Chapter 241 Venice (44)
Regarding the Venice Film Festival, Shen Xudong remembered Jiang Wen’s words in his memory: ‘It’s up to me to plan things, and it’s up to me to succeed’!
It's about the "The Sun Also Rises" episode...
"The Sun Also Rises" was shortlisted for competition at the Venice Film Festival.
When asked about the odds of winning, Jiang Wen confidently declared that with Zhang Yi as the festival chairman, he would have no worries about having no one contribute to his film.
'Twenty years ago, we fought hard in 'Sorghum Field', which was his debut film 'Red Sorghum'; 10 years ago, I starred in his film 'If You Have Something to Say', I left him a message when I turned off my phone: 'I Accompany you to the countryside, accompany you to the city, from now on...'
The words “planning things are up to me, success lies in planning”...
Of course, we all know the result. The Golden Lion Award that year was awarded to "Lust, Caution"...
After all, Ah Mou tirelessly insisted on awarding Li Min the award!
Why did Jiang Wen say that it's up to me to plan things, and "plan" to succeed?
The reason is very simple. The chairman of the jury decides the best film~
How to determine who wins the grand prize?
Just look at who the chairman of the jury is for each session. What kind of movies the chairman likes will basically win the grand prize!
Quentin Tarantino awarded the Golden Lion to his ex-girlfriend Sofia Coppola for "Somewhere" even though "Somewhere" was a mediocre film...
In addition, political factors often play a decisive role. Even if the jury chairman and jury are different every time, they will still make choices based on a certain "correctness"...
Of course, European film festivals still have a reputation, unlike Sundance, which has completely become a avant-garde stage for political correctness. In 2022, of the 82 shortlisted films, 43 will be directed by women and 29 will be directed by people of color. director, and 8 more directed by LGBTQ+.
Back to the topic, the chairman of this year’s Venice Film Festival is the British director John Bowman, so it can be guaranteed that the grand prize will basically be the work of the British director. If the work itself is really unworthy, then it may be given a jury prize...
What's more, the British director Mike Leigh, who was shortlisted for the main competition unit, is not an unknown person. He won the Palme d'Or at the 49th Cannes International Film Festival in 1996 with "Secrets and Lies"!
The "Vera Drake" brought this time was snatched from Venice again - snatched from Cannes...
The topic is still about abortion...
The Buff stack is full, it would be against the rules not to win the grand prize!
Therefore, after seeing the shortlist of the main competition section and the jury members, the recommender of "Outstanding Citizen", that is, the film selector, named Jack, whose Chinese name is Wang Qingqiang, bluntly told a group of people that the grand prize was out...
Shen Xudong doesn't really care...
Anyway, he came to Venice mainly with the mentality of traveling for free.
…
In fact, many Asian directors came to this year's Venice Film Festival. Kim Ki-duk had "Empty Room", Lim Kwon-taek brought "Underworld", and even "Howl's Moving Castle"...
In terms of Chinese-language films, Hou Xiaoxian has "Coffee Time", and Jia Zhangke has brought "The World"...
Plus "Outstanding Citizen", that's three Chinese-language films!
Of course, these are not Shen Xudong's goals. He wants to see something exciting...
As we all know at European film festivals, there are always some literary veterans who like to use Chiguo's body and chaotic relationships to tell the most authentic things.
He remembered the 49th Venice Film Festival, the one where "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit" won the Golden Lion Award. The winner of the Silver Lion Award for Best Director was "Ham, Ham". Director Biggs Luna, "Ham, Ham" "The two leading actors, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem.
Shen Xudong was deeply impressed by this film because it contained nothing but sexual content...
But it just won the award...
I feel that people in old capitalist countries don’t have to worry about food and clothing, nor do they care about their children’s schooling. Movies don’t need to explore any philosophy. They just pay attention to it and they can win gold and silver lions and so on...
However, there is nothing extraordinary about this film festival.
After arriving in Venice, Shen Xudong was going to have some fun with Cao Xiwen...
Five people came to the crew of "Outstanding Citizen", director Guan Feng, starring Chen Daoming, Liu Bei and Cao Xiwen, and screenwriter Shen Xudong.
I have heard before that the beauty of Venice can be described as: God left his tears here!
"How does it feel to leisurely float on the Adriatic Sea in a gondola?"
The answer is: "I am moored in a lonely boat under the ancient temple at night, watching the wind and rain in the river to see if there are any tides!"
It sounds beautiful...
Shen Xudong first went to get a map, and then guided the tour according to the map, crossing various small bridges all the way to St. Mark's Square.
We sat down in the square and ordered two cups of strong coffee to take a rest.
Then go to the Bridge of Sighs to take photos...
In fact, it was the sigh left by the prisoner after passing this bridge before his execution.
Many street shops in Venice sell glass souvenirs.
In addition, I also tasted Venice's ice cream, which is ice-cold and sweet, with various flavors, fruits or nuts...
But the transportation is really inconvenient, and there are too many tourists...
It’s during the film festival!
And there is a fishy smell in the air!
Even riding a gondola feels like a water town in the south of the Yangtze River. Did I spend so much money to see Zhouzhuang, Italy?
I feel very unhappy!
Fortunately, food and accommodation can be reimbursed, and Cao Xiwen followed him...
Well, I haven’t seen Cao Xiwen for almost a year. The two of them had already tacitly tested it in the toilet on the plane...
Sometimes it is much simpler to explore relationships through pure art. You can know what the other person means just by making eye contact!
After wandering around for a while, it was already eight o'clock in the evening when I returned to the hotel. I was going to say hello to Teacher Chen Daoming, and then I saw a woman wearing glasses chatting with Chen Daoming and Wang Qingqiang...
Wang Qingqiang noticed Shen Xudong and quickly called him over: "Xiao Shen is back!"
"Teacher Chen, Teacher Wang...who is this?"
"Mr. Xu Feng..."
Shen Xudong immediately looked like he suddenly realized: "I wonder why it looks so familiar...Mr. Xu..."
Xu Feng smiled: "...I have watched your "Screening Room"...the part about Director Hu Jinquan is really good!"
…
Xu Feng is an actress discovered by King Hu. Her screen debut was the martial arts film "Dragon Gate Inn" directed by King Hu. Later she also starred in the movie "The Heroine" written and directed by King Hu...
Of course, her later fame in mainland China was mainly due to Tomson Yipin and "Farewell My Concubine" - she was an investor in "Farewell My Concubine"...
As for Tomson Yipin, she is the proprietress of Tomson Yipin...
She was at the Venice Film Festival because she was one of the judges this year.
This year’s jury lineup is hard to beat. In addition to the chairman of the jury, John Berman, the judges include Spike Lee, the leader of old African-American directors; Wolfgang Beck, whose masterpiece "Goodbye Lenin"; Helen Mi Len, and Scarlett Johansson…
Yes, it’s Scarlett Johansson who Durant wants to drink the bathwater from...
Of course, now it’s mainly PR Xu Feng…
It went very well, and I will get engaged in February...
Ha ha…