Film Premiere Features Gangs, Illegal Immigrants, Racial Prejudice and Jackie Chan in Shinjuku Incident

Shinjunku Incident premieres in the United States in select theaters for a limited run on Friday, February 5, 2010. Originally produced by Emperor Films for the Asian market, it has been brought to distribution in the United States by Barking Cow Distributors. It stars Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu as the lead protagonists. Although both actors are familiar to U.S. audiences in much lighter fare, they immerse themselves in these gritty, noble, yet tragic roles as Chinese immigrant brothers Steelhead (Chan) and Joe (Wu).

Shinjuku Incident is a hard-hitting slice of history based on the stories of poor rural, Chinese immigrants who risked their lives to cross the ocean into Japan illegally in the 1990's. It is a story director Derek Yee felt compelled to bring to the screen after discovering the details of this piece of China and Japan's complex intertwined histories. It is told from the Chinese point of view.

Steelhead reluctantly makes the perilous journey to the violent streets of Tokyo in search of his missing girlfriend, Xiu Xiu (Xu Jing Lei) after she fails to return to China. Steelhead finds his brother, Joe, who good-heartedly shows his country bumpkin brother how they survive - sorting garbage and cleaning sewers. This is considered demeaning work that a Japanese worker would never do, according to Inspector Kitano (Naoto Takenaka). Kitano comes to "flush" the illegal immigrants out of the sewer and nearly drowns except for the efforts of Steelhead (ever the protector, Jackie Chan).

After Steelhead discovers his former love has adopted a Japanese persona and is married to a Japanese Mobster, the depth of his despair leads him to accept the illegal practices of his fellow immigrants to make money as quickly as he can. He further hatches a plan to gain power to protect himself and his fellow Chinese from the other ethnic gangs. He also hopes to establish a legal business and keep his friends on an honest path. But life, and this story, is not that simple. Both Steelhead and Joe make a complete character transformation driven by their circumstances.

Human nature remains the same no matter who, no matter where. In the words of director Derek Yee, "One of the things that struck me when I was researching for the script was how little human nature has changed - or indeed will ever change - through the years. People have always moved to where the money was or the economy was booming. We're not just talking about the Chinese but the Europeans
This surge of illegal immigrants happened in the decade before China started to rise as a commercial superpower itself. Just like many poor, oppressed people - the Chinese sought refuge and a chance at a better life for themselves and their families in a foreign land, no matter what the challenge. Be forewarned - this is not your "normal" Jackie Chan action flick. There is plenty of graphic violence. The violence is an integral part of the story, but unusual for a Jackie Chan film.

As our global culture shrinks, films like this are not only entertaining, like Scorcese's Gangs of New York, it also gives us a better understanding of other cultures and their struggles. Guns are not easy to come by in Japan (unlike the United States), so even the Japanese Mafia (Yukoza) carry razor sharp swords, and few guns.

For a list of theaters where Shinjuku Incident is playing please go to:www.shinjuki-movie.com As a bonus the first 500 people to arrive at each AMC theater will receive a limited edition poster in either Chinese or English (as supplies last).