The Fleeting Years of Chinese Entertainment

"Director Kobayashi, it's been a long time."

"Hey! Sister Zhang, why aren't you enjoying the flowers and applause with Director Zhang and the others? What are you doing here?"

Lin Mo and Liu Yifei had barely sat down when Zhang Ziyi suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"Hehe...of course, I came early to build a good relationship with you, the Palme d'Or winner and director." Zhang Ziyi replied with a smile:

"Is this Liu Yifei, who's recently been called 'Fairy Sister' by everyone? Director Lin... you have good taste."

Zhang Ziyi's words immediately brought a blush to Ms. Liu's face.

"Teacher Zhang, you've misunderstood. Xiao Mo and I aren't..."

Regardless of Zhang Ziyi's character, Lin Mo truly admires her for her social skills.

After all, from the moment he and Liu Yifei arrived at the premiere venue until they sat in their assigned seats, Zhang Ziyi was the first person to come and greet them.

……

The premiere began with a speech by Zhang Yimou, followed by voice-over narration by voice-over artist Tong Zirong…

It has to be said that the principle of "you get what you pay for" applies everywhere.

This film premiere, which cost no less than 2000 million yuan, was undoubtedly a great success.

Singer Dao Lang appeared wearing a specially made mask and performed the theme song with dozens of dancers dressed in the same costume, creating a mysterious atmosphere.

The event also utilized four of Asia's only top-of-the-line computer-controlled lights to create a snow-like stage effect in the sweltering heat of July. As Catherine Battelle finished her performance, thousands of purple butterflies fluttered up from the audience, creating a beautiful contrast with the peony gauze curtain.

Liu Yifei was a little stunned, and Lin Mo was no exception.

"Just watching this performance alone is probably worth the ticket price, right?"

There were quite a few audience members present, all whispering among themselves.

After the prelude, it's time to watch the movie.

Although Lin Mo had seen it more than once in his previous life, this was the first time he had ever watched it live at the premiere.

The film tells the love story of two constables, Liu and Jin, during the late Tang Dynasty, and a courtesan.

Originally, the courtesan was in love with Constable Liu, but after some twists and turns, she discovered that her true love was Constable Jin. Constable Liu, however, turned his love into hatred and conceived the idea of ​​killing the courtesan.

In the end, the courtesan sacrificed herself to save Constable Jin's life, dying together with Constable Liu.

……

After the premiere, Lin Mo also pulled Liu Yifei away from the scene.

As for the banquet that followed, he wasn't interested, and no one had invited him.

Moreover, Lin Mo still couldn't quite figure out... whether those two invitations were given to him by Zhang Yimou because he was also a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, or by investor and producer Jiang Zhiqiang because he wanted to establish a good relationship with him in advance.

Is he another big name like Wong Jing who has already set his sights on the mainland market? Except this one is targeting him, a new director from the mainland.

"Xiao Mo, what do you think of Director Zhang's movie?"

Liu Yifei skipped ahead of Lin Mo.

Lin Mo, who was pondering whether Jiang Zhiqiang, a filmmaker who had always collaborated with Zhang Yimou, had also set his sights on him, was also brought back to reality by Liu Yifei's words.

"The cinematography, color, scene transitions, etc. are excellent, but as for the plot... well, that's hard to say."

Compared to "House of Flying Daggers", Lin Mo still prefers "Hero".

Because no man can resist the sight of the Qin people shouting "Wind! Wind! Strong wind!"

As the first director to break into the market with a film grossing over 100 million yuan, Zhang Yimou's influence has become unparalleled since the release of "Hero".

Even the influence he gained from winning various trophies in the three major European countries pales in comparison to "Hero".

Although some veteran directors deeply influenced by the three major European film industries are unwilling to believe this fact, what can drive the development of the domestic film industry is still commercial films, not the art films they advocate.

And the audience's feedback is the best proof!

From late June to early August, no major films were imported to China, except for "Troy," which was about to be taken off the screens.

Therefore, Zhang Yimou's choice of release date this time is excellent, and it has a strong momentum to be a hit with all parties.

Since its release, "House of Flying Daggers" has seen its box office revenue soar...

Ten million, twenty million... In just three days, the box office reached a high of 5500 million, directly surpassing the record of 5240 million set by "Hero" in the same period.

Although it lost momentum later on, the film still grossed 1.4 million RMB by early August.

Zhang Yimou has once again proven himself, and also proven that if a film wants high box office returns, it still needs to be a blockbuster.

……

Meanwhile, filming for Lin Mo's "Your Name" in Kyoto has officially come to an end.

On set, Lin Mo and Liu Yifei were standing at the top of a staircase, walking towards each other step by step.

Both of them wanted to speak, but the sense of unfamiliarity they felt when they first met led them to pass each other by.

"Is it him/her? But..."

"This feeling of unfamiliarity, like meeting someone for the first time..."

"That desperate urge in my heart to stop myself..."

"It's as if my heart is desperately calling out for something..."

Just as the two switched places, one standing on the steps and the other on the bottom, about to miss each other...

With each step they took, it felt as if a needle had been plunged deep into each other's hearts.

"Stop..."

"My legs...stop it!"

……

Lin Mo, who was about to turn and leave, finally seemed to have made up his mind... and mustered up the courage to call out:

"Hey!!!"

"Um... haven't we met somewhere before?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei paused, listening to the voice that seemed to have appeared countless times in her dreams, and turned her face, which was already covered in tears.

"I think so too..."

Time flies, and life is like a dream.

In the long years, in that moment of reunion that seemed like a long-awaited reunion, time seemed to stand still, leaving only the two people gazing at each other, as if they saw the changes of time in each other's eyes, and a thousand words were contained in their deep gaze.

Though strangers, it felt like we'd known each other for ages; though it was our first meeting, it felt like we'd known each other forever; though the person we loved most, yet…

At this moment, the two people who had been standing there silently gazing at each other for a long time suddenly smiled at each other and said in unison, as if by telepathy:

"Your name..."

All those words seemed to be condensed into this hesitant, soft call!

……

"Card!"

As Ning Hao's voice rang out, calling for a halt...