The movie has been created to celebrate Confucius' two thousand five hundred and sixtieth birthday. Director Hu Mei says it has been a tough job catering to the tastes of modern day audiences while chronicling the ups and downs of the ancient thinker.

Whether "Confucius" has what it takes to win big at its box office still remains to be seen. Director Hu Mei says she holds the utmost respect for the history, and has tried her best to depict historical figures the way they actually were.

In the face of criticism that films dealing with such subject matters aren't popular in the overseas market, Hu says she's confident she's struck a balance between cultural and commercial interests.

Some Confucius experts, having seen the film, say the biopic will generate heated debates about the philosopher among historians and researchers. It also offers an alternative for cinema-goers, who may be tired of sci-fi thrillers and Kung Fu flicks.