Special Correspondent Dong Ming
In March, dubbed by some movie fans as the "real Spring Festival", another heavyweight art film will be released at the end of this month - the Palme d'Or winner at the 76th Cannes International Film Festival and the 96th Oscar The winner of the Best Original Screenplay Award, the Best Film at the 36th European Film Awards, and the Best Film at the 49th César Awards - the French film "The Fall of " met with Chinese audiences on the 29th. This is another Palme d'Or-level art film released in China after "Shoplifters " in 2018. Director Justine Trier personally came to China to participate in promotional activities and communicated cordially with Chinese counterparts and fans, fully embodying Attention to the Chinese market and the huge potential of Chinese art film audiences.
The Best Art Film of 2023
In the world film industry in 2023, two films directed by women and reflecting female themes have achieved great success-the French film "The Fall" and the American film "Barbie", the former won the film The Palme d'Or, the highest honor in art, became the highest-grossing film of the year with a box office of US$1.4 billion. One is art, the other is business, and they show the strength of female filmmakers from different angles. Now both films are released in China, allowing Chinese audiences to experience how contemporary Western filmmakers reflect serious social issues on the big screen, and also Bring inspiration to Chinese filmmakers.
"Falling Trial" tells the story of a complicated and confusing case. The husband of a family of three suddenly fell from the roof of a building and died. The wife became the biggest suspect, and the son who suffered from eye disease was unable to provide strong testimony. The film revolves around the investigation and evidence collection of the truth of the incident. The 151-minute plot contains many fierce court debates. The verdict is not made until the end, but it does not represent the truth.
"The Fall" received great acclaim after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival last year. It won the highest honor in the fierce competition among famous directors. When it was subsequently released in France, the film also received 4.4 stars from the media and 4.1 stars from the audience. high reputation. Whether it is the subject matter, plot, performance level, or the analysis of marriage and family, gender issues and society reflected behind it, it has triggered widespread thinking. As a director/screenwriter, Trier's ability has been recognized in the industry.
After that, "The Fall" won the European Film Award and the French César Award for Best Picture. Although the film failed to represent France in the official Oscar competition for Best International Film, it still received multiple Oscar nominations and eventually won the Best Film Award. The statuette for the original screenplay can be said to be the well-deserved best European film and best art film in 2023.
The director came to China to promote
Now, "Judgment of the Fallen" will be officially released in China, which many movie fans are looking forward to. After all, it is rare to experience the Palme d'Or film on the big screen. The director himself also came to China, Engage with audiences and scholars on multiple occasions.
The 45-year-old Trier is a typical French female filmmaker. She graduated from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in France. She has frequently produced excellent films since her debut, and she has been shortlisted for top international film festivals in her 30s. Trier's works not only have the traditional artistic and life atmosphere of French cinema, but also the unique delicacy and sensitivity of women. Her last film "Sibyl", which was shortlisted for Cannes, tells the story of the relationship between two women and film and literary creation. The heroine in "The Fall Trial" is also a successful writer, and her self-defense testimony involves the fictional truth and the discussion of women's status in family and marriage. Although it is an award-winning art film, "The Fall of Judgment" is not obscure or avant-garde. Instead, its subject matter is very down-to-earth. Most of the film is life scenes and dialogues. The court arguments between the prosecutor and the defense lawyer are even more exciting, with both sides exploiting each other's loopholes. The process makes the plot ups and downs, attracting the audience to slowly get closer to the truth.
Precisely because "Judgment of the Fallen" balances artistry and drama well and can be enjoyed by both refined and popular people, the film does not have any artistic threshold in China. During these few days of promotion in China, Trier not only communicated with Chinese directors, actors and film critics such as Yang Lina, Qi Xi, and Dai Jinhua, accepted questions from Chinese college students at Peking University, but also made a special trip to the Forbidden City to experience Chinese culture and history. .
This year coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. "Falling Trial" also shows the real side of ordinary French families and the judicial system to Chinese audiences, and it can also be regarded as a cultural exchange. In an interview with Chinese media, Trier revealed that his original intention to create the film was inspired by his 10-year-old daughter, and the key falling scene came from the opening animation of the popular American TV series " Mad Men ".
At the same time, in the film "The Fall of Judgment", the woman is the first perspective, and the husband only appears briefly in his son's memories. This shows that the director built the entire film around women: "The heroine Sandra is a writer, and the film There are a lot of descriptions in it about how she sees the world. I think it would be difficult for a male creator to create such a character, and my identity as a female director is more natural for creating this movie."
is nicknamed "the premarital examination movie" ”
Although China and France have different cultures and languages, the composition of modern families and the sense of trust between husband and wife are similar. What impressed Chinese audiences most about "The Fall" was its analysis of gender identity in marriage. The film has been well received in recent screenings, with a Douban score of 8.6. Many people joked that this is a must-see "premarital check-up" for couples. Movie". In this regard, Trier said that although the plot is fictional, it may also "shatter your illusions about marriage."
The understanding and acceptance of foreign films by the younger generation of Chinese movie fans often surprises the foreign filmmakers who come to promote them. Previously, the famous Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda came to China with his masterpiece "Shoplifters", which was warmly welcomed by Chinese movie fans. This Cannes Palme d'Or film also won a box office of 96.74 million yuan in China. Another art film that won an award at Cannes, " is home for ", was released in China in 2019. Lebanese female director Nadine Labaki told the Chinese audience about her original creative intentions and social background. The touching plot of the film moved the audience. The audience finally received a high box office of 370 million yuan.
In addition, many world-class directors and actors have been invited to the Beijing and Shanghai Film Festivals. Their works have received high praise and hot discussion in China. After all, China has one of the largest audience bases in the world. Even if art films are relatively niche, But it can also have a stable market, and once it achieves "out of the circle" like "Home", there is no upper limit on box office and topicality. What's more, what most art films pursue is not "highbrow", but an attempt to touch more audiences with sincere expression, and ultimately become a cultural heritage belonging to all mankind. ▲
