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41-589: Peter Ho-sun Chan (born 28 November 1962), also known as Peter Chan , is a Hong Kong-born filmmaker best known for directing films that span a wide range of genres, including romantic comedies , musical dramas , and historical epics . He is recognized as one of the most prominent directors in Chinese cinema, being the first director to win Best Director awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards ,

82-658: A Woman, She's a Man and Comrades, Almost a Love Story . In the late 1990s, Chan worked in Hollywood, directing The Love Letter , which starred Kate Capshaw , Ellen DeGeneres and Tom Selleck . In 2000, Chan co-founded Applause Pictures with Teddy Chen and Allan Fung. The company's focus was on fostering ties with pan-Asian filmmakers, producing such films as Jan Dara by Thailand's Nonzee Nimibutr , One Fine Spring Day South Korea 's Hur Jin-ho , Samsara by China's Huang Jianxin , The Eye by Danny and Oxide Pang and cinematographer Christopher Doyle . Since

123-510: A master storyteller and visionary director. Among his notable films are He's a Woman, She's a Man (1994), Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996), Perhaps Love (2005), The Warlords (2007), WuXia (2011), American Dreams in China (2013), Dearest (2014), and Leap (2020). In addition to his directorial success, Chan has also made significant contributions as a producer and entrepreneur. He co-founded Applause Pictures in 2000,

164-450: A production company dedicated to creating high-quality films that appeal to both Asian and international audiences. In 2009, Chan founded WE Pictures, another production company that has focused on bringing Chinese stories to a global audience and continues to produce influential and acclaimed works. Chan’s notable producing works include The Eye Series , Protégé (2007), Bodyguards and Assassins (2009) and Soul Mate (2016). Chan

205-517: A real relationship; however, she is torn due to her feelings for George. When it comes to a boiling point, the pair realize that neither side wrote the love letter. Helen also realizes that George still loves her when she finds a message he left in a postcard. They break up on amiable terms but, unfortunately, George hears the breakup and is left heartbroken and confused. Though his divorce is final, he feels he's lost Helen to Johnny. She isn't ready to let go of her feelings for George and asks if it really

246-592: A record 29 awards. Chan next directed The Warlords (2007) and produced Derek Yee's Protégé (2007). The two films were the two highest grossing Hong Kong-China co-productions of 2007. The Warlords grossed a record RMB220 million in China and over US$ 40 million across Asia, and garnered 8 Hong Kong Film Awards and 3 Golden Horse Awards, including Best Director and Best Feature Film. In 2009, Chan produced Teddy Chen's Bodyguards and Assassins , which has garnered RMB300 million in China box office alone, accumulating over US$ 50 million Asia-wide. It has scored 8 awards in

287-809: A sense of awkwardness between the two potential partners by depicting an initial clash of personalities or beliefs, an embarrassing situation, or by introducing a comical misunderstanding or mistaken identity situation. Sometimes, the term is used without a hyphen (a "meet cute"), or as a verb ("to meet cute"). Roger Ebert describes the "concept of a Meet Cute" as "when boy meets girl in a cute way." As an example, he cites "The Meet Cute in Lost and Found [which] has Jackson and Segal running their cars into each other in Switzerland. Once recovered, they Meet Cute again when they run into each other while on skis. Eventually, they fall in love." In many romantic comedies,

328-506: A wide release, and by its third weekend The Love Letter was out of the top ten entirely. As part of a press kit campaign, the production company sent copies of the eponymous love letter to film critics with many of them mistaking it for an actual love letter. Jonathan Rosenbaum of the Chicago Reader mentioned feeling particularly betrayed when seeing the film and realizing that the mysterious love letter that he had received

369-483: Is based on the novel by Cathleen Schine . The original music score was composed by Luis Enriquez Bacalov . The film takes place in the fictional Massachusetts town of Loblolly-by-the-Sea and was filmed in Rockport, Massachusetts . This was Kate Capshaw's final film before her retirement from acting in 2001. Recently divorced Helen MacFarquhar, a middle-aged bookseller, after sending her daughter off to summer camp,

