娱乐英语新闻:First China-DPRK film to screen in China

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The first film co-produced by China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will be screened in China from Aug. 3, its producers announced here on Monday.

The film, "Meet in Pyongyang," is also the DPRK's first co-production with a foreign country since it was founded in 1948.

Setting in modern-day Pyongyang, the DPRK capital, it tells the story of a young Chinese female dancer, majoring in Korean folk dance, meeting a Korean counterpart in an exchange program and quickly befriending her, said China's Shirzat Yakup, who co-directed the film with Kim Hyong Chol from the DPRK.

The Chinese girl goes onto encourage and assist the Korean dancer to pursue her love of a young Korean man.

"Meet in Pyongyang" captured the interests of audience and critics at the Shanghai International Film Festival in June, as it offers a rare glimpse of the contemporary DPRK capital and features an encounter of two young people from different backgrounds having different ideas about art and life.

The film has drawn an enthusiastic response since its premiere in the DPRK on June 27.

Chinese actress Liu Dong, who plays the Chinese dancer, told media at the premiere in Pyongyang that she was impressed by the professionalism and artistic virtue of DPRK dancers and film workers.

The two countries' film industries have cooperated in various ways and achieved great progress over the past few years, said Li Wei, deputy director of China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, at the press conference.

To advance the traditional friendship between Chinese and DPRK people, filmmakers in the two countries should maintain regular exchanges and jointly present more excellent work, Li suggested.

"Meet in Pyongyang" opened the door of co-production between the two countries, added Pak Chun Nam, DPRK vice minister of culture, at the same press conference.

DPRK filmmakers will work with Chinese counterparts to create more quality works, he vowed, adding that filmmaking in DPRK has moved into a new stage with the application of digital filming technologies.

With "Meet in Pyongyang" as a successful example, film administrations in the two countries can further cooperate in production, technological upgrade and screening, Pak Chun Nam said.

DPRK films had a large following in China some decades ago. For example, "The Flower Girl," released in 1972, is fondly remembered by many Chinese older citizens.