Watch King of Peking

King of Peking is a Chinese film released in 2017. Directed by Sam Voutas, the film features Jun Zhao, Wang Naixun and Qing Han in lead roles. The movie is set in modern-day Beijing but invokes nostalgia from the bygone era of Chinese cinema. This is a touching story about a struggling Beijing projectionist named Zheng, who moves into a run-down apartment with his young son, Deng. After his wife leaves him, Zheng takes on a job as a pirate DVD maker and becomes obsessed with making a better life for his son.

The movie opens on an impression of a lavish and stunningly beautiful old cinema with its chandeliers and high ceilings, against which the people of a small town are projected. The projectionist, Zheng (Jun Zhao), is shown executing his duties, no matter his job. He is someone who believes in real cinema, rather than pirated DVDs, at a time when personal cinemas are becoming the fad.

When he gets laid off, he refuses to give up his love for cinema and ends up running a private cinema in an old theatre, which could be understood as his final dream. As a janitor during the day, he manages to screen classic movies in his personal theatre at night, using a pirated DVD player and a projector.

His dream comes true because of his six-year-old son, Deng (Wang Naixun). Deng is a charming boy, who helps his father with running the beautiful classic movie theatre. They practice lines from Zhang Yimou's classic film 'Raise the Red Lantern', which was the peak of Chinese film art and the spearhead of the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, in which Deng reigns "king of Peking."

One day, a powerful marketing executive from a cinema chain approaches them with a proposal to screen the latest hits. Zheng seizes the opportunity with both hands, success is still not guaranteed, but he knows that if he can do this, he can give his son a quality life in Beijing.

But when a copy fails during a screening, Zheng is blamed and ostracised, even by his close friends, who share little with him in the traditional Chinese idea of a friend as family. Ironically enough, he becomes a pirate DVD copy-salesman and does this to pay the mounting financial costs following the court case.

The plot is beautifully woven around family and cinema, making for a touching tale where both love and cinema are praiseworthy causes capable of inspiring an individual to lead an entire life of work, determination, and dreams. The filmmaker never lets the father-son relationship overshadow the cinematic plot entirely, instead showing how every individual's passion contributes to a more substantial cause, even though the cause may not have universal importance.

The movie has many well-crafted moments of emotional power, like when Zheng tries to impress his son by decorating the theatre without any budget or when Deng cooks for his father the way his mother used to, leaving him both touched and amused. The tear-jerking moments add to the story's emotional play, constantly improving the story's overall quality.

King of Peking is not an overt criticism of modern China, but it's one that opposes a simple line of conduct, deepening the conventional concerns for the missing concept of friendship, dignity and pursuing one's dreams.

The movie's primary theme is family and sacrifice, whether it's Zheng sacrificing everything to give his son a better life, Deng sacrificing his youth to help his father with the theatre's administration, or the people of the small town sacrificing everything so that the movie could be made. It's an excellent film that will take you on a beautifully emotional ride of family, cinema, and the incredible magic that happens when these two themes combine.

In conclusion, King of Peking portrays a delightful tale of how cinema can be an essential part of our lives. It's a heartwarming story of a father and son's love, dreams, and passion. The story is relatable for anyone who has ever had to overcome hurdles while trying to pursue their dreams while navigating social relationships with friends and loved ones. It's a must-watch for all cinephiles and for those who cherish family ties.

King of Peking is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.