Cast member Joan Chen poses at the 64th Venice International Film Festival, promoting the film "The Sun Also Rises," September 3, 2007. Joan Chen is working on a new low-budget Chinese film called "Seventeen."

Coming back to China from the Venice International Film Festival, actress Joan Chen heads back to her unfinished work filming for a low-budget film called "Seventeen."

The actress in "Lust, Caution" and "The Sun Also Rises," both of which were in competition for the Golden Lion award in Venice, has joined a cast of new faces to portray a rural mother of a 17-year-old.

Even the film's director, Ji Cheng, is a new-comer in film-making.

Shooting has not been going smoothly. On location in the mountain area in eastern Zhejiang province, the cast has been frequented by mosquitoes and fleas, even a venomous snake.

Joan Chen, however, says she enjoys filming since her role reminds her of her own daughters.

She said at a Tuesday interview that her busy career has been keeping her away from her family. The mother of two hopes to spend less time with the camera and more time with her young daughters after filming wraps up later this month.

(CRI.cn September 13, 2007)