410-536: Is closer to tragicomedy ." It was not until the development of the literary tradition of romantic love in the western European medieval period, though, that "romance" came to refer to "romantic love" situations. They were previously referred to as the heroic adventures of medieval Romance . Those adventures traditionally focused on a knight's feats on behalf of a lady, so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in Chrétien de Troyes 's Lancelot,

451-414: Is over. He quietly replies "We have bad timing" and announces he's taking his daughters to New York. Though Helen wants him to stay, George seems determined to leave. The next day, she tells him she only recently saw the inside message he left her and declares she also wants to keep in contact. Hinting he still wants to continue their relationship, George smiles and says he'll send a "postcard". Amidst all

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492-477: Is ready to move on in her life. One morning, going through the mail, she discovers an anonymous blue love letter, without an envelope or a name. Having discovered this letter in her mail, in her bookstore, she naturally thinks it is for her. The only question is, from whom? At first, she thinks it is from George Matthias, the local fireman, but decides it couldn't be him, after giving him subtle hints ("Have you ever been 'on fire'?"). Not having any idea who may be

533-562: The Golden Horse Awards , and the China Golden Rooster Awards . Chan began his career in the film industry in the 1980s, working as an assistant director and producer on films for prominent directors such as John Woo and Jackie Chan . He made his directorial debut with Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye (1991). Over the years, Chan's achievements in filmmaking have solidified his reputation as

574-518: The film ends on a happy note . Even though it is implied that they live happily ever after, it does not always state what that happy ending will be. The couple does not necessarily get married for it to be a "happily ever after". The conclusion of a romantic comedy is meant to affirm the primary importance of the love relationship in the protagonists' lives, even if they physically separate in the end (e.g., Shakespeare in Love , Roman Holiday ). Most of

615-611: The Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film. In a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council during the 2010 Hong Kong Filmart, Chan was voted "the most valuable filmmaker", which was strongly backed by his box-office track records. In 2022, Peter Chan launched production company Changin’ Pictures to make streaming content. Chan has a daughter, Jilian Chan (born in 2006), with Hong Kong actress Sandra Ng , although

656-556: The Knight of the Cart . The contemporary romantic comedy genre was shaped by 18th-century Restoration comedy and 19th-century romantic melodrama . Restoration comedies were typically comedies of manners that relied on knowledge of the complex social rules of high society, particularly related to navigating the marriage-market, an inherent feature of the plot in many of these plays, such as William Wycherley 's The Country Wife . While

697-445: The affair, Johnny uses his friend Jennifer's affections for him to make Helen jealous. However, she's disheartened to realize he was using her. An officer also finds the letter, thinking it was from a lady he admires; he takes it, presenting it to her on a date, so she thinks he wrote the letter to her. As the affair goes on, Johnny's feelings deepen, and he becomes jealous of Helen's closeness with George. He continues to try to push for

738-605: The beginning of his career in filmmaking. He served as second assistant director, translator, and producer on John Woo 's Heroes Shed No Tears (1986), which was set in Thailand. He then was a location manager on three Jackie Chan films, Wheels on Meals (1984), The Protector (1985) and Armour of God (1986), all of which were shot overseas. He joined Impact Films as a producer in 1989, guiding projects such as Curry and Pepper (1990) to completion. His directorial debut, Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye ,

779-471: The characters already has a partner or because of social pressures. However, the screenwriters leave clues that suggest that the characters are attracted to each other and that they would be a good love match. The characters often split or seek time apart in order to sort out their emotions or deal with external obstacles to being together, which they eventually overcome. While the two protagonists are separated, one or both of them usually realizes that they love

820-530: The confusion, it is revealed that the letter was actually written by Helen's mother's lover, another woman, early in her life. Considering the conservative period and social stigma, the relationship could not be until now. The Love Letter received negative reviews from critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 33% of 51 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Poor character development and scripting hamper any romantic chemistry." Being

