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• • Part of DFI Cinema, the Chinese Film Week presents compelling selection of crime thrillers and evocative dramas to be screened from Nov 3-7 at the Museum of Islamic Art
• • John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow, Bruce Lee’s Way of the Dragon, Xiaogang Feng’s Back to 1942, Jia Zhangke’s Still Life, Yimou Zhang’s Coming Home, Jackie Chan’s Police Story and Ann Hui’s A Simple Life on showcase

Doha, Qatar; October xx, 2016: A selection of award-winning films from China and Hong Kong will be screened by the Doha Film Institute at the Museum of Islamic Art auditorium, to mark the Qatar-China 2016 Year of Culture. From November 3 to 7, 2016, audiences in Qatar will have an opportunity to discover China’s rich and diverse cinematic traditions that highlight the vibrancy of films from the country.

Part of DFI Cinema, the Chinese Film Week celebrates the cultural ties between Qatar and China in support of the Years of Culture initiative organised by the Qatar Museums, and highlights the Institute’s ongoing commitment to strengthen film appreciation and provide diverse cultural perspectives to the local community.

The selection includes John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow, Bruce Lee’s Way of the Dragon, Xiaogang Feng’s Back to 1942, Jia Zhangke’s Still Life, Yimou Zhang’s Coming Home, Jackie Chan’s Police Story and Ann Hui’s A Simple Life. Each film presents a distinctive style, and are bound to entertain audiences of all ages.

The series begins on November 3, 7.30 PM with John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow (1986). Starring Ti Lung, Leslie Cheung and Chow-Yun-fat, the film has had a significant impact on Hong Kong’s film industry, and has been ranked second in the list of Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures. The story of a reforming ex-gangster trying to reconcile with his estranged policeman brother picked up a slew of awards including the Hong Kong Film Award 1987 for Best Picture.

On November 4 at 4.30 PM, watch legendary martial artist Bruce Lee’s directorial venture Way of the Dragon (1972) that stars Lee with Chuck Norris and Nora Miao. An action comedy, the film is about a man who visits his relatives at their restaurant in Italy, where he defends them from some brutal gangsters. The film won the Golden Horse Award 1973 for Best Film Editing.

Also on Nov. 4, 7.30 PM is the screening of the compelling historical film Back to 1942 (2012) directed by Feng Xiaogang. Starring Guoli Zhang, Hanyu Zhang and Wei Fan, the film is based on a novel by Liu Zhenyun about a deadly drought that wreaks havoc in China’s Henan province during the war against Japan. It won a number of honours at the Beijing International Film Festival 2013, Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Shanghai Film Critics Award, among others.

Jia Zhangke’s Still Life (2006) will be screened on November 5, at 4.30 PM. Making its premiere at Venice Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion for Best Film, it stars Tao Zhao, Zhou Lan and Sanming Han. Still Life is an evocative drama that is set in Fengjie county, which is being gradually flooded to make away for The Three Gorges Dam. The film unfolds through the eyes of a man and woman, who are visiting the town to locate their estranged spouses.

At 7.30 PM, discover the marvel of the historical drama Coming Home (2014) by Zhang Yimou. Starring Chen Daoming, Gong Li and Zhang Huiwen, the film premiered at Cannes Film Festival. Based on the novel by Geling Yan, the film is about a devoted couple, Lu and Feng, who are forced to separate when Lu is arrested and confined to a labour camp as political prisoner during the Cultural Revolution. He returns home to discover that Feng suffers from amnesia and their daughter, who aspired to be a ballerina, now works as a textile worker.

Gear up for some high-wattage action with actor Jackie Chan’s much-loved Police Story (1985), screening on Nov. 6, at 7.30 PM. Playing the lead role of the Hong Kong police detective Kevin Chan Ka-Kui, it went on to win the Best Film honour at the 1986 Hong Kong Film Awards. Chan considers the film as his best action film, where he plays a cop who must clear his name when drug lords frame him for the murder of a dirty cop.

The special event concludes on Nov. 7, 7.30 PM with the screening of the heart-warming film A Simple Life (2011) by Ann Hui. Starring Andy Lau and Deanie Ip, it has won several honours including the Best Actress Award for Ip at Venice Film Festival, where it was an official selection in competition. The film is about an altruistic maid, who decides to quit her job after suffering from a stroke, and moves to an old people’s home.

Tickets are priced QAR 35, and can be purchased in person from the MIA Box Office or online at www.dohafilminstitute.com