Chapter 150: An Accidental Encounter with Zhang Zhang Chunru

Seeing Lu Kuan drank too much again last night.

Jiang Jiang Zhiqiang and Li Yang both had average alcohol tolerance; he had been going head-to-head with Zhang Zhang Yimou.

After the group finished eating at the restaurant and returned to their lodging, Zhang Zhang Yimou, who looked like a Shaanxi peasant, pulled him and Li Yang aside; the three directors talked about everything under the sun, drinking until the early hours of the morning before stopping.

They had gone abroad at the end of December, and it had already been two months.

He had originally resolved to quit drinking but failed; unexpectedly, he had passively quit lust instead.

On this trip, only Liu Liu Yifei was with him, and there was still waiting to be done.

After sleeping soundly for the entire morning, the group went together to the film festival venue around 4:00 PM.

From afar, they saw a security guard arguing with an Asian woman.

She seemed unable to speak German, and the guard could not understand English, so they were on the verge of a scuffle, blocking the path.

Seeing Lu Kuan walked closer and took a look; why was it her?

"Director Li, you know German, please help out."

Li Yang stepped forward to communicate, and it turned out the lady had lost her invitation, which was why the guard would not allow her to enter; tonight was the final awards ceremony, and security was much stricter than usual.

Especially in Germany, where they were sticklers for the rules.

"Hello, this lady is a member of our film crew, these are our credentials, please let her through."

After some negotiation, Seeing Lu Kuan led her into the inner venue, only then curiously sizing up this Zhang Nushi Zhang Chunru, who would be highly respected by future generations.

He stepped forward respectfully to shake her hand: "Zhang Nushi, hello!"

Zhang Zhang Chunru was thirty-five this year, possessing the demeanor of a refined and upright female scholar.

"Hello, do you recognize me?"

She was genuinely curious; these few people were likely compatriots from back home, but she was not some movie star, so few people could recognize her.

Li Yang whispered a few words to Seeing Lu Kuan before going to sign in and handle the formalities; the film crews in the main competition section had a photo session before the awards ceremony.

Seeing Lu Kuan guided Zhang Zhang Chunru to sit in the seats for the *Blind Shaft* crew.

"My hometown is in Jiangsu Province, I spent a few years in Nanjing, and I just flew over from the United States, so I have heard of Zhang Nushi's achievements."

Zhang Zhang Chunru smiled: "I don't deserve to be called 'Zhang Nushi,' how should I address you?"

"My surname is Lu, Seeing Lu Kuan. The person just now is Li Yang, the director of *Blind Shaft*; our crew is funded and organized by us."

Zhang Zhang Chunru had asked a friend to get her a press pass several days ago, so she had naturally seen the promotional posters for *Blind Shaft* and *Hero*.

After all, these were the works of her compatriots.

"Hello, Little Lu, thank you for just now; these Germans are just sticklers for the rules. I even greeted that tall security guard yesterday."

"Haha, Zhang Nushi, how did you come to Berlin?"

Zhang Zhang Chunru's expression dimmed, as if she had fallen into endless pain.

She did not know how to say it.

In 1968, Zhang Zhang Chunru was born in the United States.

In 1995, after working, she became a freelance writer and immediately began to focus on and write the book *The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II*.

She returned to her hometown in Jiangsu Province, visiting survivors of that year all over Nanjing, weeping time and again amidst their agonizing memories.

In 1997, Zhang Zhang Chunru published the English work *The Rape of Nanking*, and in less than a month, the book climbed onto the *New York Times* bestseller list in the United States.

She allowed Western society, trapped in an information cocoon, to realize the truth of that holocaust for the first time.

Later, AOL in the United States followed the trend and filmed the documentary *Nanking*, which caused a sensation at the Sundance Film Festival and was even called the "Chinese version of *Schindler's List*."

At the same time, the Japanese right-wing forces were also using every possible means to lobby, slander, and smear her.

She bore immense mental pressure, and even her child suffered from autism; long-term work stress left her on the verge of a breakdown.

If history had not changed, next year, this noble-minded lady would commit suicide by shooting herself in her car.

Zhang Zhang Chunru's mother discovered a note among her posthumous works.

On it was written: Blood is flowing everywhere, as if it has been raining blood from the sky.

"I came to Germany to find the descendants of Rabe for some interviews, and incidentally to attend this film festival."

"I heard that there is a high-profile anti-war film winning awards this year, so I thought I would come to learn and study it."

Seeing Lu Kuan nodded silently; her mental state was clearly not good, and she might be on the verge of a breakdown at any moment.

The meaning of "Zhang Chunru" is pure and harmonious; the fall of such a patriotic female scholar was extremely heartbreaking, and Seeing Lu Kuan felt he should do something.

The two were silent for a long time, then Seeing Lu Kuan suddenly smiled: "By the way, Zhang Nushi, I am also a director. Have you seen *Whiplash*?"

Zhang Zhang Chunru shook her head.

"That is a film I shot last year; it won the Golden Lion at Venice."

"Is that so? Truly remarkable!"

Zhang Zhang Chunru was slightly moved; such a young child had already won one of the three major European awards, and she prepared to go back and watch this film.

