Chinese filmfest kicks off Jan. 20 at Shangri-La Plaza

MANILA, Philippines - Suffused with desire for freedom and democracy, the populace is emboldened to pursue the dream — no matter the cost.

Nope, not the Philippines, or even America. This is turn-of-the-century China.

Bodyguards and Assassins is a multi-awarded film about the days leading up to the 1905 Hong Kong arrival of one Sun Wen (or Sun Yat-Sen), a revolutionary who is set to meet with Tongmenghui members endeavoring to overthrow the corrupt Qing dynasty. The Tongmenghui (United League) is composed of Chinese students which sponsored uprisings in China.

Set against this historical backdrop, Bodyguards and Assassins follows the adventures of characters both factual and fictional as they try to overcome the inevitable effort of the Qing ruler, Dowager Cixi, to thwart the meeting by sending a team of assassins to kill Sun Wen.

Businessman Li Yutang surreptitiously supports the revolution as a financier and through his China Daily paper, yet is aghast upon learning his only son Li Chongguang is overtly involving himself in street protests against the dynasty.

As the story unfolds, ordinary citizens are slowly conscripted to the task of assuring the safety of the revolutionary — even if it means forsaking their own lives. Rickshaw pullers, a beggar, an orphaned teenager and even a hulking tofu vendor (played by former NBA player Mengke Bateer) all volunteer to act as unlikely bodyguards ranged against lethal assassins. There’s lots of drama, action and more action — happening in impressive sets that make you believe we are not a day beyond the 1900s.

The multi-awarded 2009 Hong Kong flick megged by Teddy Chen is in Mandarin, yet is subtitled for its run here in the Philippines. This and five more films — Ocean Heaven, Lost on Journey, Country Wedding, Confucius, King of Milu Deer — are part of the 2012 Chinese New Year celebration cooked up by Shangri-La Plaza, together with the Ateneo de Manila University Ricardo Leong Center for Chinese Studies, Confucius Institute, Ateneo Celadon, Credit Suisse and the Chinese Embassy.

The Spring Film Festival is the sixth staging of the yearly smorgasbord that is aimed to “help and encourage the Filipino youth understand and appreciate Chinese culture.”

From Jan. 20 to 29, the public can watch these films for free. For inquiries, call 633-7851 local 113, or visit www.shangrila-plaza.com.