First look at "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan"

The producers unveil one still showing protagonists, Li Bingbing's Lily(L) and Jeon Ji Hyun's Snow Flower, in period costume holding each other's hands. [Photo:mtime.com]

"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan," starring a powerful lineup of Australian actor, Hugh Jackman, Chinese actress, Li Bingbing and South Korean actress, Jeon Ji-Hyun has set a summer date for limited release in the U.S.A. on July 15, Mtime.com reports Friday, March 11.

The producers unveil one still showing protagonists Lily(Li Bingbing) and Snow Flower (Jeon Ji Hyun) in period costume holding each other's hands.

Chinese-American filmmaker, Wayne Wang, based this story on a same-titled book by novelist, Lisa See, in 2005. Set in 19th century China, the film depicts a lifetime friendship between two women who developed their own secret code as a way to communicate in a reclusive life under rigid cultural norms.

The report says this period piece may help director Wang make a statement of his Chinese identity in the Hollywood mainstream.

While Wang said in an interview that he feels like a handi-craft maker, who is replicating a past period.

The director pointed out what moves him most from the story is the strong ties binding the two women, which is rare in other films, kind of like a spiritual marriage.