'Snowpiercer' to hit China's big screen

"Snowpiercer", a sci-fi thriller directed by the Republic of Korea (ROK)'s Bong Joon-ho, will open to Chinese audiences on March 17.

The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world, as the last remaining members of mankind struggle to survive on a Noah's Ark-like train.

According to China Film Group, the movies's importer, the film is based on French sci-fi comic Le Transperceneige in which the entire human race is almost destroyed because of a failed experiment to reverse the impact of global warming.

As an international co-production made by the United States, Franceand the ROK, it is the most expensive Korean film ever made with an estimated budget of 39.2 million US dollars.

According to Mtime.com, a major Chinese movie information website, Chinese audiences will see a near complete version with one minute of deletions, mostly scenes of violence.

The film's cast includes Oscar winners Tilda Swinton and Octavia Spencer. Ed Harris, John Hurt, Chris Evans and Jamie Bell also star in the movie. Bong Joon-ho and lead actor Song Kang-ho have many fans in China, who have described their movie Memories of Murder as one of the best thrillers to be made.