Chapter 336

The day before the Berlin Film Festival began, Cao Yang still specifically watched Li Yu's "Lost in Beijing."

Once upon a time, Fan Bingbing could be considered Li Yu's designated lead actress; many of her films used Fan Bingbing as the lead.

In the previous life, Fan Bingbing was still very hardworking and filmed quite a few art-house films.

Of course, for the actors of their generation, regardless of having this or that shortcoming, they still held a sense of awe for awards and art-house films.

No matter how famous they were, they all wanted to prove themselves in art and would also sacrifice for art-house films.

This sacrifice included not only destroying their own image but even daring to be nude and exposed.

However, today Li Yu and Fan Bingbing certainly cannot become a "Golden Combination" anymore.

Relying on the film "Inception," Fan Bingbing's fame internationally is about the same as Zhang Ziyi's; she can be considered one of the few Chinese actresses with great fame and influence in Hollywood and among ordinary American audiences.

It must be said that in this regard, especially in North America and Hollywood, Fan Bingbing and Zhang Ziyi are more recognized by the market and audiences than Li Xiaoran and the other two who have won European Best Actress awards.

Furthermore, with Cao Yang as her reliance, Fan Bingbing certainly won't take on Li Yu's art-house films again.

Now when taking on films, Fan Bingbing, like Li Xiaoran and the others, will request a body double as long as there are slightly passionate scenes.

What was unexpected to Cao Yang was that the actress found for the lead role in "Lost in Beijing" is not very famous now, and she has even collaborated with Cao Yang before.

She is Jiang Yiyan.

Back then in Cao Yang's "Nine-Tailed Fox," Jiang Yiyan had a brief appearance, playing the role of that female noble guest; her screen time was very little, but it could be considered a collaboration.

The actors for the other roles in "Lost in Beijing," however, haven't changed.

Playing the couple are Jiang Yiyan and Tong Dawei, which reminded Cao Yang of a TV series the two collaborated on, titled "Struggle," where the two also played a couple.

This TV series started filming in September 2005 and hasn't been released yet.

The reason Cao Yang knows about this TV series is not only because the director Shen Yan is from the 1987 class of the Beijing Film Academy's directing department, but also because "Struggle" is the first domestic one to be shot using film stock.

Shen Yan's reputation in the TV series field is quite big, and he has also filmed quite a few widely known TV series, such as "Chinese-Style Divorce" and "Struggle."

And later "Hot Mom," "Chinese-Style Relationship," "The First Half of My Life," and so on.

Shen Yan's benefactor is Chen Daoming.

After he graduated, he entered an advertising company and met Chen Daoming while filming commercials.

Chen Daoming liked the commercial films Shen Yan shot for him very much.

The lighting and filming Shen Yan used displayed Chen Daoming's style, heroism, handsomeness, beauty, and uprightness perfectly; Chen Daoming liked it extremely and looked at him with special regard.

When filming TV series, he strongly recommended Shen Yan to the producer, and only then did Shen Yan debut and become famous in one fell swoop.

Perhaps Li Yu knew about this TV series shot on film stock, which is why she invited Jiang Yiyan and Tong Dawei to play a couple again.

Having said that, Cao Yang believes Jiang Yiyan is still very suitable for acting in art-house films.

Some people's looks are naturally meant for this line of work; there's no helping it, this is a gift from heaven.

For example, Jiang Yiyan looks like the girl next door, and also like a college student who hasn't experienced the world; she is very pure, but strangely, she can also give people a very "lustful" feeling.

It is precisely this sense of contradiction that makes her very brilliant and captivating when acting in certain art-house films, especially for young, middle-aged, and elderly men.

Which man doesn't like a woman who is both pure and bitchy?

After finishing this "Lost in Beijing," Cao Yang was a bit dazed for a moment; that's right, just dazed.

The English title Li Yu used for this film to participate in the Berlin Film Festival is "Lost in Beijing." This name is very eye-catching and will certainly be able to capture the hearts of the film festival and Western judges very easily.

Damn it, of all things you could call it, you chose this name.

Cao Yang pondered over the film's title for a long time; this is also a point that made him somewhat dazed.

It is now February 7, 2007; next year is 2008, which is the Beijing Olympics.

