Chapter 194: Cao Dao Wants to Create a New System?

On September 10th, *Painted Skin* held its premiere in Venice.

Tomorrow is the awards ceremony. The Venice organizing committee arranged such a special day for this film, giving Cao Yang a lot of face.

The official recommendation for this film on the Venice website is:

Human nature is complex and subtle. It may show completely different sides in different situations. Never test human nature, because everyone's inner struggle and decision-making process are full of complexity and uncertainty.

Moreover, in the face of continuous testing, the fragile and vulnerable side of human nature may be inadvertently magnified, causing irreparable impact on individuals and even society.

*Painted Skin*, a fantasy film with a macro scale, expresses the most fragile side of human nature.

After knowing the official recommendation, Cao Yang not only had some doubts: was my original intention for making this film to explore the fragility and struggle of human nature?

Don't say, just looking at these recommendations, at first glance, one would really think it's an art-house film exploring the inner heart of characters...

This time, several leads of the film, Li Xiaoran, Gao Yuanyuan, Duan Yihong, Chen Kun, and Pang Bing all came. Even supporting actors with significant roles like Huang Xiaoming, Zhou Yiwei, and Wang Luodan also came.

In Cheng Jianye's words, Han Zong personally led the team to Venice, so there must be a grand display; otherwise, bringing only a few lonely people, how could Han Zong's prestige be shown?

In Han Zong's words, it's bringing more people to work together to promote the film, hoping to raise the film's popularity.

Cao Yang felt that it didn't matter how many others came, but one female lead would be enough. Coming with so many... it's a headache.

Cao Yang and Han Zong, together with the large group, stood on the red carpet, facing the guests who came to attend the premiere.

This time, Han Zong's eyes were opened again.

From time to time, well-known European art-house film directors and producers came, each without exception hugging Cao Yang and then joking that he had fallen, actually going to Hollywood to develop.

From the conversations between Cao Yang and these people, Han Zong could see that the mainstream of these European art-house film circles almost all felt sorry for Cao Yang, thinking he shouldn't have gone to Hollywood and shouldn't have gone to make commercial films.

Cao Yang could only explain tirelessly, "I am still young, just want to try it. Don't worry, I will continue to make art-house films."

This year's Venice Film Festival, besides Cao Yang's *Painted Skin*, Jia Zhangke's *The World* was also selected for the main competition section.

*The World* premiered on the 4th. At that time, Cao Yang was still in the US and didn't have time to attend the premiere.

However, Han Zong led the large group to support it. Li Xiaoran and Gao Yuanyuan both went, making Jia Zhangke happy.

Today, Jia Zhangke still brought Zhao Tao. The two walked hand in hand, not avoiding anything. Could it be because they were abroad?

After the two went in, Cheng Jianye seemed to see Cao Yang's confusion and began to explain to Cao Yang what he knew.

"On the 4th, I also went to attend the premiere of *The World*. How to put it, many audience members and reporters came, but after watching the film, many foreign reporters expressed that they couldn't understand what *The World* wanted to express.

The audience's response was also mediocre, and many audience members even fell asleep in the second half of the film. Maybe the theme was a bit obscure and difficult to understand."

"Did you fall asleep too?" Cao Yang glanced at Cheng Jianye and asked in a low voice.

Cheng Jianye shook his head quickly, "That didn't happen, but it's true that I didn't understand it."

"What did Jia Zhangke say?"

"He said at the press conference that it might be because he is facing a transformation, so he is a bit lost."

"What's going on with the two of them? I remember he hasn't divorced yet, right? Aren't they afraid of the news spreading back to the country?" Cao Yang asked softly.

And instructed Cheng Jianye, "Later, you greet the domestic reporters and tell them not to take pictures or spread rumors." Cheng Jianye nodded quickly and explained: "It might be because the film is not very popular. At the subsequent press conference, many reporters were saying that the film was dragging and difficult to understand.

That's probably the reason. During the whole press conference, no reporter interviewed Zhao Tao, making her lose face.

Director Jia might have been trying to comfort her, so he deliberately acted intimately on such an occasion."

Cao Yang's fame and influence in Europe are still very large. Directors, producers, film and television company people, reporters, film critics, judges of the jury, etc., plus the audience watching the film, the 500-seat grand theater was almost full.

Cao Yang and Ma Ke-Mu Le stayed together. He looked at so many reporters and film critics who came and couldn't help but ask Ma Ke-Mu Le with a smile.

"Old Ma, this is a commercial film in the true sense. Aren't you afraid that these reporters and film critics will talk and write nonsense, letting a commercial film be shortlisted for the main competition section?"

"You say that. If I were really afraid, would I still let you be shortlisted? Whether it's Berlin or Cannes, don't they all award Hollywood films every once in a while? Does Hollywood film have any artistic quality? Which one is not biased towards commercialization?

What is an art-house film? Jia Zhangke's *The World* is an art-house film, stream of consciousness, symbols, metaphors, etc., but they all say it's too dull and they don't understand it...

Now the boundary between art-house films and commercial films is becoming more and more blurred. As long as you can find some metaphors and inner reflections on human nature in commercial films, you can blur the concept."

Old Ma glanced at Cao Yang and said with a smile: "Coincidentally, I found it in your film."

Cao Yang was silent for a moment and asked: "Old Ma, if you have anything to say, just say it directly. There's no need to beat around the bush with me."

!

Hearing Old Ma's meaning, one knows that some reporters and film critics here were specially arranged by him, just to promote the human nature of *Painted Skin*.

Old Ma spent so much effort, definitely having another purpose, and would never help him so tirelessly just because of his good relationship with Cao Yang.

"Haha, no rush. After the film festival ends, let's talk again."

The film had been playing for a while, and there were exclamations from the whole hall from time to time.

Jia Zhangke frowned a bit while watching.

When the film was almost finished, he asked Zhao Tao softly: "Do you think this film... is good?"

Zhao Tao stared at the big screen, watching the little fox willing to give up her life for Wang Sheng, feeling a bit emotional for a moment.

"I think it's very good. The war scene at the beginning was really spectacular. So many cavalrymen charging together densely, looking quite shocking..."

"Anything else?"

"Gao Yuanyuan's acting is really good, she simply brought the changes of a naive little fox spirit to life..."

Forget it, Jia Zhangke didn't intend to ask anymore; asking would be in vain.

Cao Dao's film is obviously shot using commercial film techniques, but combined with the recommendation given by the Venice official, human nature is complex and subtle, full of uncertainty...

Indeed, whether it is Xiao Wei's initial innocence and naivety, or the later jealousy and "possession," and finally willing to sacrifice herself for Wang Sheng, these are all the complexity and uncertainty of human nature.

Could it be that Cao Dao wants to walk out of a new system?

Just like the New Wave, is this an experimental film?

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 195 =====