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Director in despair
By Xiao Dao (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-18 09:08
Wang Xiaoshuai has caused a stir at the Shanghai International Film Festival, condemning his fellow directors during a seminar on the state of the Chinese movie industry. Wang, who won a Silver Bear for screenplay at Berlin last year with In Love We Trust (Zuo You), was on stage with Lu Chuan, Ning Hao and Wei Te-sheng. The art house filmmaker suddenly turned to his fellow panelists and told the audience: "They're all successful members of the 100 million yuan club but they fail as directors." He went on to label their movies "too commercial" and accused them of failing to treat film as an art form. He concluded: "The biggest problem of Chinese cinema is the over-obsession with money. "I strongly believe cinema is art. Films need dignity and confidence. I am happier than these other directors because I can still make films I really like." As those present digested the full force of Wang's attack, Lu Chuan stood up in his defense. The director, whose Nanjing: City of Life and Death (Nanjing Nanjing) has been a hit with fans and critics alike, says that films like The Godfather, which sold well and were hailed for their artistic merit, were what was needed. |
