Come to a movie to finalize the Chinese New Year in the era of light and shadow?

Regarding Li Xiaoping's whimsical idea, Wu Yuan was speechless.

But it's understandable when you think about it.

Wu Yuan's most recent film released in China was "Painted Skin", which was released on December 28, 2005, and more than a year has passed.

If there is no movie this year, Wu Yuan will have to say goodbye to mainland audiences for 2 years.

Since his debut, he has basically kept releasing one Chinese film a year, although sometimes it is a literary film, sometimes it is a commercial film, but at least the frequency is quite high.

It's just that he has been a little too busy here in Hollywood in the past two years, and "Pirates of the Caribbean 2", "Rush Hour 3" and "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" have taken up too much of his time.

In addition, the domestic "Gravity" is also a big project that takes a long time, so that he has not been able to bring Chinese movies to the audience for two consecutive years.

Or, as Li Xiaoping said, catch a movie to make up for the excitement of this year's Chinese New Year?

Wu Yuan crossed his fingers and calculated, "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" will probably be filmed in June.

If he had hurried up, he would indeed be able to get another feature film without special effects in half a year.

But it's also a little too tiring.

After thinking about it carefully, Wu Yuan still rejected Li Xiaoping's extravagant expectations, and didn't plan to push himself so hard.

It's just that what he didn't expect was that the front foot refused Li Xiaoping's "invitation film", and Wu Yuan on the back foot received another call.

is from his senior brother Jia Zhangke, and Jia Zhangke's phone call is not because he has anything to talk to Wu Yuan, but to help the Venice Film Festival with a word.

Marco Müller, chairman of the Venice Film Festival, hopes to invite Wu Yuan to bring his works to the Venice International Film Festival next year.

Among the three major international film festivals, Wu Yuan has participated in Cannes and Berlin, but Venice has not participated.

And it just so happens that Venice has been the most pro-Chinese film festival among the three major European film festivals in the past five years.

Who is called Mark Muller himself is a Huaxia expert, not only came to Huaxia to study, but his wife was married in Huaxia, and he loves to watch Chinese movies, and he loves Chinese filmmakers very much.

How much do you like it?

05 06 07 The three Golden Lion Awards were awarded to Li Eucalyptus's "Brokeback Mountain", Jia Zhangke's "The Good Man of the Three Gorges" and Li Eucalyptus's "Lust Caution".

Of course, this year's "Lust and Caution" award won't be announced until September.

It is also because of the "heavyweight work" of "Lust and Caution" this year that Mark Muller invited Wu Yuan to participate in the Venice Film Festival next year.

Because there are no literary blockbusters that Chinese directors have prepared next year, it is a window period.

And Mark Muller, who loves Chinese movies, doesn't want the Chinese faces in Venice to disappear, so he has his eyes on Wu Yuan, a great Chinese director.

In the past two or three years, Wu Yuan has plunged headlong into the field of commercial films, and has never made a literary film since "Love", which makes Mark Mill very regretful and regretful.

He personally likes Wu Yuan's "The Undertaker" and "Love" very much, because both movies are about death, and he likes this theme.

Jia Zhangke first called Wu Yuan to get his breath, and after obtaining his consent, he gave his phone number to Mark Mueller.

Then Mark Mueller personally called Wu Yuan.

"Director Wu Yuan, as one of the best international film festivals in Europe, we sincerely hope that more outstanding international directors can participate."

"And you, as one of the best directors in China, are also the object of great welcome at our Venice Film Festival."

"If you can, on behalf of the Venice Film Festival, I sincerely invite you to bring your works to the Venice International Film Festival in September next year."

"I'll greet you in Venice."

Not to mention, Mark Mueller, this old boy, speaks Chinese really well!

is worthy of being an international student, worthy of marrying a Chinese wife, he is the only foreigner who pronounces the sound of "Wu Yuan" correctly.

Isn't this goodwill going up?

Stretch out your hand and don't hit the smiling person, everyone is going to sweep the couch to greet each other, what else can Wu Yuan say?

Anyway, it's still early until September next year, so Wu Yuan readily agreed: "Thank you very much Chairman Muller for the invitation, but my next film shooting plan has not yet been decided." ”

"I can only assure you here that if I have a plan to shoot a literary film before the Venice Film Festival next year, I will definitely bring it to Venice to participate in the exhibition."

"If there is no film plan, it can only be said that it is a pity."

Mark Muller on the phone smiled happily, "Of course, with Director Wu's words, I am already very happy, and the Venice Film Festival sincerely waits for Director Wu's arrival." ”

Well, when it comes to this, Wu Yuan had to consider Mark Mueller's invitation after hanging up the phone after a few greetings.

To be honest, with Mark Muller, the pro-China chairman, Venice will indeed become half of the home of Chinese filmmakers in recent years.

Without Mark Mueller, Jia Zhangke's "The Good Man of the Three Gorges" is unlikely to win last year's Golden Lion.

