Scheduled to be shown at cinemas citywide on March 23, Thirteen Princess Trees was re-censored just two days before its release date.

Directed by Lu Yue, the film tells a story of the growing pain of troubled youths at a high school in Southwest China's Sichuan, with shocking honesty and tenderness. When it won the Special Jury Prize at the 19th Tokyo International Film Festival last December, the movie caught attention and stirred discussion.

Set in 1999, it focuses on the group of young people who are living at the transition into 21st century China. "The genre is about rebellious youth in China but the movie is for the adults," said Liu Ying, who wrote the script. "Viewers have their own judgments and thoughts." Liu also said that despite the controversial genre, the passionate filmmakers decided to finish it regardless of the outcome. "If the film is prohibited in the end, we would be very disappointed."

Based on He Dacao's novel Knife and Knife, Thirteen Princess Trees focuses on a rebellious girl He Feng and her friends. Like the novel, the film depicts the school days of a group of youths, their puppy love, campus violence, the emergence of a generation gap, and the vague love between students and teachers. The film is like a mirror reflecting the past young ages of those who have already grown up. "It is a commemorative film for everyone who misses their school days," Liu said.

Director Lu is Zhang Yimou's previous cinematographer, who filmed Keep Cool (1997), and Shanghai Triad (1995), with the latter receiving an Oscar nomination. He said that the original name of the novel, Knife and Knife, is a good comparison for adolescence.

"Young people are as sharp and acute as a knife. The hardship of growing-up and the living process is tough and painful," Lu said. "Trees can also be used to describe young people as vibrant and dynamic."

All the roles in the film are played by first-time actors and actresses. "I wanted them to be as simple as possible," Lu said. The leading actress Liu Xin adopted a tomboy style for her role and although a newcomer, Liu won a prize in Japan.

Though the opening date has been postponed again, the director said he is confident about premiering the film. "After all, youth belongs to everyone, good or bad."

Chen Nan

(China Daily 03/28/2007 page6)