Aug 08, 2008 director zhang yimou,left, and jet li on the set of the film hero ying xiong. In these conversations with such notable critics as michel ciment, robert sklar, and tam kwokkan, zhang yimou discusses all his films and speaks candidly about his work both as a cinematographer and an actor. Keep cool is a 1997 chinese movie comedy that is based on the novel called evening papers news by shu ping. Acclaimed filmmaker zhang yimous exquisite film shadow, took home four awards at the 2018 golden horse awards including best visual. Zhang was born in 1950, in the city of xian in shaanxi province, to a future in communist china that seemed unpromising.
Zhang yimou is an internationally acclaimed director working in the peoples republic of china. The scope, precision and beauty of the production was, you will agree, astonishing. Keep cool 1997 keep cool was a first for zhang in many ways. The wizard behind beijings opening night the new york times. He graduated in the fifth class of the beijing film. I have all of zhang yimous films, including a honk kong version of keep cool, which, although technically a good quality dvd, does not have english subtitles. Licensed to youtube by adshare for a third party on behalf of china media ventures. His films, which include raise the red lantern, house of flying daggers, and the great wall, have won prizes at the cannes film festival, the venice film festival, and the berlin international film festival, and six of his films have been nominated for academy. Is like they invented a whole movie just to show how cool are those.
I have all of zhang yimou s films, including a honk kong version of keep cool, which, although technically a good quality dvd, does not have english subtitles. Filmmaker zhang yimou to receive honorary degree bu today. The film about a bookseller in love in 1990s beijing, marked a move away from earlier period pictures. Dramas of desire and the power of the image zhang yimou is now the chinese filmmaker whose work is most widely known in the west, and he has clone more than any other director to give modern chinese cinema an international profile.
Rent on amazon, itunes, vudu, and youtube watch the trailer. Zhang yimou great director profile senses of cinema. Zhang was also banned from making films for two years. As such, the film draws immediate comparisons to two contemporary films by other beijing film institute graduates, tian zhuangzhuangs the blue kite lan feng zh eng, 1993 and chen kaige. One of the famed fifthgeneration directors of chinas growing film history, director zhang yimou has. To live is a simple title, but it conceals a universe. It is beautifully crafted, the action is realistic, the acting is perfect. During the peak of their warring states period, china was divided into seven kingdoms all fighting for supremacy. A fun, hip, experimental and extremely watchable urban comedy by zhang yimou, but ultimately comes across as rather forgettable, mainly because zhang seems to be in. Add to that list zhang yimous shadow, a historical fantasydrama that. I acquired my zy collection many years ago but have decided to come back to it to complete it with this film. This film is about the adventures of a beijing bookseller in 1990s china after he becomes obsessed with an exlover.
Keep cool marked only the second time zhang had set a film in the modern era, after. Zhang yimous 10 best movies hollywood reporter at the premiere of the great wall. Keep cool 1997 zhang yimou jiang wen ge you qu ying. Zhang yimous 10 best movies sep 30, 2018 i just watched this movie a few hours ago and i am still dizzy. Striking and heavily symbolic use of color is considered to be part of zhangs signature style the colorcoded armies in curse of the golden flower and the great wall for. Until the end, one does not know where the director will take us.
Zhang yimous actionfantasy shadow sets gorgeous action in a. And through all of their fierce struggles with fate, all of the political twists and turns they endure, their hope is basically one summed up by the heroine, a wife who loses. Master filmmaker zhang yimou brings a completely original cinematic style to an epic battle story, contrasting visuals that draw on chinas. Rent yimou zhang movies and tv shows on dvd and bluray dvd. Tropes found in or relating to zhang yimous work include. Filmmaker zhang yimous journey to becoming one of chinas leading directors has been filled with unusual, often dramatic twists. Zhang yimou is one of the bestknown directors of the chinese fifth generation and one of the most influential and widely respected filmmakers working today. Damon, the star of yimous fantasy monster movie, has long wanted to. Keep cool is a 1997 chinese black comedy directed by zhang yimou and adapted from the novel evening papers news by shu ping. Zhang yimou is a chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer.
I dont think there will be much change in society in the short run. The chinese censorship system has been in practice for many years. The lack of background colors and the almost constant rain add to the complex intrigue. Zhang referred to the actor as the best actor in china today, and intelligent. This is prehan dynasty fashion during the qin dynasty, but its still nice so ive added it to the collection. Find keep cool import movie european format zone 2 20 jiang wen. In particular, her insight into the chinese folkloric wu xia or chivalrousswordsman fiction presents a fertile angle for criticism of this genre within the poetic as opposed to sensationalistic aspect of heros. The film follows the life of one family in china, from the heady days of gambling dens in the 1940s to the austere hardship of the cultural revolution in the 1960s. A fun, hip, experimental and extremely watchable urban comedy by zhang yimou, but ultimately comes across as. With shadow, director zhang yimou hero, house of flying. Hero 2002 yi mou zhang synopsis, characteristics, moods.
His film to live was banned for having a negative portrayal of ccp policies. Zhang yimou, 1951 is one of the leading lights of chinese film and is often considered one of the greatest living chinese directors. The coming home of zhang yimou and gong li the new. If you insist on doing nothing to support the film but keep on delaying and cutting down the movie, and. Director behind great wall says china has a long way to go to rival hollywood. All 19 zhang yimou movies ranked from worst to best. Filmmaker zhang yimou to receive honorary degree bu.
Director behind great wall says china has a long way. A pageantry of pageantry that would put bertolucci or lean to shame, zhang yimous the curse of the golden flower piles spectacle upon spectacle, and tragedy on top of tragedy, until the whole. Most determined to dominate china was the kingdom of qin, whose king chen daoming was wholly obsessed with becoming the first emperor of china. His films are gorgeous, evocative, and unforgettable. In coming home, zhang yimou examines chinas troubled political past and suggests how to deal with it today. He is part of the fifth generation of chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with red sorghum zhang has won numerous awards and recognitions, with best foreign film nominations for ju dou in 1990, raise the red lantern in 1991. Bookseller zhao is following his exlover, an hong, not being able to accept that she has left him.
All 19 zhang yimou movies ranked from worst to best taste. Zhang yimou biography life, family, name, story, history. Born in 1951 in xian, shaanxi province, in northcentral china, zhang yimou is, along with chen kaige, the most prominent of the fifth generation chinese directors and, by extension, one of the two most famous chinese directors, period. Shadow 2019 official us trailer from director zhang yimou. Zhang yimou is one of chinas most celebrated film directors who has garnered praise both in china and abroad for films such as to live, raise the red lantern and house of flying daggers. Zhang yimou born november 14, 1951 is an internationally acclaimed chinese filmmaker and former cinematographer, and one of the best known of the fifth generation of chinese film directors. Some come from chineselanguage periodicals, and a few have never been published until now. Best of youtube music sports gaming movies tv shows news live fashion spotlight 360 video browse channels sign in to like videos, comment, and subscribe. He graduated in the fifth class of the beijing film academy in 1982, along with classmates such as chen kaige and tian zhuangzhuang.
Hero is twotime academy award nominee zhang yimous directorial attempt at exploring the concept of a chinese hero. Midway through the composition of this essay, i came across jenny kwoks wellresearched writings on the genesis and phenomenon of zhang yimous hero 2004. Adapted from the novel evening paper news by shu ping, the film was his first contemporary urban movie, his first comedy and his first without gong li. Following a fairly prosaic plot line about a married couple during three decades of huge upheaval in china 1940s60s, the film manages to wind around you insidiously and you find yourself uncontrollably immersed. If you have something to say, say it nicely is a 1997 chinese black comedy directed by zhang yimou and adapted from the novel evening papers news by shu ping. This situation has been present for a long time and it is a reality in china. Zhang yimou is one of my favorite directors, matt damon told the hollywood reporter at the premiere of the great wall. He is part of the fifth generation of chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with red sorghum. Zhang yimou within the fifth generation of chinese directors iii. He tends to favor stories set in ruralhistorical china, often with an emphasis on. May 12, 2017 director behind great wall says china has a long way to go to rival hollywood. November 14, 1951, xian, the peoples republic of china. Drawing from the depths of the cultural heritage and ingenuity of. Keep cool directed by zhang yimou music by julio ferrarin.
It said a lot for china, both positively and perhaps. The great wall symbolizes future collaborations between us, china in film nbc news. In 2008, zhang also directed the lavishly spectacular opening ceremony of the 2008 beijing olympics. His notable movies included red sorghum, ju dou, hero, and house of flying daggers. With his legendary muse, gong li, playing the central character, the film represents a return to form for the director. A decade ago, zhang yimou was renowned for political parables set in.
Zhang yimou s ghost story about a bittersweet homecoming is a metaphor for chinas attempts to reconcile itself to the cultural revolution, writes xan brooks. Hero is twotime academy award nominee zhang yimou s directorial attempt at exploring the concept of a chinese hero. Music from the films of zhang yimou by christopher coleman. On the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008, 2 billion tv viewers and thousands in attendance in the now famous birds nest were treated to an unforgettable spectacle at the opening ceremonies of the beijing olympic games behind it all was the creative genius of chinese film director zhang yimou. Zhang yimou who has always used the traditional chinese ordering that places the family name first, then the given name was born in xian, in chinas shaanxi province, on november 14, 1950, shortly after the defeat of chinas nationalist government by the communist armies of mao tsetung. Zhang yimou celebrity profile check out the latest zhang yimou photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Rent yimou zhang movies and tv shows on dvd and bluray. Jiang wen, one of chinas most famous actors and directors, takes a leading role in keep cool his second time working with zhang yimou. Zhang yimou celebrity profile check out the latest zhang yimou photo gallery, biography. Director zhang yimou,left, and jet li on the set of the film hero ying xiong. Drawing from the depths of the cultural heritage and ingenuity of the chinese people, showcasing ancient chinese inventions paper, printing, gunpowder, ceramics and the compass that have shaped civilization and channeling the sensibility and spirit that unite. Dec 17, 2008 behind it all was the creative genius of chinese film director zhang yimou. Zhang yimou, chinese film director who, as a leading member of chinas fifth generation, is known for films that explore sexual repression and political oppression.