Scene from The Last Supper Photo:CFP

Almost being absent for the hot summer movie season over four months, Chinese director Lu Chuan's new epic movie The Last Supper finally hit the big screens across the country yesterday. As one of the most anticipated Chinese movies for the year-end season, The Last Supper marks a new spin on an ancient story.

Lu's previous work includes Mountain Patrol (2004) and City of Life and Death (2009).

The Last Supper features the first emperor of Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) Liu Bang and his friend, Xiang Yu, who later becomes an enemy. The story of Liu and Xiang has been told in many films and television series. But Lu casts Qin Lan in the leading female role to play the wife of Liu Bang, and this version is so far the only one that presents the ancient tale from a woman's perspective.

Lu said in an interview with ifeng.com that he kept trying to interpret this complicated historical figure, Empress Lü, from a wholly new angle. The film focuses on the growth of her heart, which is totally different from other portrayals of her.

Lu said he couldn't help asking what turned her from a normal housewife into the most vicious female politician in history, even killing her own child in exchange for power. Meanwhile, Lu reveals that the audience will see a real empress in The Last Supper.

As the film differs from his usual style, a lot of people wonder if Lu has compromised his values in making a commercial film. In the TV program Talk about China, Lu said The Last Supper is a bridge to reach the heart of the general audience. Whether the film is commercial or not is a matter of understanding.

Lu describes The Last Supper as an end to the first stage of his life, after which he will focus on discovering something new.