Limited screen space for film based on Japanese author's work

Edge of Innocence, a coming-of-age romance adapted from Japanese best-selling novelist Soji Shimada's namesake tale. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Shimada, 69, has many Chinese fans thanks to his suspense novels.

On Sina Weibo, the Chinese version of Twitter, the author is followed by nearly 700,000 fans.

Edge of Innocence centers on a bittersweet romance between a motorbike rider and a young woman.

The film is directed by Taiwan filmmaker Chang Jung-chi, and the cast comprises Huang Zitao, a heartthrob singer-actor and actress Yang Caiyu.

Chang says the movie is a warm and inspirational tale, which shows the power of love.

The movie's premiere followed Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which opened on nearly 58 percent of the country 43,000 screens on May 26.

The latest Captain Jack Sparrow adventure has squeezed out several new domestic films, including Edge of Innocence.

An Xiaofen, the producer, says she hopes Chinese theater managers can arrange a few more screenings for domestic titles.