Hamlet in Ancient China

As a way of ushering in the second semester of the current school year with a big
bang, the UP Film Institute holds a special full run of The Banquet hailed as the
year’s first important gem of world cinema to reach Philippine screens.

The latest starrer from Ziyi Zhang and the Official Hong Kong Selection for
Best Foreign Language Film at next year’s Oscars will be shown on Nov 3 Fri
and Nov 4 Sat at 2 and 5 p.m. and then again on Nov 6 Mon and Nov 7 Tue
at 2, 5 and 7 p.m. for the full convenience of all interested audiences.

Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet transposed to Ancient China during the
so called period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, The Banquet is the tale of
an empire in chaos with the late emperor whose mysterious death sets off a journey
in the imperial court of loyalty and betrayal, conspiracy and slaughter, love and
hatred. At a night banquet, the new emperor, the empress, the crown prince,
the minister and the general all have their respective enemies to finish off.

From award-winning director Feng Xiaogang, The Banquet stars leading
Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang, Hong Kong heartthrob Daniel Wu, master actor
Ge You (Farewell My Concubine) and another internationally acclaimed
Chinese actress Zhou Xun (Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress).

The Banquet (Ye yan)
A Viva International Pictures Release of a Creative Products Presentation
An empire is thrown in chaos after its emperor mysteriously dies and his younger
brother takes over the throne and becomes husband to the bereaved empress.
Winner of Special Mention for Digital Future Award—2006 Venice Film
Festival; Official Selection—2006 Toronto IFF; Official Hong Kong Selection
for Best Foreign-Language Film—2007 Annual Academy Awards
Direction: Feng Xiaogang. Screenplay: Qiu Gangjian, Sheng Heyu. Cast: Zhang
Ziyi, Daniel Wu, Ge You, Zhou Xun.
2006 131 minutes 35mm color
Mandarin with English subtitles

Always watch UP Film Institute screenings and be kept informed of all UP Film Institute’s forthcoming attractions.
Be especially alert of added screenings day by day.
Program is subject to change without prior notice.
For queries, interested parties may call cinema hotline 9263640, 9262722 (telefax).
Or e-mail upfilminstitute@hotmail.com and be most actively part
of the country’s first established online film community.

University of the Philippines Film Institute
(Member, CILECT/International Association of Film and Television Schools)
Plaridel Hall, Ylanan Road, UP Diliman, Quezon City
Tel: 9818500 (UP Trunkline) local 2669, 2670; 9206863 (Telefax)
Cine Adarna, Magsaysay and Osmena Avenues, UP Diliman, Quezon City
Tel: 9818500 (UP Trunkline) local 4286, 4289; 9262722 (Telefax)