A unique take on a much-loved Chinese folk tale is vying for box-office honors, Xu Fan reports. 

Film director Zhao Ji is very familiar with the traditional folk tale Legend of the White Snake, but has always been puzzled by it.

In the tale, which originated in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Bai Suzhen, a white snake spirit which longs to be a human, transforms itself into a beautiful woman.

Then, while wandering on a bridge over West Lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, she bumps into Xu Xian-a suave, handsome young man-falls in love and marries him. But the romance sours after he discovers his wife's secret.

Xu is scared and turns to a powerful monk for help, who jails her in the Leifeng Tower for two decades.

Zhao's question is: Why does the white snake fall head-over-heels for Xu Xian and even risk her life for such an undeserved companion?

In the tale, the man betrays his wife, despite her being pregnant.

"It doesn't make sense," says Zhao.

"She is pretty, kind and has superpowers, but he is a coward, who is unable to financially support them," adds the director.