Chapter 436: Opening a New Era
Shanhe walked onto the stage with a smile amid the applause of the audience at the Venice Cinema Palace.
He first bent down and hugged Bernardo Bertolucci.
"Qiu, congratulations, "Youth is Easy" is very well made and represents the fusion of Eastern and Western cultures!"
"Thank you, I am honored to receive your recognition!"
Then, Shanhe took the little golden lion with wings from Bernardo Bertolucci.
Shanhe held the Golden Lion in one hand, raised it to the stage calmly, and then leaned over to the microphone to start his speech.
"Thank you Bernardo for your praise. I am a little flattered, but I agree with his views on movies and film festivals. Movies are indeed still very young and have countless possibilities!
Movies, like literature and painting, are both art, but they are obviously different. Literature and painting originated from words and are the oldest cultural arts of mankind. Their changes come from the progress of social forms and civilization, and from the sublimation of human thought!
But movies are different. They were born from light and shadow and represent human industrial civilization, because the tools used to make movies are industrial products. This determines that this art is not only about thought and culture, but also inevitably related to industry. The development of industry technology is closely linked to the development of film. The leap of industrial technology will definitely bring earth-shaking changes to the film industry.
High-definition photography, computer special effects, and innovations in shooting and projection technology are all part of the development of film, because these things will sooner or later be popularized in every film. Filmmakers should not turn a blind eye to these changes and deliberately avoid these changes. We should face these innovations and changes with an open attitude.
There is an old saying in China that if you want to do your work well, you must first sharpen your tools. Only when you master various tools can you make better works and gain recognition from the times and the audience! "
Shanhe's speech caused different opinions in the minds of the directors. Many old-school European directors did not agree with Shanhe's remarks, but they were supported by the new generation of directors and audiences.
There was a warm applause at the scene, and many people even stood up to cheer for Shanhe's speech.
The reporters present knew that around Shanhe's speech, the global film industry would inevitably have a debate and game. They all began to prepare for news reports and strive to attract more attention in this upcoming debate.
However, Shanhe on the stage didn't care about these. What's wrong with lighting the torch? Without a torch, how can filmmakers see the direction clearly!
"Thank you to the organizing committee for recognizing "Youth Easy", thank you to every member of the "Youth Easy" crew, thank you to every senior filmmaker, thank you to my family, I love you!"
Shanhe waved to the audience again with the Golden Lion trophy, and then walked off the stage calmly amid applause.
While Shanhe was speaking on the stage, the news that Shanhe and Tang Xiaoyu won the award in Venice had already flooded the domestic Internet.
"【Young Yi】won a great victory in Venice, and my cousin Tang Zhiyu copied Xia Yu's experience, and his debut was the peak. Shanhe achieved the European Film Festival Grand Slam, which will be recorded in history forever!"
"【Young Yi】received a double harvest of box office awards, and booked the top three in the global box office rankings in advance!"
"The first in China, the world's youngest European Film Festival Grand Slam winner was born, Shanhe has stepped onto the peak of director!"
"Shanhe storm swept the world, [Room] plus [Young Yi], Shanhe dominated the entire harvest autumn!"
The domestic public and the film and television circles were very calm about Shanhe's award and the Grand Slam. This was all expected by everyone, but it was a bit surprising that Tang Xiaoyu could also win the Venice Film Festival Best Actor, and there was a lot of discussion.
"There's nothing much to say about Shanhe winning the award. I knew it was a sure thing after watching "Young Yi" at the midnight show. My cousin gave me a surprise, but he deserves it. The performance of Young Yi is really amazing!"
"The Grand Slam of European Film Festivals. If it were someone else, they would have been praised a long time ago, but Shanhe is too abnormal. It's a bit of a waste for him to have this title! Come on, little cousin, don't be like Xia Yu, who started with a bang but got worse and worse. The Venice Film Festival Best Actor is probably his peak performance!"
"Who said it wasn't? The Grand Slam title is not valuable to Shanhe. What a pity!"
"My cousin, this is the third Venice Film Festival Best Actor in China. This is really a coincidence. Xia Yu won the Venice Film Festival Best Actor for playing Jiang Wen in "Sunny Days", and this time it was Jiang Wen who presented the award to my cousin!"
…
After the award ceremony, the 70th Venice Film Festival has ended. Shanhe has one last trip before returning home, accepting an exclusive interview with the Italian National Television.
