Chen Kaige looks to cast out demons with new epic

The movie has been adapted from a popular Japanese fantasy novel and features Chinese stars Huang Xuan and Liu Haoran, and Japanese actor Shota Sometani, as well as Chinese mainland actresses Zhang Yuqi and Zhang Tian'ai, and Taiwan actress Sandrine Pinna.

The movie tells the story of a Buddhist monk who teams up with a poet to explore the mysterious death of Yang Yuhuan, the most-beloved concubine of Tang Dynasty emperor Li Longji, who reigned from 685 to 762.

"There are always viewers who don't like my movies, and I'm fine with that. Movies are my faith, and they encourage me to endure the controversies, to go forward, and never to become mediocre," says Chen during the event, speaking about online speculation over the movie.