Who are you calling "little fresh meat"? I'm the king.

Chapter 589: Opening Film Confirmed (33)

Many people know that the first Golden Lion Award for a Chinese-language film was won for "A City of Sadness," but few know that Xie Jin was among the jury members at that year's Venice Film Festival…

It was also because of Xie Jin's reasoned arguments that "A City of Sadness" ultimately won the award!
As for Zhang Yimou, we should thank Old Ma—Marco Müller.

Elena Polach talked to Shen Yan about many things.

"Actually, the Turin Film Festival is the most enthusiastic about Chinese films in Italy, or even in all of Europe. From 1979 to 1981, Marco Müller was preparing for the Turin Film Festival and proposed to hold a large-scale retrospective of Chinese films. They put together a large-scale retrospective of Chinese films, screening a total of 135 films. The earliest one was 'Laborer's Love,' released in 1922, which was the earliest silent film discovered in China at that time."

"Marco Müller always referred to himself as Xie Jin's apprentice...and it was he who organized the European film exhibition for Xie Jin..."

"The film 'A City of Sadness' didn't sell well. When the results were announced, the Italian media was in an uproar and attacked the film festival. It wasn't until 1991, when Zhang Yimou's 'Raise the Red Lantern' won the Silver Lion for Best Film and European distributors bought it for large-scale screenings, that the media began to show a positive attitude towards Chinese-language films!"

"Zhang Yi is indeed remarkable!"

“Indeed!” Elena Polach nodded. “A debut film that won the Golden Bear!”

Then, they started talking about Marco Müller…

During Marco Müller's tenure as a selector at the Venice Film Festival, Hou Hsiao-hsien's "A City of Sadness," Zhang Yimou's "Raise the Red Lantern," and "The Story of Qiu Ju" were successfully selected for and ultimately won awards.
Later, he served as the director of the Venice International Film Festival. During those eight years, films directed by Chinese directors, such as Brokeback Mountain, Still Life, Lust, Caution, A Simple Life, and People Mountain People Sea, won the top prize one after another.

To put it simply, he is known as the number one promoter of Chinese-language films!

Then, Elena Polach used a term that Shen Yan was unfamiliar with—left wing!
He said Marco Müller was a very famous leftist…

Shen Yan was dumbfounded: "Left wing?"

"Left-wing filmmakers!"

"No, there are still left-wing filmmakers now?"

"Of course, in fact, our film festival's president, Alberto Barbera, is also a left-wing filmmaker. He's been a regular at the Turin Film Festival, and he highly recommends Chinese-language films..."

Are there many left-wing filmmakers in Europe?

“Quite a few!” Elena Polach nodded. “You know, there’s been a trend of refugee films lately.”

"A refugee movie? The main characters are refugees?"

"Correct!"

Shen Yan nodded…

Now I understand why the three major European film studios no longer award important prizes to Chinese filmmakers!
Because they are indeed 'outdated'.

Regardless of what's happening in the world, Jia Zhangke is busy 'focusing' on marginalized groups in society, while Lou Ye is still figuring out how to portray emotional issues—"The Cloud in the Wind," on the surface, is about forced demolition, but in reality, it's still about emotional issues!

But Europeans didn't care about any of that...

They are more concerned about LGBT issues and refugees…

Filmmakers' focus on refugee groups naturally carries a "politically correct" aura, so in those years, almost any film with these attributes could win awards!
Especially from a child's perspective...

He likened cooking to a ritual, and naturally, he would also treat well-dressed girls as offerings. This is why he specifically targeted poor girls—not because they were interesting, but because they were useful. His cruelty was hidden beneath a polite exterior; he was disgusted by others' happiness and sneered at their sentimental expressions.

Jong-soo and Hye-mi, on the other hand, could feel happy and content just by eating a piece of bread and drinking red wine; they were completely unaware of how insignificant they were…

But Jong-soo was furious!

"Young people feel hopeless and lost, each carrying an unvented sense of anger!" "Why the anger?"

"Class stratification, didn't I already say? At this stage, sex is no longer a means to achieve upward social mobility. Huimei is just one of the plastic greenhouses that are being burned..."

"Are you trying to portray a revolution?"

"No!" Shen Yan exclaimed in surprise, "This is just an exception..."

So, do you consider yourself left-wing or right-wing?

Shen Yan scratched his head: "I'd say I'm a pragmatist..."

Elena Polach shook her head: "You don't have a stance, and that's not popular in Europe! I suggest you make some LGBT films... that way, it'll be easy to win awards!"

"Impossible!" Shen Yan waved his hand. "I have no interest in this thing!"

"How could I not be interested? This is the latest trend of thought in the world today..."

"...Try this dish...it's quite delicious!"

Shen Yan changed the subject…

I'd heard before that foreigners use many methods to entice you to join them or accept their ideas...

It's actually true!
Elena Polach smiled. "You're not interested?"

"I just want to make movies quietly, and make movies that interest me!"

"What if Venice doesn't want you anymore?"

"Fine, then... I don't think a European film festival can sway my thinking!"

"...You're really persistent!"

Elena Pollachi nodded, then said, "Actually, I'm not interested in these things either... We Italians aren't that interested in them either, but you know, we're a developed country, and sometimes you have to make a gesture of sympathy!"

"Then what's the point of telling me all this?"

“Someone wants to get to know you… but I doubt you’re interested…” Elena Polach waved her hand. “If nothing unexpected happens, Burning will be the opening film at Venice!”

Shen Yan asked curiously, "...Who wants to get to know me?"

"You're not interested... I heard you even turned down the title of UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador for China!"

Shen Yan was a little surprised: "You know that too?"

"...Many people know this..."

"I just feel that China has nothing to do with refugees, so I have no reason to accept this propaganda assignment!"

"Let's talk about movies. Which Italian filmmaker are you most interested in?"

"Of course, it's Michelangelo Antonioni..."

Actually, Shen Yan wanted to say Tinto Brass... but he wasn't that familiar with Elena Polach...

(End of this chapter)