How the hell could you be so thoughtless to choose this name!

Is this the personality of the domestic banned-director goddess?

Fine, let's not complain about the name for now. It can be seen that this director wants to express a lot in this film; to put it broadly, she wants to display human nature, class, and the sorrow of little people.

However, under this macro theme, as a female director, what she truly wants to express is the helplessness and sorrow of three different women under the background of that era.

Looking at the context of the entire plot, all female characters are passive; they are all led to changes in their life trajectories because of a series of actions by men, and in the end, it is all tragedy.

The lead character Apple is essentially a victim, from being violated at the beginning to being deceived by her husband later. She is that lonely person from beginning to end; no one can understand her.

Wang Mei is the same; it can be seen that because of physiological defects, she cannot have children, which to a certain extent led to the rift in their marital relationship.

But she is a smart woman who knows how to use a compromise-style understanding of her husband to achieve peaceful coexistence in their marital relationship; she is a woman with independent consciousness.

Xiaomei is also the most sorrowful character in this play, and the story also begins because of her. She is swayed by various irresistible forces, drifting and sinking, and even in the end, her life is taken away by others; she is also the most tragic character.

Cao Yang can see that a point the director wants to express more is that women should need an extra bit of courage to stand up and master their own destiny, not to be influenced by men, and not to be swayed by men.

However, precisely because the director wants "everything," wanting to display all of this in the film, it leads to the film not being able to grasp the focus, resulting in a sense of fragmentation.

And it's not just that.

Li Yu comes from the group of authors of "Oriental Horizon" and the new documentary movement, and is one of the directors now categorized into the "Sixth Generation."

The style and theme of this work of hers are closer to the early works of the Sixth Generation; one can clearly associate the lens style with Lou Ye's "Suzhou River," while the story is closer to Wang Chao's "The Orphan of Anyang."

And the arrangement of the plot also feels like it has some traces of reference to "L'Enfant," which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2005.

As for the audiovisual style, besides "Suzhou River," it also adopts the Dardenne-style handheld camera method more, and the long tracking shot of the back at the beginning also has a bit of the flavor of "Elephant."

In these pointers, Director Li Yu's appeal is actually already very obvious; this is a Sixth Generation film oriented toward European art film festivals, with a documentary style and "moral anxiety" film style.

That is to say, the original intention of this film was aimed at awards.

Still the same sentence, she wanted to express too much, and instead, she neglected one thing while attending to another.

In addition, there is the actor aspect.

Tony Leung Ka-fai's acting is still very awesome, actually performing a hint of "charm" in a character that should have been disliked.

This is probably the empathy ability of an actor; an actor's acting is too good, and in contrast, he "steals the show" without knowing it.

You must know that what the director wanted was definitely not the "charm" of the character played by Tony Leung Ka-fai; even that character of Tong Dawei, in terms of character personality and drama, should have been fuller and more tense than Tony Leung Ka-fai's character.

However, Tong Dawei's acting clearly didn't support this character full of drama and tension; he turned this character who should have been sympathetic into a complete scumbag, and the transition in the middle was also very stiff.

Fine, let's just assume reality doesn't need logic.

But if a film wants to express reality, yet it isn't reality, it still needs a certain logic to make sense.

The plot of the film is also an important point that led to Cao Yang being dazed.

There are really too many places Cao Yang wants to complain about.

Especially the lead character Apple; since she is the lead, you should give her enough screen time to make her character setting and story clearer and more layered.

If filmed well, this character originally had a chance to compete for the Berlin Best Actress award.

Cao Yang is particularly speechless; you can't want to stuff many things into a film that is only a little over an hour long, wanting it all in one go, right?

Headache.

On this point, Li Yu is not as smart as Wang Quan'an.

"Tuya's Marriage" at least in the story of the film didn't have so many things it wanted to express, and it advanced around the main thread of "marriage" from beginning to end.

Other things, things more conducive to winning awards, Wang Quan'an packed them all into the story background, as well as in that "deliberate" interview of his.

Cao Yang was still dazed for "Lost in Beijing" when his cell phone suddenly rang, letting him let out a long sigh of relief and break away from that detached, muddled state.

He took out his phone and looked; it was Jia Zhangke calling.

