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24 hours to promote A Day On The Planet

Japanese screen sweetheart Rena Tanaka, in Hong Kong to promote her new film at the 28th Hong Kong International Film Festival, said the box office hit Infernal Affairs was her favourite recent movie.

Tanaka, and director Isao Yukisada, are among the overseas stars and directors invited to the festival. Their new movie, A Day On The Planet, shown last night at the Cultural Centre, is one of 12 films selected for the Indie Power section of the festival.

Tanaka, who was a star of popular TV series GTO, arrived yesterday for a one-day trip.

'I love the Infernal Affairs story ... although the Andy Lau [Tak-wah] and Tony Leung [Chiu-wai] characters are in different situations, they have similar difficulties facing them,' she said.

Tanaka was last in Hong Kong three years ago to promote her film First Love. Although she had no time to get around the city yesterday because of her brief stay, she said watching films like Infernal Affairs gave her an idea of how the city had changed.

A Day On The Planet is a light-hearted film about a group of Japanese university students celebrating their friend's entry to graduate school in Kyoto.

Before meeting the audience at last night's screening, Yukisada said: 'Japanese tend not to laugh at the cinema no matter how funny the film is.

'I want to see if people in Hong Kong would have a good laugh tonight.'

Yukisada, recognised as one of the most talented young directors in Japan, said that he loved stories about young people.

His last film GO! was about a young and rebellious Japanese-born Korean.

'I want to make this kind of film while I'm young,' he said. 'I want to share my experience as a youth with people.'

Hong Kong star Leon Lai Ming, honorary ambassador of this year's HKIFF, and festival director Peter Tsi Ka-kei, presented souvenirs to the two guests.

There will be one more screening of A Day On The Planet, on April 18.

Call Urbtix on 27349009 for ticket details.

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