Shanhe has rarely accepted interviews from European and American media in recent years, so the Italian National Television attached great importance to this interview.
They did not arrange the TV station's leading actress to be the host as in the past, but invited Amodio Feniro, a famous Italian scholar and critic with a certain influence in the European and American cultural circles, to be the host of the program.
The Italian National Television hoped that the topic of this interview would be broader, so as to attract the attention of all Europe and the United States.
Shanhe did not know the middle-aged fat man with messy hair in front of him, and only learned the identity of this host from Xu Ahui before the interview began.
Famous European and American scholars, well-known critics, and direct descendants of Matteo Ricci, do have some fate with China.
"Hello, Qiu, I'm very happy to have the opportunity to discuss art and cultural exchanges between the East and the West with you face to face!"
Shanhe looked at the middle-aged fat man opposite him. It seems that this interview is not limited to movies, but he didn't have much scruples and didn't feel awkward in dealing with such a scene. He smiled and replied:
"Hello, Amodio, I'm honored too!"
The two didn't exchange too many pleasantries. At the reminder of the TV crew, they quickly got to the point.
"Qiu, let's start with the film festival. What do you think of your latest European Film Festival Grand Slam title? Do you think the future of film is in Europe or in Hollywood?"
The fat man's first question made Shanhe a little unhappy. His question and tone were full of the taste of Western culture supremacy. It seems that the future of film cannot escape from you Westerners, and we Orientals have nothing to do with it?
"I have no idea about the title of Grand Slam of Film Festivals. This title does not represent anything. A creator needs to speak with his works, not with these empty titles. As for the future of film, I think it is neither in Europe nor in Hollywood, but in the whole world!"
Amodio was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said:
"Qiu, you said yesterday that film is a typical representative of human industrial civilization. As of now, Europe represents the pinnacle of art films, and Hollywood represents the culmination of commercial films. You have won the recognition of Hollywood and the honor of Europe. Your film is very smart and takes into account both art and business, but is it suspected of revisionism and reformism?"
Shanhe looked up at this well-known Western critic. OK, he is here to cause trouble, and his question is full of metaphors!
Shanhe smiled and replied:
"Revisionism and reformism are two words that apply to politics, but not to culture. I think you should remove the word "ism". Revision and reform are the correct expressions of cultural and artistic progress!
Using the three masters of the Renaissance in Europe as an example, Raphael was just a painter who painted for religion and aristocrats. Michelangelo also served the church and aristocrats throughout his life. Their greatness lies in revision and improvement. It can be seen that embracing more ideas and elements of the times is a kind of progress.
This world is a world of diversity. It is not either this or that, and it is not a life-and-death struggle. Simple and crude denial is not in line with the common interests of human culture. Tolerance and harmony are the right way to development!"
"Isn't the pursuit of purity the highest requirement of artists for themselves?"
"Purity is not a quantitative number. Everyone has their own understanding. Children think that all they see is purity. Adults need to think and distinguish before they can form their own inner persistence. Purity is not self-righteousness, nor is it narrow-minded and selfish! Amodio, are you a child or an adult?"
"Haha …”
Amodio was a little surprised by Shanhe’s sharpness, and smiled to hide his embarrassment,
“Qiu, you are an excellent debater. Sometimes adults also need some childish innocence. Let’s talk about your novel again. The Room has received crazy support from female readers around the world. Feminism regards the Room as their programmatic work. Is this your original intention when you created it? ”
“No!”
Shanhe answered very straightforwardly,
“My works don’t have so many isms. My original intention was just to tell a true love story because I was touched by this feeling, because I am also a mother’s child and now a father!”
“But your novels seem to always hit every social hot spot. This is a magical talent!”
“Haha…Amodio, the various anomalies of society are originally the biggest source of inspiration for writers. This is not a talent. In fact, everyone can see these things. The difference lies in how you tell them to everyone!”
…
The two asked and answered questions on the literary film, and fought back and forth. Amodio was well prepared, but Shanhe also handled it very easily.
Both of them looked very peaceful, without any hint of verbal sparring.
In the second half of the interview, Amodio directed the question to the rise of China as expected by Shanhe.
"Qiu, your artistic and business achievements are indeed unquestionable. You are a representative of the new generation of China. Ten years ago, you were full of confidence in the rise of China, and the facts are as you expected. What do you think is the root of China's rapid rise?"
"This is a complex and huge proposition. There are too many reasons and backgrounds for the development and strength of a nation and a country. As an ordinary person, I think China's cultural identity and historical heritage play an important role. From a historical perspective, China is not simply a national country as you say in the Western world. It is more like a civilized country. Almost all Chinese people have the same values and moral system. In the development and integration of thousands of years, Chinese people have a very high sense of cultural identity, so we can work together to do a good thing. No matter where we are, we can contribute to our civilization and our motherland. This is something that has been passed down in the blood of us Chinese people and it is difficult to erase!"
"A civilized country? Indeed, China may be the only ancient civilization in the world that is still being passed down. It is amazing that it can once again radiate such vitality. Qiu, congratulations to you and your motherland!"
"Thank you!"
"The rise of China is a fait accompli. Qiu, what changes do you think China will bring to the world?"
"The world has always been complex and diverse. All nations and races are part of the world and have the right to pursue their own beauty. China is just one of them. Although competition is inevitable, the world needs the rise of China because its rise will provide more impetus for human development!"
…
After the interview, Shanhe and the crew of "Young Yi" left Venice that afternoon and boarded the flight back home.
The news that "Young Yi" won a great victory at the Venice Film Festival has attracted reports from countries around the world, but all major media have focused their reports on Shanhe's acceptance speech.
"Hua Xia Qiu won the Venice Golden Lion and said that the future of film needs to embrace technological innovation!"
"Hua Xia Qiu questioned European art films with the Golden Lion!"
"If you want to do your job well, you must first sharpen your tools. Hua Xia Qiu interprets his secret of success with Chinese thinking. Art also needs tools!"
…
These reports are clearly trying to stir up trouble, and the result is what they wished. Many well-known filmmakers, critics, and cultural scholars have questioned Shanhe's speech on the Internet. Of course, there are also many who support Shanhe.
So, the day after Shanhe won the award in Venice, his acceptance speech caused a wide range of debates in the European and American film circles.
This trend even spread to China, and sixth-generation directors such as Jia Zhangke and Wang Xiaoshuai became the first targets of reporters to interview.
"Director Jia, what do you think of Shanhe's speech at the Venice Film Festival?"
"Teacher Wang, Shanhe believes that filmmakers need to keep pace with the times and embrace technological change. Do you support his views?"
Jia Zhangke faced many reporters and showed helplessness.
"Shanhe is a European Film Festival Grand Slam winner. He is undoubtedly a genius. You can't use the standard of genius to demand us. For him, it is easy to integrate various elements, but most people don't have this ability. I still stick to my approach because this is the most suitable path for me!"
Wang Xiaoshuai answered more directly.
"Shanhe proved his point with his works. Even in the European film circle, no one can deny his achievements. I watched "Youth Yi", which is indeed a masterpiece of freehand brushwork. I will try to consider more elements in future creations!"
…
Shanhe, who returned to China, doesn't care about the debate and game of the outside world. I am only responsible for lighting the fire. As for whether it will eventually become a torch or a prairie fire, it is not within Shanhe's consideration. You can burn it however you like!
He refocused his energy on the filming of "Room".
A few days later, the second-week box office data of "Youth" was released on the Internet, which once again caused the global media and the public to sigh,
No matter how good your words are, it is not as useful as others' real cheats!
"Youth" set a new record in the second-week box office in China, with a seven-day box office of over 700 million yuan, 760 million yuan, which is exactly equivalent to 100 million US dollars, setting a domestic single-week box office record.
The box office decline in North America for the next three days of the weekend remained within 50%, with 160 million US dollars collected in the three days of the weekend, plus the box office of four working days, and the cumulative box office for the next seven days was 230 million US dollars, still far ahead of other films and occupying the top spot in the North American weekly box office rankings.
The second-week box office decline in Europe was also within 50%, and "Youth" still won a box office data of 130 million US dollars in the second week, continuing to dominate the box office rankings.
After the cumulative box office of the first three days of the first week exceeded 100 million, the popularity of Asian countries in the second week has not diminished, with a decline of less than 20%, and once again earned 84 million US dollars.
"Youth" was released two weeks ago, and the global cumulative box office has exceeded 1 billion US dollars, surpassing "Avatar" and becoming the fastest film in the world to break 1 billion US dollars.
The box office exceeded 1.1 billion US dollars in ten days! Shanhe opened another era of movie box office!