Jia Zhangke was invited by the Berlin Film Festival to become the principal of this year's Talent Campus.

The Berlin Film Festival's "Talent Campus" has already been held for the fifth time, and it selects students from different countries around the world to participate.

The training camp is opened for learning film techniques and exchanging ideas, with experienced and renowned filmmakers serving as lecturers; this year has 350 students participating.

Old Jia was also invited to become the principal of the training camp because he won the Venice Golden Lion last year with "Still Life."

"Cao Dao, I have already contacted everyone. I'll send you the address later. After things start here, you just need to come over at a suitable time."

Today is the last day before the opening of the Berlin Film Festival; both the "Lost in Beijing" crew and the "Tuya's Marriage" crew have already arrived in advance.

For the Chinese films that entered the main competition section this time, the opportunities will be infinitely great; after all, Cao Yang is the jury president, so they all came early.

Since they have all come, according to convention, everyone certainly has to get together.

However, Cao Yang is the jury president, so it wouldn't be good for him to come forward to invite them, so this task was handed to Jia Zhangke.

Old Jia just won the Golden Lion and was invited to be the training camp principal; he is exactly at the time when he is riding high, so he participated in and organized this gathering very actively and happily.

If it were in the country, Cao Yang becoming the jury president, not only could he not come forward to invite them, but he certainly wouldn't be able to attend the gathering; after all, one pays attention to taboos.

However, this is Berlin, so there is no need to be too rigid.

Taboos are still needed, but after the gathering over there starts, it's still okay to go over to say hello and chat.

What they most want to see now is certainly Cao Yang.

The gathering starts at eight o'clock; Cao Yang waited until half an hour after it started over there before going over.

"You guys eat first, I'm going out for a bit."

This gathering was arranged with a large round table. Jia Zhangke was sitting at the right hand of the main seat facing the door. After answering a phone call, he said to the people present with a smile.

After he went out, everyone looked at the main seat that had been kept empty tacitly, and they could probably guess who the person was that could make Jia Zhangke go to welcome him personally and insist on keeping the main seat empty.

After waiting for about five minutes, the door of the private room was pushed open.

Everyone stood up in unison.

"Haha, what a coincidence. Cao Dao happened to be eating here too. I went out and happened to run into him, so I invited Cao Dao over."

After Jia Zhangke led Cao Yang in, he first explained it like this.

Even though everyone knew what was going on, they all pretended not to know; their acting was all very good.

"Hello, Cao Dao. We are just gathering casually. We originally wanted to call you, but you are the jury president, and your status is different, so everyone didn't dare to call you. I hope you don't mind."

Wang Quan'an smiled and shook hands with Cao Yang, explaining.

Although this explanation had the suspicion of telling a lie with eyes open, he still said it in all seriousness.

He didn't sit in the deputy guest seat but instead gave that position to Li Yu. He sat in the position near the door, so after Cao Yang came in, he was the closest to Cao Yang.

"Hello, Director Wang."

Cao Yang smiled and shook hands with Wang Quan'an, not saying much else.

"Hello, Cao Dao, we meet again."

Li Yu walked out from her seat and shook hands with Cao Yang, saying.

"Long time no see, Director Li."

Cao Yang responded with a smile.

"This is Yu Nan, also a graduate of our Beijing Film Academy."

Jia Zhangke introduced from the side.

"Hello, Cao Dao, I am from the 1995 acting class. Very happy to meet you."

Yu Nan said, looking slightly reserved.

She is a person who doesn't seem to be good with words; such actors basically don't know how to hype themselves up either.

"Hello, very happy to meet you."

Cao Yang shook hands with her and said politely.

"This is Jiang Yiyan, also a graduate of our Beijing Film Academy."

Jia Zhangke introduced another girl.

"Hello, Cao Dao, long time no see."

Jiang Yiyan was full of smiles, looking like she had met an acquaintance.

"Long time no see, Yiyan."

Cao Yang shook hands with Jiang Yiyan and said to Jia Zhangke with a smile: "She once appeared in a role in my film."

Tong Dawei was very embarrassed; except for him and Li Yu, everyone else present was from the Beijing Film Academy.

Look at other people's introductions, "This is our Beijing Film Academy..."

