On the last day of April, Wang Dalun's roles in "Xiao Wu" were all completed, and he rushed back to the capital non-stop on the same day. Zhang Yuan had called several times before, and one of them was bad news, Wang Xiaobo, the screenwriter of "East Palace and West Palace", died of a heart attack on April 11, and he couldn't catch up with the memorial service on April 26. The next few phone calls were urging him to return to the capital at the end of April, reportedly to go to Cannes in advance.

As soon as Wang Dalun's bus arrived at the border of the capital, he received a message from Zhang Yuan, asking him to contact him as soon as he arrived in the capital.

"What, leaving tomorrow?"

Wang Dalun didn't care about going home, so as soon as he got off the bus, he called Zhang Yuan and made an appointment to meet in a teahouse. Zhang Yuan's expression rarely looked haggard, and the first sentence after the meeting was to ask Wang Dalun to get ready, and prepare to fly to France early tomorrow morning.

"If I don't leave, I'm afraid I won't be able to leave by then. Zhang Yuan rubbed his face with his hands, showing his tiredness.

"Why?" Wang Dalun hurriedly asked.

In Zhang Yuan's intermittent words, he finally understood the reason.

It turned out that a few days ago, the Organizing Committee of the Cannes International Film Festival had just announced the films shortlisted for each screening unit, and a total of three Chinese-language films were shortlisted. It's a pity that "East Palace and West Palace" was not shortlisted for the main competition unit, but only for the "Un Certain Regard" unit.

Zhang Dadao, known as the first director in China, has only been shortlisted for the non-competitive screening unit - "Something to Say".

Only Hong Kong director Wang Sunglasses directed, bringing together stars such as Leslie Cheung and Leung Chaowei to join "Happy Spring" is one of the 20 main competition units, becoming the most dazzling of the three Chinese films.

However, it is said that "Happy Spring" is also a same-sex love movie, perhaps because of the appearance of this movie, it directed "East Palace and West Palace" and finally failed to be selected for the main competition unit.

But in any case, having three Chinese-language films appear at the Cannes Film Festival at the same time is also a good thing for Chinese-language films. And this year coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Cannes International Film Festival, which is even more commemorative.

But in the eyes of the relevant departments, "East Palace and West Palace" is like a rat poop mixed into a pot of fragrant meat porridge. In particular, this film, which they have repeatedly banned to slander the image of socialism and is suspected of propagating corrupt thinking, actually appeared at the Cannes Film Festival in a grand manner, and it is also above the "Have Something to Say" recommended by them and can represent the level of Chinese films, which is really tolerable and intolerable, which is a blatant challenge to their authority for the relevant departments. So he immediately slipped Zhang Yuanti over, and while severely reprimanding him, he ordered him to remove the film from Cannes and wait for the organization to deal with it further.

Zhang Yuan is an old fritter and has already thought of countermeasures. He spread his hands and sued the relevant departments that the film was invested by the French, the other people were the bosses, and the exhibition was also sent by others, and he was just a director, so there was no way.

A typical ******** is that the authorities bite a hundred eggs, and they can't bite the eggs of the French. However, it is said that this time the relevant departments are very determined, and they have sent a letter to the Cannes International Film Festival, asking for the removal of "East Palace and West Palace". The French have not yet replied, in order to prevent long nights and dreams, Zhang Yuan decided to take advantage of the May Day holiday to leave quickly, otherwise he may not be able to leave, and the relevant departments can do anything.

Yes, he had to catch a plane early tomorrow morning, Wang Dalun hurried home to pack up, and at the same time immediately contacted Peter Chen, and he had to wear other people's brand clothes on the red carpet. Fortunately, the clothes have been made a long time ago and are being placed in the Beijing office. Peter Chen hurriedly informed them to send the clothes to Wang Dalun.

At half past seven in the morning, Wang Dalun and Zhang Yuan met at the international departure gate of the capital airport.

"Zhang Jian hasn't arrived yet?"

"No, I said on the phone yesterday that we would meet at the gate of the 10th. Zhang Yuan looked a little anxious.

"Here, let's smoke two cigarettes first. ”

As soon as he entered the airport, he couldn't smoke for more than ten hours, Wang Dalun took out a cigarette, handed it to Zhang Yuan, and said with a smile: "The plane at nine o'clock, there is still an hour and a half, what are you in a hurry." ”

Zhang Yuan pointed to his eyes and said, "My right eyelid has been jumping since last night, and I'm always worried that something will happen." ”

"Ouch, I said big brother, we're about to get on the plane, don't you talk about these unlucky things?" Wang Dalun hurriedly said.

Zhang Yuan thought about it, smiled at him reluctantly, regarded as apologetic, took a heavy puff of cigarette, and said with a wry smile: "You don't know, so many things have happened during this time, first Xiaobo just left, and then there are these things from the relevant departments." This time it can be regarded as a sore spot for them, they want to maintain their so-called bullshit authority, and it is estimated that it will be difficult to give up this time. I'm just worried that Cannes will take our film back. ”

"Will the French listen to them?" said Wang Dalunci.

"This is a political zhì, you don't understand. Zhang Yuan sighed, then shook his head again, and said, "Actually, I don't understand." ”

Well, that's not a good thing to take. The two stood next to the trash can and silently finished smoking a cigarette, Wang Dalun saw that Zhang Yuan's mental condition was not very good, and he must not have slept well, so he said: "Why don't you go in first and rest, I'll wait for Zhang Jian here." ”

"No, it's almost time to arrive. ”

As he was talking, a taxi stopped with a "creak", and he saw Zhang Jian hurriedly getting out of the car, and was busy opening the trunk to carry his luggage.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. When they go out in the morning, the old ladies are crooked, and they delay their work. You're here early?"

