I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

"I've already said almost everything I could say in the previous few times."

Hearing Lu Ban's teasing, many people at the scene laughed good-naturedly.

Being able to stand on the stage of Cannes and give an acceptance speech is an honor that many people can hardly attain, let alone speak several times in the same year.

"As I said, I wanted to bring a different feeling to everyone with this movie, a story about warmth, growth, and healing. I believe that the audience who has watched the whole movie will definitely understand my thoughts."

"I believe that times have changed and humanity has reached a point where it must change itself to adapt to the future. While maintaining the status quo, we must also make some changes, otherwise civilization will only face destruction."

"I make movies not for fame or profit, but for the world. I only hope that my insignificant contribution can delay the process of world destruction by just a little bit, and that will be enough."

Lu Ban's speech gave the audience a lot to think about.

Some believe that "land obstacles" refers to the increasingly serious environmental problems, and that if humanity does not seize the time to promote environmentalism, the Earth will be overburdened.

Some believe that Lu Ban refers to the current art world, where many people hold outdated ideas, are stuck in their ways, and suppress new talents. If this continues, art will not survive.

Some believe that Lu Ban is criticizing the current film industry, arguing that most people are just filling their positions without contributing anything and are destroying the film industry, while his existence is to save the entire film industry.

Some people believe that Lu Ban refers to his own creative work. From classic horror thrillers to current art films, Lu Ban has surpassed himself in order to keep moving forward and making progress.

No one voiced their true thoughts; instead, they exchanged understanding, healing, and mysterious smiles.

Chapter 387 The Pressure Arrives at the Golden Bear Award

Just as Lu Ban was winning awards galore at Cannes, the Golden Bear jury in Berlin was in a dilemma.

According to current regulations, one cannot participate in the three major film festivals at the same time.

In other words, to win an award at a film festival, a film must premiere at that festival. Therefore, in the past decade or so, no film has won major awards at two film festivals simultaneously.

This has a somewhat mutually exclusive meaning.

After all, according to the judges' standards, if a film wins the Palme d'Or, it should not win the Golden Bear or the Golden Lion.

After all, writers are always a bit jealous of each other. If you think something is good, I have to find fault with it, otherwise I'll feel like I'm just following your lead in judging the award.

However, this time, "All Quiet in Spring" left the Golden Bear judges a little unsure of what to do.

These judges had all seen the film in France and were naturally deeply moved.

If "All Quiet in Spring" had premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, then without a doubt, all the Golden Bear awards would have gone to Lu Ban; he could have given him as many as he wanted!

But now, the Palme d'Or has taken the lead and awarded the grand prize.

What about our Golden Bear Award?

If you say that Lu Ban shouldn't be allowed to participate in the exhibition, then wouldn't the quality of the works in this year's Golden Bear Award be more than a dozen times worse than the Palme d'Or and the Golden Lion Award?

But if Lu Ban were to participate in the exhibition, wouldn't people say that the Golden Bear Awards have poor aesthetic sense and only follow trends?

The judges were extremely conflicted.

Of course, they eventually compromised.

Imagine if future generations looked back at the works of this year's three major art film festivals and found that the Palme d'Or went to "All Quiet in Spring," while the Golden Bear and Golden Lion went to other films. Wouldn't they question the judging standards of the Golden Bear Award?

Even worse, what if the Golden Bear Awards, following the rules, didn't include "All Quiet in Spring" in the competition, but those Italians who eat potatoes every day made an exception and let "All Quiet in Spring" win the Golden Lion?

Where does that leave the dignity of Great Germany?

With this in mind, the judges accepted "All Quiet in Spring" as their entry.

Naturally, if "All Quiet in Spring" could sweep Cannes, it could also sweep Berlin.

In July, the Golden Bear Awards, a rare event held in the summer, saw "All Quiet in Spring" achieve a grand slam, sweeping several awards including the Golden Bear for Best Picture, the Silver Bear for Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Screenplay.

Thus, the only remaining chapter in "All Quiet in Spring"'s journey at the three major art film festivals was the Golden Lion at Venice.

As the film is released in various countries and regions, more and more people are experiencing what "Lu Ban's healing power" truly means.

In North America, a New York Times commentator offered the following review of Lu Ban's work:

"All Quiet in Spring is a film that guides people to feel hope by showing despair. Like many war films, although they meticulously depict the details of war, they actually evoke the fear and disgust of the general public about war by realistically showing its cruelty, thus achieving the purpose of anti-war. Director Lu Ban's film undoubtedly uses the detailed depiction and portrayal of a world full of despair, and the destruction of beautiful things to evoke the audience's hatred and fear of such a world, so as to cherish the existing world more and be full of hope for life. Therefore, it can be said that this is an anti-despair film!"

In the UK, The Times interviewed a professor of film and communication studies at Cambridge University, asking for her opinion on "All Quiet in Spring." She stated:

"All Quiet in Spring" is an experimental film in which the audience, director, and actors participated together. After watching the film, the audience became part of the story, and together with other viewers who had not yet seen it, they performed the content of the story. Director Lu Ban used delicate emotions, gorgeous visuals, and a cruel plot to make the audience empathize, which is why the current effect was achieved. It can be said that there may be scripts like this in the future, directors like this in the future, and actors like this in the future, but only this film, All Quiet in Spring, can achieve perfection by combining the three elements.

The island nation, which is most similar to the setting and island in "All Quiet in Spring," saw its Yomiuri Shimbun angrily criticize Riku's film.

