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Movie director sees cities full of emotion
By Staff reporter |
December 28, 2009, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JIA Zhangke is regarded as the pioneer of the "Sixth Generation" of Chinese movie directors. He garnered several awards at overseas film festivals at Venice and Hong Kong, and is credited with the renaissance of Chinese artistic films in the West.
Jia comes from an ancient village in Shanxi Province. His memories of Shanghai are linked with some candies bought by his mother from the city, and his father's Shanghai-made cigarettes. As a renowned film director, Jia has a unique angle on life in a city.
He said that when he was shooting his movie "24 Cities" covering economic reforms by talking to laid-off workers and retirees, he kept asking himself: "What can these workers live on when they leave their factory? What's the relationship between their pain, joy and the factory?"
He said shooting this movie made Jia see cities in a new focus, offering an ever-changing existence. He thought that this movie offered an opportunity for him. Through the workers from a relocated factory, he observed the rapid process of urbanization and the magical changes taking place in the city.
"City filled with emotion and memory" becomes the main theme of Jia's movies, and this was evident in his presentation to the seminar.
He thought that an ideal city should build up an emotional relationship with the people, or an emotional link between the city and the future generation, otherwise it will become a shadow of a city. There should be a tradition or past behind a new town, Jia said.
"Shanghai Legend," a movie shot by Zhang for the World Expo 2010, will reflect this theme. Using his camera, Zhang stirs up deep-rooted memories from the audience towards the city.
Jia is more concerned with the spirit and life of the people before and after World Expo 2010 Shanghai than a cluster of new high-rises. "The most advanced technology of the world will be presented here in 2010, showing what kind of life we will have in the future. But is it an ideal city? Will it bring much imagination to the nation for its future?"
Jia hoped that his movie would provoke thought in the audience. Aside from Shanghai's past, Jia was also interested in shooting the future of the city. According to Jia, those recording the history of the city should record the emotions between the city and the people.
Jia's words described his shooting experience and his observation of the city. Words like memory and emotion surfaced often, and audiences will be able to judge for themselves when they see his latest film "Shanghai Legend" during the World Expo next year.
Jia comes from an ancient village in Shanxi Province. His memories of Shanghai are linked with some candies bought by his mother from the city, and his father's Shanghai-made cigarettes. As a renowned film director, Jia has a unique angle on life in a city.
He said that when he was shooting his movie "24 Cities" covering economic reforms by talking to laid-off workers and retirees, he kept asking himself: "What can these workers live on when they leave their factory? What's the relationship between their pain, joy and the factory?"
He said shooting this movie made Jia see cities in a new focus, offering an ever-changing existence. He thought that this movie offered an opportunity for him. Through the workers from a relocated factory, he observed the rapid process of urbanization and the magical changes taking place in the city.
"City filled with emotion and memory" becomes the main theme of Jia's movies, and this was evident in his presentation to the seminar.
He thought that an ideal city should build up an emotional relationship with the people, or an emotional link between the city and the future generation, otherwise it will become a shadow of a city. There should be a tradition or past behind a new town, Jia said.
"Shanghai Legend," a movie shot by Zhang for the World Expo 2010, will reflect this theme. Using his camera, Zhang stirs up deep-rooted memories from the audience towards the city.
Jia is more concerned with the spirit and life of the people before and after World Expo 2010 Shanghai than a cluster of new high-rises. "The most advanced technology of the world will be presented here in 2010, showing what kind of life we will have in the future. But is it an ideal city? Will it bring much imagination to the nation for its future?"
Jia hoped that his movie would provoke thought in the audience. Aside from Shanghai's past, Jia was also interested in shooting the future of the city. According to Jia, those recording the history of the city should record the emotions between the city and the people.
Jia's words described his shooting experience and his observation of the city. Words like memory and emotion surfaced often, and audiences will be able to judge for themselves when they see his latest film "Shanghai Legend" during the World Expo next year.
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