CRI听力:Jonh Woo's "the Crossing" to be Released in December

Director John Woo's new film "the Crossing" is slated for release on December 2.

It will be the first of two installments that complete the story.

It is a war film based on real historical events that people call "the Chinese Titanic".

Woo says the film is about hope, that no matter what happens, things will turn out fine in the end.

"I wanted to make a film that showed a turbulent period in modern history to show how love can overcome and survive all difficulties. I want the audience to be inspired to live life to the fullest, to understand that life can and should be filled with beauty."

The story is set in 1949, when a ship carrying nobles, officials and refugees capsized on its way from Shanghai to Taiwan.

It spans a time period of 50 years, as three couples live through the war and overcome their differences to find true love.

The film was shot on the Chinese mainland, in Taiwan and in Japan.

Chinese, Japanese and South Korean actors star in the film, including Zhang Ziyi, Huang Xiaoming, Takeshi Kaneshiro and Song Hye-kyo.