If you want to win the award, it is indeed more suitable to go to the Venice Film Festival in these two years.

Mark Muller's invitation also came very early, and now there is still a full year and a half before next year's Venice, which is enough for Wu Yuan to prepare.

If there is a suitable script, it has always been a good thing.

It doesn't cost money to make a literary film, only a few million is enough to make an excellent literary film, but it is difficult to have an excellent script.

After the incident invited by Mark Muller, during the filming of "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" and when he was resting after work, Wu Yuan was thinking about whether he should go to the Venice Film Festival for the whole literary film when he had time.

Which movie is right for you?

First of all, it is necessary to continue his style of directing literary films, that is, to explore the eternal topic of death.

The previous "The Undertaker" and "Love", both films explored death through different stories and perspectives.

This has also become Wu Yuan's personal style.

The film newspapers in Europe, as long as they mention Wu Yuan, the director, will inevitably talk about it.

European film critics agree that Wu Yuan likes to use the "ordinary stories" of small people to explore the grand topic of death in movies.

It seems that the stories are simple and ordinary, but the discussion of "life" behind it will always touch the depths of the audience's soul, which makes people shudder.

Just like Zhang Yimou's literary films, the countryside, farmers, and yellow earth are always indispensable.

Chen Kaige's literary films are always indispensable for picturesque compositions and complex characters' hearts.

Jiang Wen's literary films are indispensable for a large number of metaphors, metaphors, and political reflections.

As an excellent art film director, Wu Yuan certainly has his own style and characteristics in his literary films.

Although this style and characteristics were indeed inadvertently presented by Wu Yuan, when he chose the two movies "The Undertaker" and "Love", he really didn't think about it so much.

It's just that now that the style has been formed, he can only accept the evaluation and definition of himself by European journalists.

If he wants to be stable, his next literary film should be related to the proposition of "death", continue to deepen his film style, and form a unique "Wu Yuan-style film".

This must be something that a director can't ask for and be proud of.

So the question is, which movie to make?

Wu Yuan's first thought was the French movie "Untouchable" released in 2011.

The film tells the story of Philip, an aristocrat who is unable to take care of himself, and his domestic servant, Dries, a young black man, who help each other.

On the surface, there can be no similarities between Philip and Dries, whether it is their life background or status, they are basically two completely opposite extremes.

But even so, the two men have developed a less stable but rising friendship.

And it's all based on sincerity, frankness, and humor.

In the process, they will all experience an unprecedented emotional baptism, and at the same time, they will be forced to re-examine the meaning of life and love.

This movie is also from another angle, leading the audience to appreciate the meaning of life and love, from the perspective of concept and style, it is actually very similar to "Love".

And this movie also stacks anti-racial BUFF, which is even more interesting if a Chinese director comes to shoot it.

But alas, the film is adapted from the autobiography "Second Breath" by Philippe Pozzo di Borgo.

This true story has been made into a documentary since 2004.

This is not an original scripted story.

The director of "Untouchable", Olivier Nakashida, saw the documentary in 2004 and had the idea of adapting it into a feature film, and he put it into action in 2008.

Wu Yuan is grabbing this movie now, it may be a little too late, and it is easy to get caught in the war of tearing and scolding, and some are not very necessary.

"Senior brother, what are you thinking?" A steaming cup of tea was brought to the table, interrupting Wu Yuan's contemplation.

Picking up the teacup and taking a few sips, Wu Yuan sighed with satisfaction, pulled Liu Yifei into his arms, and said with a smile: "I'm thinking about how to bring my talent to Venice." ”

"Senior brother, you want to participate in the Venice Film Festival?!" Liu Yifei's eyes immediately lit up.

Liu Yifei has a heart for literary films, and has always wanted to try to make literary films and challenge her acting skills!

It's just that Wu Yuan hasn't made literary films in the past two years, and she herself can't receive this kind of film appointment, so she temporarily extinguished this heart.

"Sissi, don't think about it." However, Wu Yuan immediately dispelled her thoughts, "Your current acting skills still need to be improved, so you don't need to rush to make literary films for the time being." ”

"For you, the most important thing now is to experience life more, a little princess like you, who grew up worry-free and carefree, lacks a lot of low-level life insights."

"Precisely, the perspective of most literary films starts from the bottom, and farmers, the poor, the poor, and the disabled have always been common protagonists in literary films."

Liu Yifei pursed her lips, a little aggrieved, but she knew that what Wu Yuan said was indeed right, she lacked life experience, and she had never experienced many things told in literary films, how could she act?

"I see." She said listlessly, "It's impossible to wait until Grandma Wu's age before I can act in a literary film and win an award." ”

"Don't say it, today's literary films are really the older the actors, the easier it is to win awards." Wu Yuan teased happily.

Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration.

Old man, easy to get a prize, death?!

A few key words flashed in his mind, and a film that was not very famous, but very suitable for his directing style, gradually became clear in his mind.

"yes, I can make this movie!"

(End of chapter)