CGTN Europe interviewed Karen Krizanovich, a film journalist, broadcaster, and writer
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00:00The film journalist Karen Krasanovich is secretary of the London Film Critics Circle.
00:05Karen, welcome back. Good to see you.
00:07Well, this is shattered box office records.
00:09What's the secret of its success?
00:12Well, there's a lot to be said for the secret of its success.
00:16I think it's several different elements.
00:18Number one, the film came out.
00:20I mean, already the first film was a big success.
00:22The second one came out at exactly the right time at the Chinese box office,
00:26which is the new year, big time for cinema going.
00:29It's got a terrific back story.
00:31We've got a young pharmacist, started out as a pharmacist.
00:34His name means dumpling.
00:36Josie, the director who had several successful shorts.
00:40It took him six years to make this film.
00:42He's been living with his mother after his father died, living on her pension.
00:46It's just it's a wonderful, wonderful back story.
00:48And also he's channeled a lot of his energies into using Maya software,
00:52which makes the film look very, very bright and smooth and sharp.
00:57So a lot of new technology there, combined with an old story
01:01that also matches a lot of modern day sentiments.
01:04Let's talk about the money, because this is the first non-Hollywood film to pass one billion
01:10and the first film globally to do so in a single market.
01:13How significant is all of that?
01:16That's hugely significant.
01:18I mean, I think China has been looking at the success of Chinese based films.
01:25I mean, roughly like Kung Fu Panda, things like that.
01:28And wondering, you know, how can we do that?
01:30And I think that this is an example of them trying.
01:34And I think that it's number one, animation means that a family can go and see it for the most part.
01:40Number two, it's bright, it's colorful, and kids are used to it.
01:44And it also has a very conservative, a lot of the story is quite conservative.
01:49It's based on a folklore, folklore tale.
01:53So I think all of those elements also make it significant in terms of just storytelling in general,
02:00no matter which country it's from.
02:02Okay, well this is opening in U.S. cinemas after this huge success in China.
02:08Does success in one territory necessarily mean it's going to be a big hit somewhere else?
02:14No, it doesn't automatically.
02:17But if it gets the right marketing and the right press,
02:20which I think everybody wants to see a movie that's made this much money,
02:24I think that certainly bodes well for this film.
02:27But you have to remember that in order for the film to be a huge success,
02:32it has to appeal to an enormous demographic.
02:35And a lot of people are finding the film too sentimental.
02:38Now, I haven't seen it, I've only seen the trailer.
02:41So the important thing is to go and see it and have your own opinion.
02:45Some analysts are suggesting that this film's success really does signal a shift
02:49in Chinese audience preferences away from Hollywood movies.
02:54Do you think it does?
02:57I think Chinese audiences want to see something good like all cinema-going audiences.
03:03And I think if it's available and the word of mouth is hot, they will definitely go.
03:08I don't think it's necessarily a shift,
03:10but it certainly will open up their minds to more locally created fare.
03:15Karen, good to see you. Thank you for that.
03:17Karen Krasanovich, the film journalist.