The Academy Award-winning romantic musical film "La La Land" will be re-released in China this December.
A moviegoer shows off her ticket to the special screening of "La La
The film, written and directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, and Rosemarie DeWitt, follows the story of a jazz musician and an aspiring actress who meet and fall in love in Los Angeles but struggle to stay together.
"La La Land," with a record-tying 14 nominations, was the biggest winner at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017, taking home six trophies. The film won awards for best director, best actress (for Emma Stone), best cinematography, best production design, best original song ("City of Stars"), and best score. Director Chazelle, at the age of 32, became the youngest filmmaker ever to win an Oscar for best director.
Besides its wins at the Oscars, "La La Land" also received numerous awards worldwide. It garnered seven wins at the Golden Globes, was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the top 10 films of 2016, and won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture.
The film went on to achieve tremendous success both critically and commercially, dominating major film festivals and award ceremonies throughout the year it was released. With a global box office revenue exceeding $472 million, it also made more than 247 million yuan ($35.91 million) in ticket sales in China alone. This remarkable performance solidifies its position as the third highest-grossing musical in the world's second-largest market.
Chazelle sent a video message to greet Chinese audiences for their love and support during a special promotional screening held in Beijing on Dec. 18 ahead of the film's re-release. Actor and pop singer Zhang Xincheng sang "City of Stars" live at the event. In front of the teary-eyed audience, which included film industry insiders, Zhang expressed his love for the film, revealing that he had watched it nine times.
But he was overshadowed by a movie fan in the audience from Hunan province, who said he had purchased tickets to see the film a staggering 24 times.
Chinese distributors want to cash in on the movie's enduring market potential, its long-lasting emotional impact, and the widespread nostalgia that accompanies the heartwarming holiday atmosphere at the end of the year. However, they also hope that Chinese audiences, who have matured in the years since its debut, will discover and experience something new when rewatching it on the big screen.
The film is scheduled to be released in China on Dec. 22 through the Nationwide Alliance of Arthouse Cinemas.
