Chapter 177

At the premiere of Dream-stealing Space, renowned director Tian Zhuangzhuang walked the red carpet.

He is Thus output: Chen Kaige's childhood friend, classmate, close buddy, and one of the fifth-generation directors.

The director of Three Hundred Heroes? Actually "San Mao Joins the Army" and "Qian Xuesen", Zhang Jianya once said, "Apart from Zhu Xin Zhuang, I only admire Tian Zhuangzhuang."

Zhu Xin Zhuang is the former site of the Jingcheng Film Academy; Tian Zhuangzhuang had already finished filming four works—《Our Corner》, 《Small Courtyard》, 《September》, and 《Red Elephant》—before graduation, a first at the Beijing Film Academy.

And the most common comment on his films is, "I don't get it!"

As Wang Shuo put it: "It's like slapping a big ear scoop onto Chinese viewers' faces—one slap knocks them out."

While Chinese audiences couldn't understand his films, Dutch director Joris Ivens considered Tian Zhuangzhuang's 《The Horse Thief》 a great work.

Renowned director Martin Scorsese, after watching Tian's 《The Hunting Ground Zasa》, heaped praise and declared that Tian Zhuangzhuang would become China's greatest director.

Later, Tian Zhuangzhuang was banned for ten years.

Thus output: Chen Kaige's 《Wuji》 is baffling, but at least you can still enjoy the spectacle.

Tian Zhuangzhuang's films really leave many people baffled.

But he didn't care; he once said 《The Horse Thief》 was made for the audience of the next century.

Unfortunately, even into the twenty-first century, many viewers still couldn't understand his works.

Tian Zhuangzhuang's films have always kept a considerable distance from public understanding and expectations, and compared to commercial blockbusters, the gap is astronomical.

It's quite surprising to see a pure art-house film director show up on the red carpet of a commercial blockbuster's premiere.

Newcomer host Liu Yan asked during the interview, "Director Tian, hello. You're attending the premiere—are you preparing to catch up with your classmates Director Thus output: Chen Kaige and Director Zhang Yimou, getting ready to make a big-budget film?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang shook his head, gave a simple smile, and said, "No, I just heard that Director Jiang Heng's film isn't easy to understand, so I came to take a look!"

Having said that, he headed straight to the venue.

Tian Zhuangzhuang only stepped down as director of the Beijing Film Studio last year, then became a tutor in the graduate department of the Jingcheng Film Academy; despite not having filmed anything in ten years, he still carries considerable prestige.

After entering and finding a seat, he was immediately greeted by an acquaintance.

"Hey, Old Tian, rare visitor!"

"Director Tian, how did you come here?"

"You're not also preparing to make a big-budget film, are you?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang returned the greetings one by one, saying, "No, I just came to see what an incomprehensible big-budget film looks like!"

"You should go see Old Chen's 《Wuji》!" someone teased.

Back when art-house films were hot and the film industry chased after the three major European film festival awards, Chen, Zhang, Tian and the like were absolute "kings"; now the rankings have shifted, box office reigns supreme, and they've actually been teased about it.

Tian Zhuangzhuang secretly felt sentimental, remained silent, and seemed out of place among the crowd.

He wasn't particularly interested in the premiere's various gimmicks either.

This time he came just to see how Jiang Heng's film really is, and whether it truly leaves people baffled.

Now that his directing ban has ended, he is considering whether future films should take the audience's comprehension into account, and to what extent.

On stage, the host spoke, Jiang Heng also went up and said a few words, then immediately moved on to the main feature.

The film begins with waves; an aging Wu Yan Zu lies prone in the shallow water near the shore.

A blond boy in a shirt, his back to the camera, flings sand backward; Wu Yan Zu slowly lifts his head and sees a girl with her back to him running past.

Wu Yan Zu's condition is very weak; he wants to shout but can't utter a word, then he faints.

A gun pokes his back twice; the camera turns to an Asian-faced person in security attire checking Wu Yan Zu's condition, who, upon seeing the pistol at his waist, hastily shouts a phrase in Japanese.

In the distance, a massive palace-like building stands on a shore where reefs rise; hearing the shout, the outer guards rush toward the "palace."

Inside the palace, filled with Japanese style, an old man with his back to the camera listens to a report.

When the male lead played by Wu Yan Zu is dragged in and sits opposite the long table to eat, only then do people get a clear look at the old man's appearance.

It is Chiba Shinichi, who once played Xiong Ba in 《Stormy Clouds》, aged and frail, nearing the end.

The audience is somewhat puzzled, after all, their impression of him still lingers on Xiong Ba.

Director Jiang invited him over; surely he's not just going to play an old man, right?

Fortunately, the camera cuts, and both appear much younger.

Wu Yan Zu, sharp in a suit and handsome, speaks fluently.

Across from him, Chiba Shinichi is heartily eating his meal.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is also in a suit, occasionally interjecting a couple of lines, like the male lead's assistant.

And what they discuss is stealing information from people's subconscious.

Wu Yan Zu's character Cobb calls himself a "dream thief," saying he can help Chiba Shinichi's character Saito train his subconscious.

To be honest, many viewers feel a bit confused when they see this.

The concept of "dream theft" is rather abstract; I don't know how Director Jiang Heng will demonstrate it.

Tian Zhuangzhuang thinks, however, that this film may not be as hard to understand as imagined; it's just that the setting is overly novel.

Actually, the term "dream theft" isn't that hard to grasp; similar ideas are "mind penetration" and "mind reading"—it's probably just that the mode of expression is too novel.

After all, even if he were to film it, he wouldn't know how to perfectly portray "mind reading" and such.

Of course, he wouldn't film those overly esoteric things either.

The film continues, with Cobb mentioning opening one's heart, a safe.

Saito perhaps realizes something, wipes his mouth, stands, and hurries away.

"He's seen through me!" says assistant Arthur.

At this moment, the room, table, chandelier, and cup shake.

Cobb hastily checks his watch; the camera cuts to a foreign street where an explosion is occurring.

Meanwhile, in a relatively old suite, Cobb sits in another outfit with eyes closed; Saito lies on the bed, Arthur sits in a chair, each person's wrist attached to a tube. A Middle Eastern-looking person walks back and forth, checking the situation.

Younger viewers find the plot easy to grasp, telling those nearby that they must all be dreaming.

Inside the luxurious building, the shaking continued.

Arthur thought this was a trap, while Cobb believed the secret was definitely in the safe, and he intended to get it.

At this moment, Arthur asked, "What is she here for?"

Cobb turned his head to look into the distance, said he would take care of it, then pushed through the crowd at the party and came to the side of the role played by Monica Bellucci.

Bellucci's look this time was even more mature and gorgeous, Wu Yan Zu's portrayal of the male lead was charming and suave, and they still seemed to have good chemistry.

Especially after entering the room, Bellucci took off her coat, wearing only a dress, which made her figure look even more striking.

"Director Jiang, is this you handing out benefits to everyone? Bellucci is too beautiful!"

"With such a great figure, how could the male lead hold back from catching up on old times!"

As a result, the male lead played by Wu Yan Zu descended downstairs on a rope, took out a silenced pistol and took out several guards, then found the safe and replaced the documents inside.

Just then, the lights came on.

The male lead hurriedly turned with his gun, only to discover that his former lover was actually holding a gun and standing together with Qiten.

"What the hell, what's going on, love turned to hate?"

Because the plot had just begun, the audience didn't yet know the relationships among the characters, and assumed that the role played by Bellucci was the male lead's old lover.

Even more, some thought that the woman played by Bellucci had married Qiten.

(End of chapter)