A vast expanse without end

Author: Chen Hong / Huang Bin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Three years of The Promise, how did she and Chen Kaige walk this journey? As a mother, what grievances do her two sons under 10 have against her? How did she transform from an actress into a female producer? In difficult times, how did she endure? In dangerous times, how did she overcome? Chen Hong personally tells the thrilling story behind The Promise, revealing for the first time 150 stunning behind-the-scenes photos of The Promise, along with more precious materials from the film. Many behind-the-scenes news from the filming process of The Promise will be exposed by Chen Hong in Boundless. Additionally, the book includes numerous personal photos of Chen Hong and Chen Kaige, even including Chen Hong's unadorned and pregnant photos.
The chapter from late 2003 to May of this year, when The Promise premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, details many behind-the-scenes secrets of the three-year filming process, including Tony Leung Chiu-wai's residence and the fire at the Shangri-La scene. In the book, Chen Hong mentions Chen Kaige and Zhang Ziyi's first meeting. "Zhang Ziyi met him and talked a lot about how hard she worked, how many people she had to support, and how she had been struggling since she was young. It was very sincere and straightforward, just like our first conversation with Tony Leung Chiu-wai—honest and unfiltered, not hiding anything in front of others."
I will continue to collaborate with Chen Kaige forever: Boundless also delves into the personal lives of Chen Hong and Chen Kaige. Chen Hong says she feels her relationship with Chen Kaige is "more like a 'same-sex marriage' relationship." Because together, they always talk about work. Especially during the collaboration on The Promise. "We will always collaborate. I think this is the kind of support a wife gives to her husband. I can say that I gave up most of my acting career to become a producer, not because I wanted to become a successful producer, but more as a wife supporting her husband's career. This purpose is very realistic—I hope the films he directs don't go over budget. If they do, he will reach into the family's wallet, and I can't take my two sons out to drink. I feel a sense of guilt toward my sons: As a mother, I always feel some sense of guilt. Fortunately, the children are very understanding. Although they have grievances against me, they also say they like this kind of mother. When I ask why, they say, 'Because you work so hard outside to support me.' Hearing this, I feel that although it's a grievance, it's very sweet in my heart. The older child is only 8 years old, but he already has a strong sense of economy, knows how to save money, and knows how to make every penny count. Others might think that Kaige and I give our children a lot of pocket money, but the opposite is true—the children only ask for money when they need it. Thinking about how well-behaved they are, my heart is filled with a mix of sweetness and sorrow."