Well-known CCTV talk show host Cui Yongyuan, speaking on movies at Hunan University last week, criticized Chinese movies for being overly Americanized. 　

 

As one of the directors of the CCTV documentary series The Story of Movies, Cui has shown his great interest in Chinese movies in recent years. His Hunan appearance was also part of the promotion of his new TV documentary My Long March.

 

"Chinese movies are dead. … Only The River Flows Eastwards, produced in 1947, is a genuine Chinese movie. Nowadays productions are all Americanized. I hope Chinese filmmakers will not fool audiences any more," Cui said in his speech.　

 

 

Cui Yongyuan

 

He said Chinese directors shot films to cater to foreign markets and those acclaimed by foreigners are not well received in China. He cited Chen Kaige's blockbuster The Promise as an example, saying the movie is totally senseless. "I personally admire Chen Kaige very much and I don't know why he shot such a movie." 　

 

He criticized the influence of excessive promotion in the Chinese film industry. "Many filmmakers love being famous and being wrapped in honors. Actually, they are not making money for the industry but for themselves." 　　

 

Cui also hesitated to give his nod to Taiwanese Oscar winner Ang Lee when asked if Lee could be regarded as an honor to Chinese films. The TV host said that he agreed with another leading director that Lee is not honoring China because Lee shot American stories, cast American actors and made American-flavored productions. 　　

 

"However, Lee made some explorations of Orientalization of Hollywood films. I hope he can make full use of Hollywood filming skills to shoot Chinese movies," said Cui. 　　

 

The TV host finally joked that one way to save Chinese movies is to import more and more foreign movies. "Only when Chinese audiences get fed up with foreign films can they turn to real Chinese movies."

 

(Shenzhen Daily June 5, 2006)