“...a homage to the New York
canvas of Woody Allen and –
significantly – Sofia Coppola’s
LOST IN TRANSLATION.”
- John Higgins,
FilmandTVNow
"An engrossing film about
all too human people living
in a foreign urban landscape…
and their reactions to
love, loss, and relationships.”
- Catrin Collier,
Wales International Film Festival
“...a surefire hit for fans of Lost in Translation.”
- Spencer Hawken,
The Romford Film Festival
“One of the best meaningful
indie films of the year.”
- sftfilmreview
A B O U T
A failed product copywriter (Drago Lazetich) with an alcohol dependency crosses paths with a mysterious stranger (Émilie Ohana) on a personal mission and together they embark on an unforgettable adventure across the neon-lit Shanghai.
Inspired by Richard Linklater’s “Before Sunrise” and Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation” and filmed entirely on location in Shanghai, China, “Shanghai Story” is a throwback to 90s independent cinema.
“Shanghai Story” is the feature film debut of director/writer Andrej Iliev.
It features many of the city's iconic sights (Shanghai Tower, Nanpu Bridge, Nanjing Road, The French Concession, The Bund, Park Hotel, Pearl Tower, Lujizaui Financial District) as well as previously unseen hidden places of Shanghai (Ruins at Shikumen).
Download the 2023 Electronic Press Kit
T R A I L E R
D I S C O V E R T H E F I L M
INT. TOP OF SHANGHAI TOWER, NIGHT
They sit down and stare ahead, the whole city spread out in front of them.
David
You were right. It's fucking terrible.
Alice
(laughs)
David
(looks at her)
You really like it, huh?
Alice
When you're up here and you look out... the way the city glows.
It's like someone lit a million candles,
just for you.
EXT. SHANGHAI STREET, NIGHT
Alice and David bike down the road, this time right next to each other.
Alice
Do you have family here?
David
Family is best apprieciated from afar.
Alice
Well, as long as it's there to appreciate.
EXT. NANJING ROAD, NIGHT
Alice leads with her map, David follows.
David
Are we walking all the way?
Alice
You know what they say - they say if you haven't seen the city at night, you haven't seen it at all.
David
I've seen it. Day and night.
EXT. SHANGHAI STREET, NIGHT
Alice keeps her eyes on the map, while David
drags behind like a little schoolboy.
Finally, he catches up to her.
David
Hey, what's the deal with the map?
（No answer）
David
What's at the end of it?
(No answer)
David
Can I hold it?
Alice
No.
EXT. PEOPLE'S SQUARE PARK, NIGHT
After the show is over, they lie on their backs and gaze at the moon.
Alice
Do you ever think of getting back to writing?
David
(thinks for a moment)
Yeah
Alice
So?
David
Who am I kidding? I had my chance.
Look at me. Look what I do for a living.
Alice
Why do you care? If that's what makes you happy...
David
Writers are not supposed to be happy, don't you know that?
They laugh.
EXT. ST. IGNACIUS CATHEDRAL, NIGHT
David and Alice sip beer at the steps of the cathedral.
David
Hey, do you know that this church could
hold up to twenty-two-thousand christians?
Alice
That's a lot of christians...
David
(takes a sip)
Fuckloads.
