Chinese veteran director Feng Xiaogang's war epic film Assembly received an overwhelming welcome when it premiers at the 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF) on October 4.

China's portal website Sina reported that all 7,000 tickets to the screening were sold out in 17 minutes when put on sale.

Being the opening presentation of PIFF, the film was highly spoken of by both movie critics and ordinary viewers.

The film is set against the backdrop of the Chinese civil war in the late 1940s, but viewers can glimpse humanity among the ruthless battles, sina quoted a Pusan-based newspaper as saying.

Although it is a typical Chinese film featuring Chinese actors and featuring Chinese history, it can still touch people, a movie critic from the professional magazine CINE21 commented.

The movie's official website will open on October 8 and director Feng Xiaogang will share his experiences at the film festival with Chinese Netizens on the site.

Photos of Feng Xiaogang's war epic Assembly.

(CRI.cn October 8, 2007)