The new film by Hong Kong director and actor Stephen Chow, Kung Fu Football, will open in cinemas in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland on October 23. The picture will be screened both in its original language and in a new English dub, on which Chow himself worked alongside actors Jimmy O. Yang and Emsie Jin.
In China, where the premiere took place on July 11, the film became the highest-grossing title of the summer season, taking around $349 million. In August it was released in Southeast Asian countries. Stephen Chow returns to the theme of combining sport and martial arts 25 years after the release of Shaolin Soccer, the picture that brought him worldwide fame.
At the centre of the plot is the women's football team "Emei", which everyone considers an underdog in the fight for the main cup. To win, the players, under the guidance of their coach, combine football skill with kung fu techniques. The role of the team captain is played by Zhang Xiaofei, known from the Chinese blockbuster Hello, Mom, and the star striker is played by Dilraba Dilmurat. The cast also includes Takeru Sato and Karina Lau.
Distribution in the West is handled by the Singapore-based company Encore Films. Its managing director, Joyce Lee, told journalists that Stephen Chow's films have always overcome language and cultural barriers thanks to their combination of action, comedy and warmth.
Letters