Zhang Guoli will play the role of a Sicilian bureaucrat in "Everybody's Fine." (Photo : Zimbio)
The Chinese remake of the classic Italian film 'Everybody's Fine" will hit local theaters on Jan. 15.
The family drama, helmed by renowned director Giuseppe Tornatore, follows the story of a Sicilian bureaucrat who visits his five adult children in the Italian mainland who all claim to be "fine."
Back in 2009, an all-star cast including Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale and Drew Barrymore starred in an earlier remake of the film.
According to Ma Ke, the producer of the Chinese version, he fell in love with the story when he first watched the Italian film. He added that he immediately planned to adapt it into Chinese, citing that titles with family emotions greatly stir the emotions of moviegoers.
During a promotion in Beijing, Ma said: "Parental love has no national boundary. Many Chinese children go far away from their hometowns to build careers. We want to record that emotion."
"We even believe Chinese people are better able than Westerners to understand such subtle feelings," the producer added.
Ma also revealed that the acquisition of the adaptation copyright took him two years. It was through the involvement of renowned Hong Kong film producer Zhang Meng that the agreement was finally reached.
Zhang, who also helmed the Chinese remake, remarked: "It didn't matter if the film was an Italian or American version--both revealed the typical social issues of their times, like the generation gap and young people's painstaking efforts to start their careers."
Zhang said that local moviegoers can very much relate to the story as it presents issues that are also faced by the members of the Chinese society.
"The father figure in the film will be a typical Chinese father, which I believe will remind moviegoers of their own," the director stated.
The role of the father will be played by Zhang Guoli. He will be joined by popular young-generation actors Yao Chen, Shawn Dou, Ye Yiyun and Chen He.
