YOUR SUMMER PALACE UPDATE

Lou Ye's SUMMER PALACE continues to exist in a state of uncertainty and disagreement between the Chinese and French co-producers ("They should really stop talking to journalists. Lou Ye is here in Cannes, happy, and the film is being screened for the press." says Sylvain Bursztejn in Variety). But the press screening has gone ahead, leading to a series of reviews.

Variety has panned it.

Time Out New York panned it too.

The Hollywood Reporter has praised it.

Pete Timmerman loves it, too, although he said the theater was about a quarter full for the screening he caught. Which is a little empty for a new movie from a director who has had two films (SUZHOU RIVER and PURPLE BUTTERFLY) released in the West.

(Thanks to the sharp-eyed reader who emailed me these links)