Scottsdale International Film Festival 2008

The sky is indeed the limit for brainy cosmology student Liu Xing (Liu Ye) who leaves his Beijing home to work alongside his scientific idol, Dr. Jacob Reiser (Aidan Quinn) at an American university. However, co-mingling superstring theory with the indefinable, immeasurable topic of “dark matter” becomes an obsession and proves to be both Liu Xing’s greatest academic challenge -- as well as the ultimate metaphor for the darkness lingering just below his own surface. When a former academic rival arrives seeming far more at ease in embracing Western culture, he threatens Liu’s position as Professor Reiser’s pet. Liu realizes that his dream to find a definitive proof for his theory, win a Nobel Prize, and marry a quintessential blonde-haired, blue-eyed American wife is jeopardized by university politics and academic egos. Based on a 1991 incident at the University of Iowa, the structurally operatic film is divided into headings of the five elements and marks the feature filmmaking debut of internationally renowned theatrical director Chen Shi-Zheng. In addition, it features a wonderful performance from Meryl Streep as a supportive university benefactress whose own love of Chinese culture makes her the natural choice to take the department’s international students-- especially Liu-- under her wing. ~ Jen Johans

Francie Noyes will moderate a 30-35 minute post-film discussion with the audience.

AWARDS: Sundance Film Festival – Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize