Chapter 115: King of Venice (Limited Time Pretending to be Cool for Free)!

September 7, Venice time, the day before the award ceremony, Jury Committee Office.

"Li! I hope you leave some spots for European films! This is not Hollywood! This is not Beijing!"

"This is Venice! Venice, which takes opposing Hollywood as its own duty!"

The first to raise the banner of uprising was Jacques Audiard, a French screenwriter who won the Best Screenplay award at Cannes in 1996.

Gong Li's English name is Gong Li. Other judges of the organizing committee call her Li, and foreigners pronounce this word relatively accurately.

She also disdains to take an English name for herself, and doesn't even want to speak English.

Gong Li didn't give an inch, slammed the table, and output to Jacques Audiard.

"What do you mean by leaving some spots? Good is good, bad is bad. Do you still have to consider so-called balance at the Golden Lion Award?"

"*Whiplash*, whether it is the balance between commerciality and art film, the use of lens language, or the exquisite reversal of narrative structure, is a grade higher than *The Magdalene Sisters*."

"Balance is not a reason for you to break the rules!"

According to reputation and audience response, the two films are evenly matched, but European filmmakers are dissatisfied with De Hadeln's suppression and want to fight hard for the Golden Lion Award.

After all, most of the big awards previously cast have been given to Asian and American films.

This is Venice, after all, the home turf of Europeans.

Seeing that Jacques was not an opponent, Italian actress Francesca Neri also helped out at the right time.

"The Hollywood flavor of *Whiplash* is too heavy, which is contrary to the spirit of Venice, not to mention that the Best Actor award has already been given to Feng Feng Yuanzheng."

"I still think Peter Mullan's *The Magdalene Sisters* is better."

"That's right! Or are you willing to give up the Best Actor award for *Whiplash*!"

"I support *The Magdalene Sisters*!"

"We demand to continue voting!"

Peter Mullan is the director of *The Magdalene Sisters*.

He became famous as an actor before. Film enthusiasts should have watched his *Trainspotting* and *Braveheart*.

His strong connections in Europe also laid a solid foundation for this feature film award.

The film that actually won the Golden Lion Award in later generations was this religious-themed film.

The current situation is a bit unfavorable.

Supporting *The Magdalene Sisters*: French screenwriter Jacques, Italian actress Neri, Turkish director Ustaoglu, German producer Folsberg.

Supporting *Whiplash*: Chinese actress Gong Li, Hungarian photographer Kovacs.

There is also a Russian poet among the seven judges who is relatively Buddhist and has not clearly stated his position.

Gong Li looked down at the six European judges in front of the stage with unkind expressions, estimating how to "ally with distant states and attack those nearby" in her heart.

"How about this, the Golden Lion Award is shelved first, let's select the Jury Grand Prize Silver Lion Award first."

"I first propose the Russian film *The Mental Hospital*!"

Gong Huang's eyes looked at the Russian judge Yevtushenko. He entered the judge sequence as a poet and returned a knowing look at this moment.

Passed without much controversy.

Gong Li counted the votes in her heart.

One vote from Russia, one vote from Hungarian photographer Kovacs; these are her relatively certain allies.

Three to four, what to do?

Should we not talk about democracy and concentrate first?

Suddenly the door of the conference room was pushed open, and President De Hadeln walked in.

"Dear judges, please speed up the progress. We need to leave enough time to notify the crew."

Then he pretended to ask Gong Li unintentionally: "Li, what is the current result?"

"There is still one Golden Lion Award left, there is some controversy, and it is still being discussed."

Jacques and others keenly noticed that something was wrong and protested loudly.

"Mr. President, please leave first. Discussing the award winners is a matter for the judges. You must know the rules!"

De Hadeln smiled indifferently, didn't argue with him, but gave the judge Folsberg a hidden look before leaving.

This is a senior producer from Germany.

And he is the former president who presided over the Berlin Film Festival for 20 years.

"Li, please compete for the Golden Lion Award film as soon as possible."

"Okay, Mr. President."

Gong Li stood up, supported the table with both hands, and her wide sleeves spread out on the conference table, like an empress coming to the world.

"Everyone!"

"I'm not saying *The Magdalene Sisters* is not good, but this film has gone too deep into the religious theme. I think it is a malicious provocation against Catholicism."

"Everyone can go and see the local newspapers in the Vatican. It is a pity that Mullan promoted the hypocrisy of religious images to all priests."

"Is this film connotation? No! This is a gimmick! This is hype! This is taking the banner of religion to gain favor!"

"I know you Europeans all have your own religious beliefs, but this cannot be a reason to influence the judgment of film art!"

"I am the jury president, this is the rule I set, and it is also the rule of film art. There is no exception! There is no balance!"

The six judges looked at each other. They didn't understand, but they were shocked.

Gong Li suddenly turned to the translator and said sternly: "Translate word for word!"

Gong Li is a senior actor, very good at controlling emotions. She didn't wait for the enemy to gather and build an offensive, and directly launched the final vote.

If it still doesn't work, she has to say that she will use the power of the jury president to forcibly award the Golden Lion Award to *Whiplash*.

But in that case, it is a blow to the authority of this award, far less convincing than the results obtained by voting.

"I propose, the winner of the Golden Lion Award at the 59th Venice Film Festival, China, Lu Kuan, *Whiplash*!"

"Who supports! Please raise your hand!"

Russian poet Yevtushenko returned the favor and took the lead in expressing his position.

Followed by Hungarian photographer Kovacs.

Jacques and others looked around, very glad that they had just pushed De Hadeln away in time, not letting him find a gap to express his opinions and exert pressure.

He had a victorious posture and raised his hand leisurely.

"Next I propose..."

"I agree, *Whiplash*!"

Jacques and others turned their heads suddenly. It was their staunch ally, German producer Folsberg.

"You!"

Folsberg smiled: "I was persuaded by Chair Gong Li. *The Magdalene Sisters* has unavoidable defects in religious issues and exists as an anti-film behavior that deliberately fawns. Thanks to Chair Gong Li for reminding me to realize this."

"You're welcome, Mr. Folsberg!"

"Okay! The voting ends here, meeting adjourned!"

Gong Li slammed the table and stood up, not giving others a chance to react, and quickly ordered the staff to notify President De Hadeln.

She also let out a long sigh and sat back in the chair, secretly saying that the big thing was settled.

The Empress's disdainful gaze swept over the dejected group of European filmmakers.

Do you think you are all Adjani? Still want to unite to strike at Asian films?

That year I was a judge, and I could still fight Adjani for three hundred rounds.

Now I am the president!

My rules are the rules!

"This is a film that explores the ultimate pursuit of art and human nature, filled with sweat, blood, explosive drum sounds, and strong dramatic conflicts. All of our judges were deeply shocked by the ending of the story."

"A line in the film made me calm for a long time: there is no evaluation more harmful than the two words 'not bad'!"

"Therefore, this is not just a 'not bad' film; it is a true masterpiece!"

"The film that finally won the Golden Lion Award at this film festival is!"

"*Whiplash*, China, Lu Kuan!"

"Congratulations to Lu Kuan!"

Gong Li domineeringly cheered for China's *Whiplash* and young director Lu Kuan on the stage, and European filmmakers collectively lost their voices.

The audience under the stage also stood up and applauded in cooperation. These audiences who crazily requested to add screenings were undoubtedly the strongest supporters of the film.

They don't care which country's film you are. If it's good, I praise it; if it's bad, I spray it.

If you don't believe it, go and see the "Give me back my money" billboard activity. They are all European and American films.

"Little Lu! Congratulations!"

This is Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang, who is rarely seen celebrating crazily. He is happier than winning the award himself!

"Little Lu, you really did it!"

This is Feng Feng Yuanzheng, who has just calmed down. Previously, he was once very sorry that he won Best Actor, and estimated that the Golden Lion Award would fall into other hands.

"Lu Kuan! You are too awesome!"

This is Zhou Zhou Jielun, whose ankylosing spondylitis condition has just eased slightly. Regardless of the occasion, he blurted out a swear word.

"Fuck!"

This is Lu Taro, who has a fishbone in his throat, thorns on his back, and needles on his seat.

"Fuck!"

This is Harvey, who regrets why he wasn't a little more generous that day. Maybe he could have taken this Golden Lion Award film?

What about Liu Liu Yifei?

Liu Liu Yifei sat next to Lu Kuan and had already hugged him excitedly!

The young girl's powerful arms tightly held Lu Kuan's body.

She was too excited! Too inspired!

She watched step by step how Lu Kuan counterattacked in a desperate situation;

How he painstakingly guided her and Zhou Zhou Jielun, these two newcomers;

How he racked his brains to plan for winning the award;

Just like what Lu Kuan said to Feng Feng Yuanzheng, Liu Liu Yifei also wanted to say a word to him.

This is what you deserve.

Boss Lu: I declare first, she hugged me, I didn't violate the woman's will!

Even though his temperament had been polished for decades, his heartbeat still missed half a beat at the moment Gong Li announced it. At this moment, his soul flew out of this little Daoist's shell.

Flew to the previous life, flew to the Beijing Film Academy, flew to USC.

Flew to himself who had to give up his dream in those wasted years.

He came back to his senses, first bowed to the audience and filmmakers who had been applauding for a long time, then excitedly hugged Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang, and kissed his old face very mischievously.

Then it was Feng Feng Yuanzheng, and the shy Zhou Jielun.

As for Liu Liu Yifei, forget it, the camera is filming, wait until you grow up.

Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang was filled with emotion watching his figure walking onto the stage with his head held high. This old filmmaker who had experienced many storms couldn't help but feel shaken.

How many years has it been since the Beijing Film Academy produced such a director? How many years has it been since Venice had such applause for Chinese-language films?

This young man, who was penniless and whose first film had to go through many dangers to be shot, finally walked to his place.

Art films can give people the power to shake the soul, and special effects films can give people the power to shake the eyeballs.

And in such a film that is almost all indoor scenes, the audience can find the characteristics of both.

This is a genius director's ability to adapt and control the film.

Han Lu and Xie Xiao in the media interview area were very excited. In Venice for so many days, they deeply felt the arrogance and prejudice of the West.

Even black people here get more convenience than Asian faces.

Whether it was their interviews or the arrangement of media positions and legal rights, they were implicitly targeted and squeezed.

At this time, being able to see a Chinese director break through the shackles of nationality and culture and win such a brilliant award is also an honor.

Lu Kuan paced onto the award stage with an extraordinary demeanor, and the two hurriedly raised their equipment to shoot.

"Congratulations, Little Lu."

Gong Li stretched out her hand with a spring breeze on her face, but Boss Lu laughed and hugged her, tightly holding this compatriot Best Actress in his arms.

"Sister Gong Li, thank you!"

Gong Li was a bit lost by the impact of the strong male breath on him, and gently patted Lu Kuan's back.

She smiled and handed over the microphone, looking at this unknown young director who had achieved the Dao in one day with a thousand manners.

"From a poor little mountain village in Jiangsu Province to the award stage of the Venice Golden Lion Award, it took me twenty years."

The first sentence was such a heavy emotion. Boss Lu had already begun to set up a "small-town director" and "genius boy" persona for himself.

It's just that if Zhuang Xu were present, he would definitely be able to see through him at a glance.

Poor little mountain village in Jiangsu Province?

That is the little mountain village of Su Daqiang in the country, it is the ancestral court of the Zhengyi Sect!

A county-level city can resist the GDP of a prefecture-level city, and even more exaggeratedly, it can top a small half of a province!

The Daoist temples with good incense on Mount Mao and the temples with good incense on Mount Wutai are the same. There are more than a dozen billion in the accounts.

Haven't you heard that the Shanghai Municipal Government borrowed billions of funds from the Jing'an Temple?

Still twenty years? You have been a little Daoist priest cheating and kidnapping for at least eighteen years.

He didn't know why this junior brother who grew up together suddenly opened his mind and seemed to be omnipotent.

If you have to seek an explanation, you can only say that the Wenchang Emperor in the broken Daoist temple showed his spirit.

But the audience and filmmakers under the stage were slightly moved. Lu Kuan's fluent English made it easy for them to capture the bitterness and blood in his words.

This young director must have overcome many difficulties to get to where he is today, right?

"Along the way, there are too many people to thank. I am an orphan, but I am not lonely."

"I have the best producer, Teacher Tian Tian Zhuangzhuang, I have the most excellent actor, Teacher Feng Feng Yuanzheng, and the most dedicated actors, Zhou Jielun and Liu Yifei."

"Including our cinematographer Ning Hao, Huang Bo who is willing to be a green leaf, and every member of our *Whiplash* crew."

"This Golden Lion Award belongs to you, belongs to Chinese cinema! Thank you!"

The audience offered warm applause again without hesitation. After he passed the interview area, countless reporters swarmed up.

European media, of course, were full of sour words.

"Lu, do you think your award is well-deserved?"

"Lu! Did you deliberately implant Hollywood style into the film to please our festival president?"

"Lu, you were able to get funds and excellent actors to create films in your twenties. Do you have a red background from the government?"

What kind of questions are these?

Boss Lu took the microphone with ease, one force dropping ten meetings.

"Everyone, you've seen *Titanic*, right? I only have one line to answer you, limited to today, limited to this moment."

"I'm the king of the Venice!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 116 =====