861-717: The decades. We can see this through the screwball comedy in response to the censorship of the Hays Code in the 1920s–1930s, the career woman comedy (such as George Stevens' Woman of the Year , starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy ) post-WWII, and the sex comedy made popular by Rock Hudson and Doris Day in the 1950s–1960s. Over the years, romantic comedies have slowly been becoming more popular to both men and women. They have begun to spread out of their conventional and traditional structure into other territory, and to explore more complex topics. These films still follow

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902-436: The desk. Then, her manager, Janet Hall, arrives, but she decides not to tell her about the letter just yet. While she is upstairs working, George comes in with new smoke detectors for the store. Janet accepts them, but the desk collapses, along with Helen's purse, which contains the letter. In all the chaos, the letter is mixed in with the instruction manuals for the smoke detectors. George, before leaving, says "Make sure you read

943-468: The fact that these films are still romantic comedies. One of the conventions of romantic comedy films is the entertainment factor in a contrived encounter of two potential romantic partners in unusual or comic circumstances, which film critics such as Roger Ebert or the Associated Press's Christy Lemire have called a " meet-cute " situation. During a "meet-cute", scriptwriters often create

984-436: The follies and misunderstandings of young lovers, in a light‐hearted and happily concluded manner which usually avoids serious satire". This reference states that the "best‐known examples are Shakespeare's comedies of the late 1590s, A Midsummer Night's Dream , Twelfth Night , and As You Like It being the most purely romantic, while Much Ado About Nothing approaches the comedy of manners and The Merchant of Venice

1025-735: The gender role that society has imposed upon them, as seen in Forgetting Sarah Marshall , in which the male protagonist is especially in touch with his emotions. It can also be seen in Made of Honor , in which the female bridesmaids are shown in a negative and somewhat masculine light in order to advance the likability of the male lead. Other remakes of romantic comedies involve similar elements, but they explore more adult themes such as marriage, responsibility, or even disability. Two films by Judd Apatow , This Is 40 and Knocked Up , deal with these issues. This Is 40 chronicles

1066-410: The letter, he mistakenly thinks it is for him from Helen. Later that night, Johnny begins to "peel an orange", a line from the letter. Believing it's his hint, Helen rushes into the house and says goodnight, and he leaves. In the next few weeks, Johnny and Helen meet and begin an affair, each thinking the other wrote the letter. Helen goes to the bookstore, bringing the letter with her, in her purse on

1107-437: The manuals first." Janet opens the manual, and the letter falls out. She reads it and thinks it is from George. Later that day, Janet rushes over to tell Helen about the letter. But she, not knowing how to say it, just takes it and says "It's mine". Janet, angry at Helen for not having faith in her happiness, quits. As the story progresses, many others accidentally find the letter and mistakenly think it's meant for them. During

1148-567: The melodramas of the Romantic period had little to do with comedy, they were hybrids incorporating elements of domestic and sentimental tragedies, pantomime "with an emphasis on gesture, on the body, and the thrill of the chase," and other genres of expression such as songs and folk tales. In the 20th century, as Hollywood grew, the romantic comedy in America mirrored other aspects of society in its rapid changes, developing many sub-genres through

1189-532: The mid-2000s, Chan has been working mostly in mainland China, capitalizing on the rapid expansion of the Chinese film industry. Chan's 2005 film , the Hong Kong-mainland China co-produced musical Perhaps Love , closed the 2005 Venice Film Festival and was Hong Kong's entry for an Academy Awards nomination in the best foreign film category. Perhaps Love became one of the year's top-grossing films in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and received

1230-429: The mid-life crisis of a couple entering their 40s, and Knocked Up addresses unintended pregnancy and the ensuing assuming of responsibility. Silver Linings Playbook deals with mental illness and the courage to start a new relationship. All of these go against the stereotype of what romantic comedy has become as a genre. Yet, the genre of romantic comedy is simply a structure, and all of these elements do not negate

