BEIJING, Feb. 13 -- After nearly two years of waiting, it seems Zhang Ziyi's film "Jasmine Women" is now on its way to a worldwide release in 2006.

    According to Chinese news reports, the film is expected to be released in China and Hong Kong during April, in Japan and Korea during June, and will expand to other countries later in the year.

    The international distribution rights were acquired by Australian-based distributor Arclight Films for a reported $600,000. Arclight has arranged for the film to be shown this Sunday, February 12, at the Berlin Film Festival's European Film Market.

    "Jasmine Women" is a story of love and loss over three generations of life in a single family in Shanghai. It tells of the family's struggle to overcome its tragic history, as each daughter repeats the mistakes of her mother. Zhang Ziyi plays mother, daughter, and granddaughter as the film moves from the 1930's to the 1950's to the 1970's.

    "Jasmine Women" was first shown at the Shanghai Film Festival in 2004 where it won the Jury Prix Prize. Zhang later won Best Actress at the prestigious Golden Rooster awards for her performance. Its theatrical release in China has been repeatedly delayed, although it has been shown to acclaim at numerous film festivals around the world.

(Source: CRIENGLISH.com/helloziyi.us)