Bi Gan's latest film earns 100 million yuan in presale

World
Europe

Emerging Chinese director Bi Gan's second feature, "Long Day's Journey Into Night," which shares its name with Eugene O'Neill's famous drama, has earned more than 100 million yuan in its presale box office according to the latest reports, smashing the records for art house movie presales along the way.

The film is set to open in Chinese theaters on December 31 this year and be released worldwide in 2019.

Starring Tang Wei, Huang Jue, Li Hongqi, and Chen Yongzhong, the film received a positive response at this year's Cannes Film Festival, where it screened in the "Un Certain Regard" section, with many focusing on the second half of the film which is an unbroken hour-long shot filmed in 3D.

(L-R) Cast member actor Huang Jue, actress Tang Wei, director Bi Gan, actor Chen Yongzhong and Li Hongqi attend a press conference for the film "Long Day's Journey Into Night" in Beijing, October 26, 2018. /VCG Photo

As of now, over 250,000 people expressed their will to watch it on Dazhong Dianping, a Chinese consumer review app.

In a previous interview, director Bi Gan said he chose New Year's Eve for the film's release because, "I hoped to choose a day that has both desperation and hope. So I picked the last day of 2018. We'll see if it can survive until the next day."

(Top Photo: The poster for "Long Day's Journey Into Night."/VCG Photo)