Beijing, November 15, 2012-Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB) and Huayi Brothers Media Co., Ltd today announced that Back to 1942 (China release: November 29, 2012) will be the first Chinese film mixed and released in Dolby Atmos, the new audio format that has revolutionized the experience of sound in entertainment. The film will be mixed at China Film Studio, one of the worlds first studios with Dolby Atmos capability."We are very excited that Huayi Brothers and director Feng Xiaogang have selected Dolby Atmos for the Chinese blockbuster Back to 1942. Dolby Atmos is one of our most significant innovations in recent years and represents the future of entertainment," said Mike Chao, Managing Director, Greater China, Dolby Laboratories. "Dolby is both thrilled and honored to bring the full range of our technology and innovation to support the development of Chinas motion picture industry."
Dolby Atmos brings audiences an extremely lifelike and immersive cinema experience.
"We are so proud that Back to 1942 is the first Chinese film in Dolby Atmos," said Feng Xiaogang, the widely acclaimed film director at the helm of Back to 1942. "Ive always been striving to make breakthroughs in my new film, from storytelling to production. Dolby Atmos is a wonderful tool that enables us to do just that."
"In this film, which addresses both the Chinese peoples past and future, Dolby Atmos will transport moviegoers right into the year 1942," said Wang Zhonglei, President, Huayi Brothers Media Co., Ltd. "Dolby Atmos allows us to present an even more realistic story with an amazing audio experience that not only excites the ears but also touches the heart."
Chen Fei, CTO, China Film Co., Ltd., commented: "We see strong potential for such a breakthrough audio platform, which is why we selected Dolby Atmos for our China Film Giant Screen theatres. The Dolby Atmos mixing of Back to 1942 is exceptionally exciting and fulfilling, and we are proud to have the first postproduction facility in China. We can now draw people right into the scene with the sounds of planes flying overhead, wind whispering from all directions, and much more."
The list of theatres selected to show Back to 1942 in Dolby Atmos will be made available closer to the release date on dolby.com.cn and Dolbys Sina weibo page @Dolby.
About Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos brings a powerful new listening experience to the cinema with more natural, realistic sound that truly envelops the audience. It is an end-to-end solution that helps mixers, studios, and distributors dramatically improve the audio experience. The Dolby Atmos platform makes it easy for content creators to create immersive soundscapes, and it ensures the best possible audience experience, regardless of theatre configuration or the number of speakers. Hollywood studios including Disney/Pixar (Brave), Paramount Pictures/DreamWorks Animation (Rise of the Guardians), Twentieth Century Fox (Taken 2, Chasing Mavericks, Life of Pi), and Warner Bros. (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) have adopted the Dolby Atmos format, increasing the count of 2012 Dolby Atmos titles to six.
In 2013, three titles, including Gravity and Pacific Rim from Warner Bros. and Star Trek into Darkness from Paramount Pictures, are already scheduled to receive the Dolby Atmos treatment, with additional studio titles to follow.
International movie productions are currently in the works or will be started in 2013 by movie studios in China, France, Germany, India, Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Acclaimed Singapore director Jack Neos movie Ah Boys to Men was recently released in Dolby Atmos. Back to 1942 joins the growing list of international titles soon to be announced.
About Back to 1942
In 1942, Henan province was devastated by the most tragic famine in modern Chinese history, resulting in the deaths of at least three million men, women, and children. Although the primary cause of the famine was a severe drought, it was exacerbated by locusts, windstorms, earthquakes, epidemic disease, and the corruption of the ruling Kuomintang government.
At night, hundreds of famished farmers descend with sickles and torches on the household of landlord Fan (Zhang Guoli) in North Henan province. He holds the final stocks of grain in Laozhuang village. Afraid of the angry mob, Fan prepares a banquet for them in his own home. But old feuds break out, and his property is burned to the ground in an accidental fire.
Meanwhile, war is about to break out between Japanese troops and Nationalist forces in North Henan. The provinces full supply of grain is to be diverted to the Chinese troops. Realizing the danger, provincial chairman Li Peiji (Li Xuejian) pays a visit to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek (Chen Daoming) in Chongqing, but he lacks the courage to speak up.
Homeless and hungry, landlord Fan is forced to join the millions of refugees who are walking to Shaanxi province, where they have traditionally sought refuge in times of crisis. He is among the most fortunate, with his own donkey and cart to carry his 16-year-old daughter, Xing Xing (Fiona Wang); his loyal servant, Shuang Zhu (Zhang Mo); and his tenant Hua Zhi (Xu Fan).
On the perilous journey south, marching in the opposite direction from the Chinese army, Fan encounters three men facing a crisis: impassioned American journalist Theodore White (Adrien Brody), chef-turned-judge Old Ma (Fan Wei), and Father Simeone (Zhang Hanyu), who is losing his faith in God and turns to the pragmatic Italian priest, Thomas Megan (Tim Robbins), for advice.
As the weeks pass, the social differences between Fan and his servant Shuang Zhu steadily evaporate. They dream of a future after the war when they can rule as landlords together. Fan does the unimaginable and sells his own daughter-who begs for the opportunity to eat-to a brothel for a few quarts of millet. Shuang Zhu, w