1271-513: The only new release opposite Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace , with a theatrical premiere on May 21, 1999, DreamWorks believed The Love Letter had a counterprogramming appeal to stand its own. It debuted at only fifth place, with $ 2.6 million from 769 screens. The following week, marking the Memorial Day holiday, the film fell to sixth place while expanding to only 19 more theaters as another romantic comedy, Notting Hill had

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1312-436: The other person. Then, one character makes some extravagant effort (sometimes called a grand gesture ) to find the other character and declare their love. However, this is not always the case; sometimes, there is a coincidental encounter where the two characters meet again. Alternatively, one character plans a romantic gesture to show that they still care. Then, with some comic friction, they declare their love for each other, and

1353-528: The other zombies and even starts to cure them. With the zombie cure, the two main characters can now be together since they do not have a barrier between them anymore. Another strange set of circumstances is in Zack and Miri Make a Porno where the two protagonists are building a relationship while trying to make a pornographic film together. Both these films take the typical story arc and then add strange circumstances to add originality. Other romantic comedies flip

1394-523: The potential couple comprises polar opposites, two people of different temperaments, situations, social statuses, or all three ( It Happened One Night ), who would not meet or talk under normal circumstances, and the meet cute's contrived situation provides the opportunity for these two people to meet. The Love Letter (1999 film) The Love Letter is a 1999 American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Chan and starring Kate Capshaw , Ellen DeGeneres , Tom Everett Scott , and Tom Selleck . It

1435-469: The standard conventions of the romantic comedy genre. In films like 500 Days of Summer , the two main interests do not end up together, leaving the protagonist somewhat distraught. Other films, like Adam, have the two main interests end up separated but still content and pursuing other goals and love interests. Some romantic comedies use reversal of gender roles to add comedic effect. These films contain characters who possess qualities that diverge from

1476-401: The time the ending gives the audience a sense that if it is true love, it will always prevail, no matter what the two characters have to overcome. Comedies, rooted in the fertility rites and satyr plays of ancient Greece , have often incorporated sexual or social elements. The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms defines romantic comedy as "a general term for comedies that deal mainly with

1517-502: The two have no intention of getting married. Romantic comedy The basic plot of a romantic comedy is that two characters meet , part ways due to an argument or other obstacle, then ultimately, realize their love for one another and reunite. Sometimes the two leads meet and become involved initially, then must confront challenges to their union. Sometimes they are hesitant to become romantically involved because they believe they do not like each other. This could be because one of

1558-468: The typical plot of "a light and humorous movie, play, etc., whose central plot is a happy love story" but with more complexity. Some romantic comedies have adopted special circumstances for the main characters, as in Warm Bodies where the protagonist is a zombie who falls in love with a human girl after eating her boyfriend. The effect of their love towards each other is that it starts spreading to

1599-480: The writer of the love letter, she just puts it away in her purse, trying to forget about it. Then, Johnny, a college student working in Helen's bookstore for the summer, is invited to her house for dinner. At dinner she puts two wine glasses and a bottle next to her purse, with the letter in it. Helen accidentally knocks the letter out of the purse. While in the kitchen cooking, she tells Johnny to have some wine. Finding

1640-580: Was born in British Hong Kong to Chinese parents. His father, Chan Tung Man, was a writer-director and a columnist. At the age of 11, Chan moved with his family to Thailand , where he grew up in Bangkok's international Chinese community and became fluent in Thai. He later attended film school at UCLA before returning to Hong Kong in 1983 for a summer internship in the film industry, which marked

1681-631: Was crowned best film at the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild in 1991. It also won best actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards for Eric Tsang , who would become a frequent collaborator with Chan. Chan was a co-founder of United Filmmakers Organization (UFO) in the early 1990s, which produced a number of box-office and critical hits in Hong Kong , including his own: He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father . Other critical and commercial successes followed, including Tom, Dick and Hairy , He's

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