LOCO Films has acquired worldwide sales rights to Chinese director Zhang Ming’s latest film The Pluto Moment (Ming Wang Xing Shi Ke), which premieres in the 50th Directors’ Fortnight of Cannes Film Festival.
Shot in the forestry district of Shennongjia in Hubei province, The Pluto Moment follows the journey of a group of filmmakers. In search of inspiration for his new script, based on The Tale of Darkness (A traditional local song of mourning), director Wang Zhun, his savvy producer Ding Hongmei, young actor Bai, and photographer Du Chun, trek a long way into the unpredictable weather of the mountainous region. The journey brings them unexpected physical challenges, while also bearing witnesses to the subtle emotional ebs and flows of the protagonists; they become caught in a dilemma between action and inaction. They are like the people from ancient times, trapped in darkness and looking for answers. Unfortunately, these men and women do not possess the mental strength of the ancients. Even when compared with the common villager, these urbanites appear to be weakened by inertia. The film chronicles their actions and depicts their hopes of an escape from a dim future; their effort is akin to probing in darkness.
冥 王 星 时 刻 | The Pluto Moment
Director Zhang Ming was born in Chongqing, and is the representative of the Sixth Generation of Chinese directors. He finished his debut In Expectation in 1996, which subsequently premiered in the Berlin Film Festival. In 2001, ZHANG directed the film Weekend Plot, which was invited to film festivals in Tokyo, Busan, Berlin, Rotterdam and others. His prior work includes Before Born (2005), The Father (2006), The Bride (2008), Folk Songs Singing (2011) and China Affair (2013).
The producer Shen Yang has been working extensively with true talents of Chinese cinema, including Golden Bear winner Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014) and widely praised Chinese arthouse film of 2015 Kaili Blues. She is also the producer of Bi Gan’s new film Long Day’s Journey into Night, which has been selected by the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section of the 71st Festival de Cannes.
Wang Xuebing, who previously appeared in Black Coal, Thin Ice (2014) and box-office hit White Haired Witch (2014), plays Wang Zhun, a depressed director who relies on the journey to rejuvenate his professional career, as well as his personal life. Liu Dan (Night Train, 2008) , Zeng Meihuizi (Summer Palace, 2006) , Miya (Kong Fu Yoga, 2015) also co-star in this film.
冥 王 星 时 刻 | The Pluto Moment
The film is being presented by iQiyi Motion Pictures and Way Good Entertainment Co., Ltd. LOCO Films, the Paris-based world sales and production company, created by Laurent Daniélou and Enrique Gonzalez Kuhn, is handling the international sales for the title. Parallax Films, the Chinese boutique company that supports director driven films, is handling the festival PR for The Pluto Moment.