"While the island culture depicted in 'All Quiet in Spring' is impeccable, perfectly embodying the beauty of 'mono no aware' (the pathos of things), it is fundamentally different from the island government and our government. Our country would never engage in the kind of deception and harming of innocent girls depicted in the film. Director Lu Ban's act of subtly satirizing our traditional culture through the film is a desecration of art!"

Of course, despite the criticism, "All Quiet in Spring" quickly became the number one film at the Japanese box office. Coupled with the Japanese people's tendency to take things too seriously, the box office continued to climb, and it quickly reached the top spot of the year.

Wang Qing, a reporter from China Film Report, had the opportunity to interview Lu Ban and wrote a brief interview article.

Q: Director Lu Ban, what are your thoughts on the international acclaim for "All Quiet in Spring"?

A: I believe that art transcends borders. This film allows people to feel something similar, transcending culture and country. This shows that our human civilization has certain commonalities, and these commonalities are the bonds that maintain our society.

Q: What is your opinion on the negative reviews from the official media of the island nation?

A: What I'm showing is the scenery of the island. It may have some similarities to real countries, but it's actually completely different. As for some people taking it personally, I can only wonder how much free time they have.

Q: Some people say that you are a domestic director, but you use the background and culture of other countries to make movies, which is suspected of being a Western worshipper. What do you think?

A: A story needs a suitable medium. This story takes place on the island, which is something neither you nor I can change. I cannot hypocritically distort what has already happened. My best quality is honesty.

Q: Some critics have also said that you advertised yourself as a healer, but instead presented an incredibly cruel story, and that you are suspected of using this publicity to deceive the audience. What do you think?

A: I don't think there's a conflict. A thousand readers will have a thousand Hamlets. Some people think my movie is cruel, some people think it's healing, and some people may think the ending of the movie isn't dark and cruel enough. It's precisely because you can see many different things from one ending that the story can be pondered and savored repeatedly.

Q: Finally, regarding Amber, the actress who plays her has not appeared yet. Is this some kind of publicity stunt or presentation method?

A: Why don't I let her answer this question herself?

Q: So, where is Miss Amber?

A: She's right here.

Chapter 388 Recommends a Healing Movie

Meanwhile, "All Quiet in Spring" was also officially released in the country.

Domestic audiences were completely confused after watching the Cannes awards ceremony.

I have no idea what this movie is about.

After the packed premiere, the audience looked completely bewildered, as if their brains had been whipped around several times.

But soon, that healing and mysterious smile also spread throughout the country.

Jiangcheng.

No. 900, Xicheng North Road, Jiangcheng Mental Hospital.

Dr. Hao glanced at the cafeteria's layout and nodded in satisfaction.

The cafeteria has been equipped with a huge projection screen, projector, and tables and chairs arranged to resemble a movie theater.

Tonight, a movie will be shown here for the patients in the hospital.

The movie is called "All Quiet in Spring".

This is part of a movie-themed charity event specially sponsored by Lu Ban.

Since this film doesn't need to consider box office revenue, Lu Ban's goal is to reach a wider audience and increase its influence.

Schools, mental hospitals, prisons, towns, villages, fields, and among the broadest masses of people.

This time, the film screening was a public service event held at Jiangcheng Mental Hospital.

Dr. Hao himself hadn't seen the movie. He had only heard from others that it could heal people's hearts and that watching it would rekindle their longing and hope for life.

He found it quite impressive; in all his years as a psychologist, he had never encountered a work that could truly change a person's attitude towards life.

If watching movies can make people more positive, then will psychologists be out of a job?

The patients sat separately according to the severity of their symptoms, and Dr. Hao immediately spotted the painter named Bi Jia.

He is now a caring older brother figure in the intensive care unit, helping doctors provide psychological counseling to other patients.

However, he always believed that his mental illness was very serious.

Perhaps this is also a kind of illness.

Bi Jia invited the patients in the intensive care unit to sit down, and then came to Dr. Hao.

"Doctor, we're all here, we can begin."

Dr. Hao gestured for him to sit down and then had the projectionist start playing the film.

He sat down next to the projector, took a cup of water infused with goji berries, and blew on it.

The movie begins.

More than a hundred minutes later, the cafeteria of the mental hospital was completely silent.

The patients stared silently at the gradually appearing list of production staff.

Dr. Hao sat there in a daze. He felt he should think about something, he felt he should do something, but he couldn't move or speak. All that remained in his mind was the last image of Amber.

The goji berry water has gone cold.

All Dr. Hao could see was Bi Jia slowly standing up, coming to his side, and patting him on the shoulder.

"Just say what you want to say. It will make you feel better."

Bi Jia reassured him.

Dr. Hao's expression finally broke down; tears streamed down his face as he sobbed uncontrollably, collapsing into Bi Jia's arms as if he had completely broken down.

"Why did this happen? Why did this happen? What did she do wrong?!"

The other nurses and doctors, following Dr. Hao's emotional breakdown, also began to break down one after another.

At this moment, the mental patients came one by one to the side of the medical staff, trying their best to comfort them.

The cafeteria was filled with a harmonious and joyful atmosphere.

Such scenes are happening all over the country.

In the hardened criminal prison, the day after watching "All Quiet in Spring," more than 30% of the criminals confessed to other crimes that had not been discovered, and some criminals who had previously refused to plead guilty tearfully signed confessions.