of movie goers in China has caused Hollywood to take notice and it is no surprise then that 20th Century Fox has decided to work with China Film Group to produce Tragedy of the Chinese Laborers <華工血淚史>. The film stars 57-year-old Chow Yun Fat (周潤發) and Liam Neeson as railroad workers in the United States in the 19th century.
The Emerging “Chollywood”
Over the past few years, the Chinese film industry has experienced an unprecedented boost. China has already replaced India as the world’s second largest film producer. No matter how much Westerners may scoff at the Chinese censorship system, they cannot ignore that China has become the world’s second largest box office, after the United States.
Last year alone, the Chinese spent more than 17 billion RMB on movies, with half of the sales spent on Hollywood movies. As such, this has attracted Hollywood and worldwide film companies eager to woo Chinese movie-goers.
Tragedy of the Chinese Laborers
In the 1980s, Taiwanese director King Hu (胡金銓) had already expressed interest in filming the controversial treatment of Chinese railroad workers in the United States in the 19th century. Because of the lack of funds, filming was delayed and eventually the film was not made because of his passing.
In 2005, it was reported that Fox obtained the filming rights and has invited award-winning Irish actor, Liam Neeson to take part. However, filming was shelved due to funding problems as well as the lack of special effects support. Last year, Fox invited China Film Group to invest in Tragedy of the Chinese Laborers. The latter agreed, with the condition that the majority of filming to be done in China.
The struggles of the Chinese railroad laborers in the United States in the 19th century may finally come to light with the materialization of the movie. With a budget of $150 million USD, the movie will be directed by critically acclaimed Indian director, Shekhar Kapur, who was behind the Academy award-winning film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, starring Cate Blanchett.
Tragedy of the Chinese Laborers will recount the trials and tribulations of Chinese and Irish workers who were sold to the United States for the construction of railroads in the 19th century. The story will revolve around 5 Chinese laborers who were tricked to participate in the construction of the California Union Pacific Railroad for free. Fat Gor will play the leader of the Chinese workers, who not only has to fight for their rights, but also face off competition from the Irish workers, headed by Liam Neeson. The movie will also star Fan Bingbing (范冰冰) as Fat Gor’s love interest.
In preparation for filming to commence in August this year, China Film Group is ready to start preparing a railroad in northeastern China for the movie. Director Shekhar Kapur will also fly to China early to oversee the arrangements. Filming will take place in the United States and Canada.
Source: Sharp Daily
This article is written by Karen for JayneStars.com.
I love Liam Neeson and this seems like a interesting cast w/an even more interesting era. I watch almost all of LN’s works, Taken movies n among others, quite an entertaining action star even at his age.
Fan Bing Bing seriously she is way TOO YOUNG for Chow Yun Fat. They should have picked Maggie Cheung Man Yuk.
-sophia
CYF seems very meaty and puffier now so i think even Maggie Cheung seems too young next to him. hahaha but i guess FBB does look like father/daughter but you know older men are always pairing up w/young stars. I remember Francis Ng, that HK film king or whatever, hes always pairing up w/young women even around beginning 20’s and i find it odd like a chinese metaphor ‘ goldfish man ‘ ahhaha… but hey they are still pairing up like thats so totally weird…
Cheung Man Yuk doesn’t have as much draw in Hollywood or China as Fan Bing Bing does. The investors has invested so much money in this movie they want to make sure the cast can draw as much audience as they possibly can.
FBB has the love from Hollywood.
Yes i like Liam Neeson. He is very talented.
LIAM NEESON<3 Chow Yun Fat (check) then theres FBB… why? She's too young for CYF IMO
Usd150 million.. Usd20 million will be Chow Yuen Fatt’s paycheck, wonder how much tax does he need to pay to the us govt
Carina Lau would have been nice
Chow Yun Fat and Liam Neeson, definitely high class actors. I’m still impressed with Schindler’s List.
Fan Bingbing, who? Why the producer not cast prominent names like Zhang Ziyi or Gong Li or Michelle Yeoh for that role?
Just want to point out that China definitely has not surpassed India in number of films produced. India makes more movies a year than the US and produces more movies than any country in the world. If China surpassed India, that would mean China produces the most movies in the world. China is most likely third behind India and US.
I can only hope that the CCP doesn’t brainwash the world with their version of overseas Chinese history. I bet you they have Fan Bing Bing speaking mandarin in her role instead of Cantonese. Most people during this era came from Guangdong region and not from the North. But the film makers don’t care abt accuracy, its whatever rakes in the cash 🙁