Movie or Life

Chinese director Jia Zhangke's movie 'Still Life' helps the rising star garner a lot, including the Golden Lion top prize at the 63rd Venice Film Festival and Asia's Best Director at the 31st Hong Kong International Film Festival.

A grab from Jia's movie "Still Life".

But for Chinese film Chief Zhang Hongsen, it is a movie without love and not worth watching.

Zhang, deputy director of the film bureau under the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT), said Jia's movie is set to be a loser in the box office and it cannot draw eyeballs of Chinese film viewers.

"I don't deny that the movie is good. But it lacks love and care to working classes," Zhang said, adding young directors, including Jia, are easy to set their love and the movie apart.

"These directors neglect a fact that the movie is histrionic. This raises the likelihood of turning the movie into a kind of absolute realism. Their movies are inanimate and hard to drag views into cinema."

Jia Zhangke, who is acknowledged for his favor in portraying the struggles of the working class in China amid a rapid social and economic changes, is urged by Zhang to learn how to care for others.

"I have discussed with Jia. Although their movies depict the struggling working class, they are 'cold' to viewers."

Zhang's words raise speculation that 'Still Life' poses a lackluster performance in the box office despite its acknowledgement by the international film community.

"Still Life" has been faced with stiff competition from Chinese famous director Zhang Yimou's latest blockbuster 'Curse of the Golden Flower'.

But Jia was defiant with suspicions from the media, saying the box office of 'Still Life' can be listed one of the top three in the movie market, previous report had said.

The report said the investment on the movie is 8 million yuan (over US$1 million) while the revenue from the overseas sales hits 100 million yuan.

"Still Life" (Sanxia Haoren) set against China's colossal Three Gorges Dam and was shot in the village of Fengjie, which has made way for the Three Gorges Dam.

"Apple - definite loser"

Jia's latest movie "Apple" has triggered a backlash for its controversial scenario from Zhang.

A grab from Jia's latest movie "Apple".

It depicts that a migrant worker demands 20,000 yuan compensation from a boss who had allegedly raped his wife. When the man finds out later that his wife gets pregnant, he raises the claim to 120,000 yuan.

Zhang said he does not favor the scenario. "As a Chinese, I cannot tolerate such an offensive portrayal of China and the time."

Zhang's words came as the movie is trying to bring home an award in this year's 57th Berlin Film Festival.

But Zhang poured cold water on the movie. "Even Germany film experts cannot agree what the movie portrays."

"The movie hopes to win an award by taking advantage of the bias of some Westerners. But Westerners know that China is not filthy."

The SARFT is considering how to "deal with" the movie, the Modern Express reported.

But according to a report by Shanghai Daily this January, 16 young Chinese film directors, including Jia, will receive funds from the SARFT to develop more sophisticated movies.

The administration will offer 500,000 yuan (US$64,267) for each good script and help them to publish their films more easily, according to the report.

West-oriented movies

Chinese directors have long been chided by domestic fans because they are always capturing and revealing the dark sides of the country in their movies, solely for the alleged purpose of winning international acknowledgements.

Focusing on controversial issues, Chinese movies have gained a position in international movie market.

Director Zhang Yimou's "Raise the Red Lantern" which won the Silver Lion prize at the 44th Venice Film Festival in the early 1990s is regarded as a depiction and trounce for China's traditional family structure of polygamy.

Jia's "Still Life" is based on the Three Gorges Dam and its impact on ordinary people.

At a news conference earlier in the festival, Jia said he was keen to spotlight the problems associated with the dam now that media attention had faded, the Associated Press reported.