NEW YORK, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Acclaimed Chinese director Jia Zhangke's new film, Ash is Purest White, will be shown in U.S. theaters starting from March 15.
The film will be released in select theaters in the United States, according to Cohen Media Group, which has acquired its U.S. distribution rights.
New Yorkers can enjoy the film at Film Society of Lincoln Center and Quad Cinema.
The film, whose Chinese name translates to "Sons and Daughters of Jianghu," follows the turbulent lives of a gangster couple over a 17-year period. In the story, a young dancer Qiao is in love with her boyfriend Bin, a small-time gangster. During a fight between rival gangs, she fires a gun to protect him. Qiao gets five years in prison for this act of loyalty. Upon her release, she goes looking for Bin to pick up where they left off.
The film premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival, as the only representative of Chinese cinema in the official competition. It was widely shown in Chinese cinemas last September.
Jia, born in north China's Shanxi Province in 1970, is widely regarded as one of the leading figures of the "Sixth Generation" of Chinese filmmakers. He rose to acclaim with his debut feature, Xiao Wu (Pickpocket), in 1997. Since then, his works have premiered at the major film festivals including the Cannes and Venice film festivals.
