Making films for the mind, not market

0 CommentsPrint E-mail China Daily, November 25, 2010
Adjust font size:

 

Chen Kaige is often called kai ye by actors and fellow directors - ye, literally grandpa, is commonly used in Beijing to refer to those respected for their expertise in a certain field.

The 58-year-old director, along with Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang, are undisputedly the three most famous filmmakers in China. As a leading figure of the prestigious "fifth generation" filmmakers that includes Zhang, Chen was the earliest of these Chinese directors to achieve international recognition. His Farewell My Concubine is the only Chinese film to have won the top award at the Cannes Film Festival.

But of the "top three", Chen has distinct characteristics.

Unlike Zhang and Feng, Chen grew up in Beijing Studio, where his father Chen Huaikai was a well-known director.

"Chen's distinguished family background makes him a very scholarly director," says senior critic Tan Fei. "He has a deep understanding of Chinese culture and a strong sense of mission."

Chen likes to pick stories set in ancient China with a strong focus on the fine arts. For example, both Farewell My Concubine and Forever Enthralled tell stories about Peking Opera, while The Emperor and the Assassin is based on historical events.

"Art is a subject that Chen explores often," Tan says. "Farewell My Concubine and Forever Enthralled are about Peking Opera, and Together is about music."

For Chen, film is first a work of art and then a tool for making money, Tan says.

"That is why he is valuable, but it is also his disadvantage in today's market," he says.

Professor Zhang Yiwu of Peking University, adds that compared to Zhang and Feng, Chen is the least sensitive to the local market. "He is the most intellectual (of the three), who tends to reflect on such issues as the fate of the country and its people," he says. "Zhang Yimou used to be very sensitive to social concerns, and Feng Xiaogang has a magical hunch for local audience's interests."

Yet at a time when China's film industry is racing ahead, Chen has to think beyond artistic values.

"Failure is a luxury now," says Tan. "There are so many directors and films. In the past a famous director like Chen could afford a couple of box office failures without losing much ground, but today's audiences and investors have too many choices."

Chen has been working hard to find a place between his personal preferences and the market's needs in recent years. His last two works, The Promise and Forever Enthralled, both feature a superstar cast and commercial blockbuster marketing.

"This is his personal choice, but also part of the reality of today's Chinese cinema," Zhang says, commenting on Chen's recent works.

 

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comments

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter
主站蜘蛛池模板: 欧美中文字幕在线视频| 精品第一国产综合精品蜜芽| 国产高清一区二区三区视频 | 老汉扛起娇妻玉腿进入h文| 国产成人在线电影| porn在线精品视频| 国产边摸边吃奶叫床视频| jizz中国jizz欧洲/日韩在线| 成人年无码av片在线观看| 久久亚洲国产成人精品性色| 曰批视频免费40分钟试看天天| 亚洲天堂一区在线| 欧美综合自拍亚洲综合图片| 做受视频120秒视频| 精品久久久久亚洲| 午夜在线播放免费高清观看| 自慰被室友看见强行嗯啊男男| 国产午夜鲁丝片av无码免费| 鸡鸡插屁股视频| 国产片**aa毛片视频| **性色生活片久久毛片| 国产观看精品一区二区三区| 99久久夜色精品国产网站| 天堂一码二码专区| heyzo在线| 女性成人毛片a级| 一区二区三区国模大胆| 性做久久久久久久| 三级网址在线播放| 成人18xxxx网站| 丝袜美腿中文字幕| 成人人免费夜夜视频观看| 中文字幕一区二区三区人妻少妇| 无翼乌口工全彩无遮挡里| 久久久国产精品| 日本chinese人妖video| 久久久亚洲av波多野结衣| 日本伊人精品一区二区三区| 久久国产乱子伦免费精品| 日本性生活网站| 久久久久久久人妻无码中文字幕爆|