At the beginning of each month, CFI posts a comprehensive list of Chinese film screenings in NYC. Here is what to see in March.
Theatrical Releases
New Releases:
Maineland (Dir. Miao Wang, 1 hr 30m, China/USA, 2017)
Opens 03/16 at AMC Empire 25
Chinese teenagers from the wealthy elite who have big American dreams settle into a boarding school in small-town Maine. As their fuzzy visions of the American dream slowly gain more clarity, their relationship to home takes on a poignant new aspect.
Still in Theater:
Operation Red Sea 红海行动 (Dir. Dante Lam, China/Hong Kong/Morocco, 2018, 138 min)
Screens at AMC Empire 25
The film is loosely based on the evacuation of the 225 foreign nationals and almost 600 Chinese citizens from Yemen’s southern port of Aden during the 2015 Yemeni Civil War in late March. This film is said to be the “China’s First Modern Naval Film.” Watch the trailer HERE.
Detective Chinatown 2 唐人街探案2 (Dir. Chen Sicheng, China, 2018, 120 min)
Screens at AMC Empire 25
A follow up to the Chinese hit “Detective Chinatown,” the new film reunites writer/director Chen Sicheng and stars Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran. When the case of New York Chinatown godfather Uncle Qi’s missing son turns into a murder investigation, the detective duo Tang and Qin team up again to hunt down the killer—this time with some help from the International Detective Alliance. The main cast also includes Xiao Yang, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Michael Pitt and Japanese star Tsumabuki Satoshi. Watch the trailer HERE.
The Monkey King 3 西游记女儿国 (Dir. Pou-Soi Cheang, China/Hong Kong, 2018, 116 min)
Screens at AMC Empire 25
As Tang Sanzang (Feng Shaofeng) and his three proteges head into the all-female territory in the Xi Liang nation known as Women’s Country, they meet the ruler of the country (Zhao Liying). On Sun Wukong (Aaron Kwok)’s suggestion, Tang Sanzang pretends to marry the ruler and lies that his three students will go to fetch the scriptures in place of him. The film is the third installment of the Monkey King franchise, after The Monkey King (2014) and The Monkey King 2 (2016). Watch the trailer HERE.
Agent Mr. Chan 栋笃特工 (Dir. Jeff Cheung Ka-Kit, Hong Kong/China, 2018 )
Screens at AMC Empire 25
Mr. Chan was the top agent. Unfortunately, he has been removed from duties right after a mission failure, his partner made a mistake and offended the policewoman Ms Shek unintentionally. 20 years after, Ms Shek has no choice but put the problems aside to ask Mr. Chan giving her a hands for solving a mysterious case. With the evidence to show this case has been involved with a Cyber Goddess. Mr. Chan is inevitably to make up himself in a sloppy appearance, the situation become out of control. Watch the trailer HERE.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS & SERIES
Police Story (Dir. Jackie Chan, 101mins, Hong Kong, 1985, )
March 9-15 at Metrograph
A bone-cracking landmark in Hong Kong beat-‘em-up action, Police Story stars director Jackie Chan as Ka-kui/Kevin, an inspector assigned to protect a key witness (Brigitte Lin) in a drug case from the agents of her former employer, a task which will require him to dangle from a speeding bus by umbrella, go through (conservative estimate) one billion plate glass windows in the film’s department store finale, and maintain the affections of his fickle girlfriend, May (Maggie Cheung). Chan never looked better as a full-body performer—and his performance looks better than ever in this brand new restoration by L’Immagine Ritrovata Hong Kong.
The Magic Blade (Dir. Chu Yuan, 1 hr 37 mins, Hong Kong, 1976)
March 11 at Quad Cinema
A near-perfect mixture of swordplay, fantasy, martial arts, heroic bloodshed, and more Ti Lung greatness than any moviegoer could ever ask for, in some of the best choreographed fights in wuxia history. It remains one of the true classics of the Shaw Brothers library.
Crippled Avengers (Dir. Chang Cheh, 99mins, Hong Kong, 1978)
March 11 at Quad Cinema
Crippled Avengers may be the ultimate movie featuring the martial artists known as “The Venom Mob.” Warlord Chen Kuan-Tai goes insane after his enemies kill his wife and cripple his son. He proceeds to maim anyone who crosses his path. Four of his victims unite to seek bloody vengeance.
The China Hustle (Dir. Jed Rothstein, 84 mins, USA, 2017)
March 27 at IFC Center
An unsettling and eye-opening Wall Street horror story about Chinese companies, the American stock market, and the opportunistic greed behind the biggest heist you’ve never heard of. Now, as the Trump administration seeks to deregulate banks even more, The China Hustle sounds an urgent alarm.
