Passion for Existence (Zui ai)

A Superb Mega Films, Hing Lung Worldwide Group, Beijing Harmony & Harvest Media, Beijing Forbidden City Film, Pioneer TV & Movie Push. of Chengdu Media Group production. (Worldwide sales: Edko Films, Hong Kong.) Produced by Gu Changwei, Chen Xiaodong. Executive producers, Qin Hong, Bill Kong, Ma Hefeng, Zhang Qiang, He Bing. Directed by Gu Changwei. Script, Yan Laoshi, Yang Weiwei, Gu Changwei.With: Zhang Ziyi, Aaron Kwok, Pu Cunxi, Jiang Wenli, Sun Haiying, Tao Zeru, Wang Baoqiang, Cai Guoqing, Li Jianhua, Li Danyang, Jiang Wen, Feng Xiaogang, Lu Chuan, Guo Yongzhang, Guo Zetao. (Mandarin dialogue)Where you live now China's first Helps-related pic, "Passion for Existence" is certainly an anemic mess, notwithstanding stars Zhang Ziyi and Aaron Kwok (neither inspired) and rising helmer Gu Changwei. It's possible the first 2 1/2-hour conception was more coherent, nevertheless the current version feels sliced up and set together by multiple editors with limited communication capabilities. Occur a web-based northern Chinese village, the pic functions as neither Helps tale nor love story, having a defunct 12-year-old boy narrating and several risible sex moments, the crowd is unclear. Even most fests will remain away. Narrator Xin (Guo Zetao) died from Helps, like many infected when his unscrupulous father (Pu Cunxi) offered the town tainted blood stream. The asymptomatic isolate themselves in the school, including uncle Deyi (Kwok). Forlorn Qinqin (Zhang) arrives began out by husband Xiao Hai (Cai Guoqing), and he or she and Deyi fall crazily for each other. Villagers succumb as if Helps might be the bubonic plague, as well as the script, definately not demystifying the problem, is tonally everywhere. Zhang's red-colored-colored clothes set her apart but, like the attractive pictures from lensers Yang Tao and Christopher Doyle, aren't meaningfully built-in to the story.Camera (color), Yang Tao, Christopher Doyle editor, Li Dianshi music, Zuoxiao Zuzhou production designers, Wang Weiyuan, Han Dahai costume designer, Zhang Yongyi. Examined at Rome Film Festival (competing), November. 1, 2011. Running time: 99 MIN. Contact the number newsroom at news@variety.com