Fascination with Existence (Zui ai)

An Outstanding Mega Films, Hing Lung Worldwide Group, Beijing Harmony & Harvest Media, Beijing Forbidden City Film, Pioneer TV & Movie Push. of Chengdu Media Group production. (Worldwide sales: Edko Films, Hong Kong.) Created by Gu Changwei, Chen Xiaodong. Executive producers, Qin Hong, Bill Kong, Ma Hefeng, Zhang Qiang, He Bing. Directed by Gu Changwei. Script, Yan Laoshi, Yang Weiwei, Gu Changwei.With: Zhang Ziyi, Aaron Kwok, Pu Cunxi, Jiang Wenli, Sun Haiying, Tao Zeru, Wang Baoqiang, Cai Guoqing, Li Jianhua, Li Danyang, Jiang Wen, Feng Xiaogang, Lu Chuan, Guo Yongzhang, Guo Zetao. (Mandarin dialogue)Landmass China's first Helps-related pic, "Fascination with Existence" is definitely an anemic mess, notwithstanding stars Zhang Ziyi and Aaron Kwok (neither inspired) and rising helmer Gu Changwei. It is possible the initial 2 1/2-hour conception was more coherent, however the current version feels sliced up and put together by multiple editors with limited communication abilities. Occur an online northern Chinese village, the pic functions as neither Helps tale nor love story, with a defunct 12-year-old boy narrating and many risible sex moments, the audience is unclear. Even most fests will stay away. Narrator Xin (Guo Zetao) died from Helps, like many infected when his unscrupulous father (Pu Cunxi) offered the city tainted bloodstream. The asymptomatic isolate themselves inside a school, including uncle Deyi (Kwok). Forlorn Qinqin (Zhang) arrives started out by husband Xiao Hai (Cai Guoqing), and she or he and Deyi fall madly in love. Villagers succumb as though Helps may be the bubonic plague, and also the script, not even close to demystifying the condition, is tonally everywhere. Zhang's red-colored clothes set her apart but, such as the attractive pictures from lensers Yang Tao and Christopher Doyle, aren't meaningfully built-into the storyline.Digital camera (color), Yang Tao, Christopher Doyle editor, Li Dianshi music, Zuoxiao Zuzhou production designers, Wang Weiyuan, Han Dahai costume designer, Zhang Yongyi. Examined at Rome Film Festival (competing), November. 1, 2011. Running time: 99 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com