Despite being just wrapped up and not yet finalized, “The Alley” directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Chan and starring mainland Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has already become one of the most anticipated Chinese-language films of the year.
“The Alley” unveiled a new poster on April 11, announcing its selection in the non-competition section of the 77th Cannes International Film Festival. In the poster, Zhang Ziyi as “Mrs. Zhan” made her first appearance, marking the film’s official cast announcement.
From the initial preparation to the completion of filming, “The Alley” took nearly 10 years, with a star-studded cast including Zhang Ziyi as the lead actress, along with actors like Lei Jiayin, Wang Chuanjun, Jackson Yee, Zhao Liying, Yang Mi, Peng Yuchang, Da Peng, Li Xian, and Fan Wei, making it one of the most luxurious line-ups in mainland Chinese cinema in recent years.
Last month, Zhang Ziyi attended the wrap-up party of “The Alley” with her children. During her speech, she choked up, revealing that when director Peter Chan first told her about the film while she was pregnant with her second child with singer Wang Feng, many changes had occurred since then. However, the director always considered her as the only choice for the lead role in the new film.
While actors, especially A-list stars, are usually more concerned about which director they collaborate with, their roles in the film, screen time, influence, and even their pay, top-tier stars like Jackson Yee, Zhao Liying, and Yang Mi were willing to play supporting roles in this film.
According to reports from mainland Chinese media, these A-list stars chose to be part of the project not only because of the reputable director Peter Chan but also because “The Alley” aims at the international market. Peter Chan had revealed at the Busan Film Festival in October 2022 that the film would be directly streamed on overseas platforms. The project seemed to have smoothly passed the domestic approval process, as it was announced earlier that the film would be released within the year, indicating no issues with obtaining the required film screening permit in China.
In a recent interview with the fashion magazine “ZhiZu GQ,” Peter Chan and Zhang Ziyi discussed that “The Alley” explores the concept of “critical points,” whether in marriage or relationships. Although they hadn’t worked together before, Peter Chan had invited Zhang Ziyi to join the project in 2015. Despite the long hiatus, when the project restarted, he immediately sought Zhang Ziyi without hesitation, tailored the role specifically for her, stating, “We never hesitated, and neither did she.”
When asked about the challenges of portraying the character “Mrs. Zhan,” Zhang Ziyi revealed that she did extensive research, delving into historical materials, even studying books like “Independence and Belonging: The Spiritual History of New Women in the Republic of China” to understand the mindset and actions of women in that era. To delve into the theme of “critical points,” she watched numerous documentaries and studied books on criminal psychology.
Regarding their collaboration, Peter Chan mentioned that they occasionally had disagreements, saying, “When discussing the script, we may not always agree.” He described Zhang Ziyi as someone who would come up to him every morning on set and discuss how a scene should be performed, showing differing opinions among the team.
Peter Chan’s account indicates that he is a director open to diverse opinions, and Zhang Ziyi is not merely a compliant actress who just follows the script; she also expresses her views on the script and performance details, engaging in communication with the director.