He regretted going to the Shanghai Theatre Academy back then.

"This is Tong Dawei."

Jia Zhangke's introduction was very simple.

"Hello, Cao Dao, I am Tong Dawei, very happy to meet you."

Tong Dawei bent down slightly, held Cao Yang's hand with both hands, and said.

"Hello."

Cao Yang shook hands with him and was then pulled by Jia Zhangke to the main seat to sit down.

Everyone present today was from the mainland; the other two leads of "Lost in Beijing," Tony Leung Ka-fai from Hong Kong and Elaine Jin from Taiwan, hadn't arrived in Berlin yet. "Tuya's Marriage" only had Yu Nan as a professional actor, so she was the only one who came.

Everyone ate for a while, and Jia Zhangke gave Li Yu a wink and said to Tong Dawei: "Dawei, aren't you going to the restroom? Let's go, let's go together."

Tong Dawei was pulled away by Jia Zhangke, looking a bit confused.

Li Yu also stood up and said to Jiang Yiyan: "Yiyan, let's go, accompany me to the restroom."

After saying that, she pulled Jiang Yiyan, who was a bit confused, and went out too. In the room, only Cao Yang, Wang Quan'an, and his girlfriend Yu Nan were left.

"Cao Dao, do you think 'Tuya's Marriage' has hope of winning a major award?"

Wang Quan'an asked first.

Jia Zhangke created this opportunity precisely for this matter.

Cao Yang thought for a moment, laughed, and asked back: "What kind of award do you think counts as a major award? Jin Xiong? Or perhaps Berlin Best Actress? The Jin Xiong is very difficult; it requires a lot of luck."

Wang Quan'an was silent, but Yu Nan beside him had noticeably faster breathing.

She could understand Cao Yang's meaning; "Tuya's Marriage" winning the Jin Xiong is a bit difficult and requires very good luck. Conversely, if it were changed to Berlin Best Actress, it might be easier.

"Can it..."

Wang Quan'an asked tentatively.

He wanted it all; he wanted both the Jin Xiong and the Berlin Best Actress award.

Cao Yang shook his head and said directly: "I can't decide on the major award you are thinking of, so there is a lot of uncertainty. If you want to gamble on this, you will very likely end up empty-handed."

Yu Nan understood even better now.

Can't decide on the Jin Xiong, so can he decide on the Berlin Best Actress?

It looks like that's the case.

But now is the time that tests people's hearts the most. If you want to gamble on the Jin Xiong, you might end up empty-handed, but if you give up the Jin Xiong, then you have a high probability of being able to win the Berlin Best Actress!

That is the Berlin Best Actress award!

Yu Nan looked at Wang Quan'an again.

I have been with you since my junior year in 1998; it's been eight years now. Will you give up the uncertain Jin Xiong and give me a Berlin Best Actress award?

Cao Yang also looked at Wang Quan'an; this could be considered a test for Wang Quan'an. He didn't know how this clever director would choose.

To be honest, Yu Nan's acting is still quite good, and there are no messy things. If Wang Quan'an chose his own girlfriend, Cao Yang would give Yu Nan a Berlin Best Actress award.

The Jin Xiong award and the Best Actress award are two different concepts.

The Jin Xiong award represents the Best Film, representing recognition of the film itself, and also recognition of the film's grand background.

But the Best Actress award is different; this is recognition of individual acting, and recognition of the actor's portrayal of the character.

So as long as Wang Quan'an chooses the girlfriend who has been with him for eight years, Cao Yang won't have too much burden in giving Yu Nan a Berlin Best Actress award.

"Cao Dao, can you let me consider it?"

Wang Quan'an hesitated for a long time, still not wanting to give up his desire for the Jin Xiong, but he also didn't want to give up the Berlin Best Actress award that he could be certain of getting.

One has hope, the other is very certain.

It really makes people feel troubled.

"Fine, you go back and consider it, and give me an answer as soon as possible. The film festival opens tomorrow; I can't wait too long," Cao Yang said.

"I understand, in any case, thank you, Cao Dao," Wang Quan'an said.

"Thank you, Cao Dao." Yu Nan's emotions were a bit unstable, and her voice was trembling when she spoke.

(End of chapter)