Seeing Lu Kuan then said: "Actually, I have a presumptuous request; I would like to ask a favor of Zhang Nushi."

"Please speak."

"I have always been preparing to shoot a disaster film about our people, whether it is the Tangshan Earthquake, the 1998 floods, or the subject of the Nanjing Massacre that you have been researching, but I have never been able to make up my mind."

"Hmm?"

"I have read your book, and it was very moving. I have written a draft of a film script about the Nanjing Massacre myself, and it is still being polished. Do you think it is feasible?"

Zhang Zhang Chunru was truly interested now.

Although her reason told her she must let herself walk out of the disaster and return to a normal life.

But once she touched upon this topic, she still could not help but pay attention.

"Director Lu, your idea is correct."

"The whole world knows about Auschwitz and the Nazi persecution of the Jews because the wealthy Jews have made countless films on related subjects; they even have a dedicated foundation that provides funding for related topics."

"Our country's works are still too few, and our voice is too small; this is very heartbreaking."

Seeing Lu Kuan frowned and said: "It is very difficult to reveal historical reality through film because audiences go to the cinema to relax and be entertained."

"Secondly, the director's fame and strength are also very important, including the film's form of expression. Although it is a serious drama, being able to approach the level of *Schindler's List* would be more conducive to achieving the goal of publicity."

"Such a film, while not necessarily needing to be a Chinese-language film, must certainly come from the hands of a Chinese director; Americans will not support such a project."

This was the truth; very few American audiences were interested in history, let alone history that had little to do with them.

Secondly, Japan was currently one of the top three film markets in the world, and Hollywood realism would never make a film that offended its financiers.

Not to mention that Japanese companies like Sony had deep-rooted influence in Hollywood; behind Columbia Pictures was Sony.

Zhang Zhang Chunru's eyes lit up; it seemed this young director had indeed given it some thought.

"Do you have any ideas now? How are you considering your script?"

Seeing Lu Kuan spoke eloquently: "Zhang Nushi, I am preparing to shoot a biographical film about you; I need you to authorize me!"

Boss Lu's idea was also very simple.

He prepared to hurry and write a script on a related subject; the biased works of Lu Lu Chuan must be discarded, and he would create according to his own ideas.

The story was the story, but it lay in how to express it, in the shots, narrative, and techniques chosen by the director.

Just like the Tangshan Earthquake, do you choose to shoot big scenes for a grand narrative, or shoot small characters to see the big picture through the small?

The connotation and core are the same; it just depends on the choices of the director and screenwriter.

Before she could refuse, Seeing Lu Kuan continued to press.

"A pure historical disaster film will not have many viewers."

"Only by innovating the film form, and by narrating your experience of creating the work and searching for historical truth, can we reveal the pain of historical truth from the side; perhaps only then can we truly achieve our goal."

For the first time today, Zhang Zhang Chunru smiled from the heart: "If you think this is beneficial to the film, I am willing to support you; I do not need a penny of compensation."

She agreed without hesitation.

Just as she had ten years ago, when she first learned of the crimes of the Nanjing Massacre, she had jumped in without hesitation, placing herself in this endless abyss.

"Zhang Nushi, there is one thing I want to make clear to you."

"Films on such major historical subjects must be prepared very thoroughly, and the censorship from the Film Bureau is also very strict."

"I myself also want to pour all my strength into shooting it well, to truly reveal this period of criminal history to the people of the whole world, just like you."

"Therefore, this preparation process might be a bit long; it might be like you writing a book, taking two or three years. I don't know if you..."

Zhang Zhang Chunru hesitated for a moment.

"It doesn't matter; I am basically in a semi-retired state now. If there is a need, I can fly to the country to assist you."

Boss Lu said happily: "That's great! Then please also be the consultant for this film until it is finished and released, can you?"

"Okay."

The awards ceremony soon began, and the two exchanged contact information, both harboring their own thoughts.

Seeing Lu Kuan let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

Do one's best and leave the rest to fate.

The shooting of such a film would inevitably be fraught with difficulties; although the enthusiasm for nationalism in the country was high during this period, there was no shortage of paid public intellectuals.

From the moment his film project was approved, it would inevitably be subjected to the clamor of "we should forget history and look forward" from the mouths of countless running dogs.

In later generations, Zhang Zhang Yimou's *The Flowers of War* was heavily criticized in North America, labeled by mouthpieces bought by the Japanese as Great Power Chauvinism and extreme nationalism, and he himself was belittled as worthless.

It was just that having been reborn, besides wandering the world and living a life of dissipation, how could he ignore these things when he saw them?

He only had flaws in his private conduct, but he never lacked in the great cause.

To be more realistic and utilitarian, being able to successfully create a film on such a subject would inevitably win favor and recognition from the simple masses and high-level leaders.

It was just that one shouldn't be delusional about the box office of this film; perhaps to achieve the publicity effect, he would even have to subsidize ticket prices himself for promotion and marketing.

As for Zhang Zhang Chunru, she had somewhat regained the passion she had ten years ago for fighting against evil, continuing her unfinished cause!

Today happens to be September 18th, do not forget the national humiliation!

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(End of this chapter)