National Geographic embraces ‘Life’ film

The Chinese movie City of Life and Death reportedly will be distributed in North America by National Geographic Entertainment.

Variety reported Friday that National Geographic’s theatrical distribution unit bought the distribution rights to Life, a movie by Chinese director Lu Chuan about the 1937 Japanese occupation of Nanking, China.

The black-and-white movie is to make its international debut in September at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Life has initially been tabbed for a likely late 2009 or early 2010 release through National Geographic Entertainment.

In addition to picking up Life, the film group acquired Amreeka, a Cherien Dabis-directed movie that was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival and now has a platform release set for Sept. 4, Variety said.