IFFAM: Chinese ‘Hide and Seek’ Remake Competes in Macao
The Chinese-language remake of 2013 Korean thriller “Hide and Seek” screened for an overseas audience for the first time at the International Film Festival and Awards Macao on Saturday.
Produced by Village Roadshow Pictures Asia, the local production arm of Village Roadshow group, the film is directed by Golden Horse winner Liu Jie (“Courthouse on Horseback”) and stars Wallace Huo Jianhua (“The Imperial Doctress”) and Qin Hailu (“The Crossing”.)
"Genre movies (like “Hide and Seek”) are generally not very big in China. When we first saw the Korean original, however, we thought the film had real insights into social issues and that (despite it being a genre movie) it would do well in China,” said Ellen Eliasoph of VRPA at a press conference held ahead of the film’s international premiere.
"I wanted to direct this film, because it deals with very realistic social issues and fears which Chinese people tend to ignore or turn their heads from. It is very important not to ignore current issues in China such as the class struggles presented in ‘Hide and Seek.’ This film is an attempt to deal with such fear,” said Liu.
"There are things that ought to be done. If you don’t do it and ask the censors what to do and what not to do, you’ll be a failure. You just should do it,” said Liu, as he was asked whether there was any difficulty dealing with the censorship in China.
The film theatrically opened in China on Nov. 4 and has made a total of $10.3 million.