The Chinese movie Anima (Mo Er Dao Ga) has appealed to audience and critics as it makes its world premiere at the ongoing 42nd Cairo International Film Festival.

A special red carpet ceremony was held for the cast of the film before its screening on the evening of Dec 8 at the grand theater of the Egyptian Opera House, which was attended by dozens of Egyptians, including actors, directors and critics.

"I am very happy that our film was brought to light here after four years of shooting and hard work. I hope that our efforts in making this film will be rewarded at the CIFF," Chinese filmmaker Cao Jinling, who wrote and directed Anima, says on the red carpet ahead of the screening.

She adds that the participation of Chinese films in Egypt's biggest film gala boosts cultural exchange and interaction between the peoples of both countries.

The 120-minute Anima tackles man's relationship with nature and warns against killing animals and cutting trees through a dramatic plot rising from a family hunting trip in the forest, where a little boy has to rescue his younger brother who falls into a bear cave by killing the mother bear.

When the two brothers Tutu and Linzi grow up, they work in the same logging team but Linzi feels cutting trees is against the sacredness of the forest and he goes against everyone to save the trees, including his older, aggressive brother Tutu.

"The Chinese film warmed and touched the hearts of the audience tonight with the depth of its theme and epical nature," says renowned Egyptian film critic Tarek el-Shinnawy, also a member of the festival's higher advisory committee.

"The soundtrack is one of the most beautiful creative elements of the Chinese film, in addition to the performance of actors and the director's ability to maintain depth and heartfelt sentiments throughout the film," Shinnawy points out.

"This is why the CIFF is keen on highlighting the great Chinese cinema whenever possible," the Egyptian critic says.

"The plot is nice and smooth and so is the music. It has a message that the environment is not just a tree; it feels us, we feel it and it influences our lives," says young Egyptian man Motaz Suleiman, one of the audience.

"I like the film. It's full of emotions. I got the message that nature is too beautiful to ruin and pollute, for this leads to pollution of people's souls and sentiments," Inas Helmy, the director of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union, says.