No Limit Chen Kaige (Chinese Film Century Classics Series · Director Series)

Author: Kuang Shi Bian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: As a leading figure of the fifth generation of filmmakers, Chen Kaige has directed many representative works. This book uses Chen Kaige's films as the warp and the author's insightful analysis as the weft, employing a tone that is both serious and humorous, to showcase Chen Kaige's profound artistic depth. It critiques his artistic style, the cultural essence conveyed by his films, and his contributions to the development of Chinese cinema and its global reach. They changed China's imagery and changed us. They carry our almost picky pursuit of perfection, fulfilling countless individual dreams, but they are also just a director, a director who may become great in the future! Chen Kaige is a contradictory figure; he can tear apart and reassemble any artist. He possesses a grand vision that rises to the level of nationality and culture, yet he is also entangled in the intricate mysteries of desire and privacy. For example, in Farewell My Concubine, there is Chen Kaige who treats a century of ordinary people and the turmoil of nations as a play, a performance, and a discourse. Even if it is not the "commanding the world from atop the heavens," it is still the "experiencing the beauty of the world" with a sense of weariness and laughter. What is an artistic life? Is it a life that is purer and more transparent than ordinary people, or more complex and confusing? And how many broken Chen Kaige are there, singing that play where humans and puppets blur, where male and female are indistinguishable? In fact, in my films, I hope to depict magnificent lives. Including Cheng Dieyi in Farewell My Concubine, and Jing Ke and Qin Shi Huang in The Battle of Changping. What is life? Life is like a porcelain vase; when it falls to the ground, it shatters immediately. But some vases shatter without making a sound, while others make a loud noise, causing those around to turn their heads. I believe life should have magnificent moments. That's why my films consistently explore themes like this, no matter how varied their stories may be. In my opinion, the current state of Chinese cinema is in a "Warring States" period, with various schools of thought clashing, each claiming to be the best while criticizing others as trash, saying "you're wrong, but I'm right." But in the end, there will inevitably be a process of integration.——Chen Kaige