Film remake of manga series hits China on Valentine's Day

Previously adapted into films and TV series in Japan and outside, the manga comic series Itazura na Kiss, written and illustrated by Kaoru Tada, is again being brought to the big screen.

Its latest film adaptation－the Chinese-language Fall in Love at First Kiss－was released in Chinese mainland cinemas on Thursday.

The romantic comedy, coming on Valentine's Day, tells the story of a high school student named Yuan Xiangqin who falls in love with her smart schoolmate Jiang Zhishu after they accidentally kiss. Yuan's untiring pursuit of Jiang finally results in him falling for her, too. The film stars Lin Yun and Darren Wang in the lead roles.

Frankie Chen, a Taiwan drama producer, has directed Fall in Love at First Kiss, her second film.

While the plot is well-known, Chen says the film is still inspirational for young people.

Many in Asia seem to be familiar with the love story, she said at the film's media preview in Beijing on Tuesday.

"I wanted to keep the classic moments while presenting new details, and make both fans of the original story and those who have not heard about it, happy."

Chen made her debut with Our Times in 2015, another love story, for which she was nominated in the best new director category at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards in 2015. Although she didn't win that award, her work was noticed.