"No, we've just arrived. Do you want to have a good time before you go in. Wang Dalun said.

Zhang Jian wanted to smoke a cigarette, but when he saw Zhang Yuan's face, he immediately shook his head and said, "Forget it, I see that Lao Zhang looks absent-minded, let's go in first." ”

Wang Dalun was very discerning, and hurriedly found a small cart to carry the luggage of the three people, and pushed it towards the customs. Because it was a holiday, and it was a flight in the morning, there were not too many people queuing up at the customs, and soon it was his turn, Zhang Jian was the first to pass the customs, and when it was Zhang Yuan's turn, there was trouble, and the customs officer asked him to wait next to him, and then beckoned to Wang Dalun and signaled him to go over to clear customs.

Seeing this, Wang Dalun couldn't care about passing the test, so he hurriedly walked over and asked Zhang Yuan: "What's the matter?"

"What else can I do, don't let me go out!" Zhang Yuan sneered. But it looks calm.

"Damn, let him talk to himself. Wang Dalun scolded secretly, and could only accompany Zhang Yuan on the side. After a while, I saw a border checkpoint staff come over and asked Zhang Yuan to come over.

At this time, Zhang Jian, who had already passed the customs, was also very anxious, standing at the door and asking what was going on?

"Brother Jian, you wait first, I'll go over and take a look. ”

Wang Dalun replied to him, and hurriedly pushed his luggage and hurriedly followed.

When he arrived at the airport office, Wang Dalun wanted to follow him in, but was stopped by the staff.

"He's my friend. ”

Zhang Yuan is also a celebrity who is not too big or small, and the staff member is quite polite, and after a little hesitation, he agreed.

When I entered the office, it was not a big deal, mainly because I was afraid that it would not affect the impact of a big quarrel outside, and the capital airport would represent the face of the capital. So the staff invited Zhang Yuan into the office, and then officially conveyed to him the decision of the relevant parties, restricting him from appearing in the near future, and his passport was temporarily detained.

"Do you want to arrest me?" Zhang Yuan asked with a sneer.

"We are only implementing the decisions of the relevant authorities and do not restrict your freedom of movement in the country. Mr. Zhang, please understand. "The staff spoke very politely.

The passports have all been confiscated, and it's useless to quarrel with them. As soon as he came out, Wang Dalun asked anxiously, "Then should we go or not?"

"Why not? I guess the French must have refused to take down our films, so they jumped over the wall and didn't let me go to the festival. These Dogs are raised!" Zhang Yuan gritted his teeth and scolded, and said, "In this case, I'll call Lao Ke first and tell him about the situation." ”

Zhang Yuan found a public phone, dialed international calls, and contacted Lao Ke. Sure enough, as Zhang Yuan said, just yesterday, the Organizing Committee of the Cannes International Film Festival officially rejected the request of the relevant departments to withdraw the film "East Palace and West Palace".

"Da Lun, you and Zhang Jian go over, and Lao Ke will pick you up at the airport then, and everything has already been arranged. They could ban me from leaving the country, but they couldn't ban our films from participating in the Cannes Film Festival. Go ahead, go for a long time, this time there is no chance, let's wait for next time. Don't worry, I owe you an actor. Before leaving, Zhang Yuan patted Wang Dalun on the shoulder to comfort him.

"East Palace and West Palace" was not shortlisted for the main competition unit, which means that Wang Dalun lost his qualification to compete for the best actor. Although Wang Dalun was very disappointed, he was not so arrogant that he had to win the Cannes Best Actor.

Wang Dalun could only nod silently, and when he finished the exit formalities at the customs counter and turned back, he found that Zhang Yuan was still standing there, waving goodbye to him.

Wang Dalun also waved his hand at him, he knew that Zhang Yuan must be very sorry, but sometimes the reality is so cruel.

The Lufthansa flight stopped in Frankfurt and arrived at Nice Airport in France at 5 p.m. local time, where Lao Ke was already waiting to meet him.

Because Zhang Yuan was restricted from leaving the country, everyone's mood was relatively heavy, and after hugging and greeting, they hurried to Cannes.

Although Cannes and Nice are two cities, they are only 20 kilometers apart, less than half an hour's drive, which is about the same time as the city of Beijing to the capital airport.

Lao Ke was very busy, so he took them to the hotel and took his leave. Wang Dalun and Zhang Jian sat in the room staring wide-eyed.

"What are we doing?" asked Wang Dalun.

"What else can you do? Wait!" Zhang Jian yawned, it was almost early in the morning in the capital, and the jet lag had not yet reversed.

Because Zhang Yuan didn't come, Lao Ke still had a conscience and did not cancel the pre-booked room, Wang Dalun and Zhang Jian were in one room, which also saved him from Zhang Jian's bagpipe-like snoring.

So the two of them did the same as they did in Matabrata, and for the next few days, they wandered around the city of Cannes. Cannes is much smaller than Matabrata, with a population of 70,000, but it has a lot of visitors from all over the world. May has entered the tourist season, in addition to the international film festival, there are also international rowing festivals, international music recording festivals, mimosa festivals and so on. Of course, the biggest and most famous is the two-week international film festival, not to mention the fact that this year is also the 50th anniversary.