Jia Zhangke loves the quality of recording, so his images always shine with the detailed and true light of life. For the movie " Romance Generation ", which took 22 years of filming and production, the "artificial lights" that created a sense of drama were replaced with the halo of the long-ago era, leading the audience to complete a journey through the ages. "The Romance" will be released on November 22 and will only be released for 22 days. In a recent exclusive interview with a reporter from the Beijing Youth Daily, Jia Zhangke said that starting from "Old Friends in Mountains and Rivers", to "Children of Jianghu" and "The Romantic Generation", he was particularly fond of long-term narratives. "As the years change, you will understand clearly. We can clearly see that the inner core remains unchanged in life, old age, illness and death, but the world is constantly changing its outer packaging. This is huge. "
Exploring the infinite possibilities of film as a language
The movie "The Romantic Generation" tells the story of the heroine Qiaoqiao's emotional journey from the millennium to the present. It is the process of women's growth, awakening and change, and it is also the process of women's growth, awakening and change. The destiny curve of the "revolutionary generation" is drawn. The film is directed by Jia Zhangke and stars Zhao Tao , Li Zhubin, Pan Jianlin, Lan Zhou, Zhouyou, PeopleSoft, Maotao , etc.
As early as 2001, Jia Zhangke came up with the idea of filming this movie. At that time, it was not called "The Romantic Generation", but was named "The Man with a Digital Camera". In this film, Jia Zhangke attempts to challenge traditional concepts of filmmaking and explore the infinite possibilities of film as a language. "My concept of film is deeply influenced by the Dutch director Evans. Evans's work "Rain" captures the emotions of three rain scenes." Different stages - before the rain, during the rain, after the rain, are edited into a continuous rain, without fixed characters and dramatic plots, using only the changes of the city in the rain as the background, creating a poetic and abstract record. by this immersion I was attracted by the experience, so I thought about whether the film can be freed from its dependence on drama and narrative framework. The image is no longer a transformation of the text of the script, but directly serves as a language of narration. Then, each of our Shots are equivalent to words. We collect these shots in real life and then mobilize them to form a complete work.”
In the film era, this idea was difficult to realize; however, in 2001, the emergence of more mature digital cameras allowed Jia Zhangke to discover this possibility, "Although I was not satisfied with the texture of digital photography at first, I felt it was different from film." The gap is too big, but as time goes by, I find it amazing how portable and unique it is, just like we can now shoot at will with our mobile phones, it provides technical support for "html". 4
Jia Zhangke originally planned to record the stories and status of the first five years of the millennium through "Man with a Digital Camera". "We blurred the boundaries between records and fiction, and shot simultaneously, with actor Zhao Tao always present. In July 2001, We even recorded the moment when Beijing successfully bid for the Olympic Games." In the following years, Jia Zhangke continued to shoot intermittently, but was also busy with other film creations. For example, in 2004, he completed the film "The World".
The "Romantic Generation" refers to people who are passionately devoted to change.
However, between 2012 and 2020, Jia Zhangke basically stopped recording the material of "Man with a Digital Camera". "After shooting for so many years, I always feel that this movie is not finished yet, that it has not reached the end yet. I can’t explain why. At first, it may be because there is insufficient material, or I feel that it has not captured what I want, but Gradually, I realized that it was because changes were still happening rapidly, and there were new situations every year. "
The moment when Jia Zhangke really felt that "The Man with a Digital Camera" could be completed was in 2020, "I was there every day. Watch at home Writing books and scripts, my daily life became a three-point and one-line process of home, office and editing room. In the process, I had more time to think about the atmosphere at that time, the changes in people's cognition and the new technology. The arrival of China has brought great changes to the traditional way of life.I realized it was time to tell the story and it was time to finish the film. "
In the past 22 years, with the rapid changes in technology, the equipment used in the filming of "Man with a Digital Camera" has also been constantly updated, from 35mm and 16mm film to various digital cameras, 5D cameras, and even In the 2022 part, v r shooting and other new methods, it seems out of date to continue to use the old name.
At this time, Jia Zhangke thought of the term "Merry Generation". He told reporters: "In my childhood, this term was very popular and originated from Qingdao poet Ji. Yu's poem "Romance Song" published in 1980 was widely circulated in society at that time. Now, there is also a youth magazine called "The Romantic Generation", which reminds me of that era. While editing the film, I understood more and more the true meaning of the 'Wind Generation': it refers to those people who are eager for change, are not satisfied with the status quo, and passionately devote themselves to change. This word accurately describes the growth of those characters. background, so I chose 'The Romantic Generation' as the title of the movie. "
I hope that the film will be shaped like a true journey full of history.
"The Romantic Generation" was ultimately edited from more than 1,000 hours of massive material. When Jia Zhangke looked back at the past in the video, he was filled with emotion. He wrote on Weibo: "This The film is full of "Chinese dream core" and tells the story of a girl who fell in love in 2001. At the same time, our country joined the WTO and Beijing successfully bid for the Olympic Games. Her city was filled with Xiali cars and Rising Sun Ice Tea posters. There are still 486 computers in the Internet cafe. People sing "Walking in a Chic Style" and dance to the dance music of "Butterfly". Then...in 2022, she reached middle age, but she became herself. "
Jia Zhangke said that the film ultimately adopted a linear narrative, "just like our lives, with a clear storyline that contains rich information about the times and the feelings of the characters. "In "The Romantic Generation", the love stories of Qiaoqiao and Brother Bin are always connected, from the love in youth to the separation and reunification later, as well as the changes and differences between the two people. Jia Zhangke said: "Among the many materials, This pair of fictional characters has the most solid storyline, providing support for the entire narrative. After determining such character relationships and narrative clues, we began to improvise and expand the space horizontally around this main line, because in addition to their emotional entanglements, what is more important is the environment and background of the times in which they live. "
Jia Zhangke hopes that the film will be a real journey full of history, "It's like I'm going to a foreign country I've never been to. Maybe from the moment I step on the long-distance bus, I'll start observing. People coming and going can see different scenes in the middle, and then there are grasslands, mountains, and loess land. This is an unknown and exploratory journey, full of unknowns waiting to be discovered. From the beginning, I wanted to shoot and edit "The Merry Generation" like this, following the protagonist step by step from 2001 to 2022. Although this journey can be summarized in one sentence, the scenery on the journey needs us to describe it, so, I We have made a lot of expansions in details, hoping to show the picture of life as much as possible and let people experience the daily life that was once within reach. Our daily life is not always dramatic, but full of fragmented information. "
"The Romantic Generation" contains a total of 19 songs. Many plots are advanced by music, and the characters in it often sing. In this regard, Jia Zhangke said, "At the turn of the century, At the beginning, we went through an exciting period together, filled with songs and dances everywhere, eager to go into business or change jobs, pursue a career that we love, or move to places full of opportunities, from north to south, from inland to coast , social mobility has increased, bringing vitality. "
Jia Zhangke revealed that when he looked back on the first part of the film, he still missed the closeness between people in that era, "Compared to me now, I seemed to be more open-minded at that time.When we were at Nortel, we often communicated with classmates from other schools. Once we heard that the other person was a Chinese actor, we would naturally become friends, eating, playing ball, and watching movies together. We are immersed in the kind of communication between people, discussing philosophy passionately, or gossiping. Nowadays, young people seem to be more inclined to seek social interaction on their mobile phones. I also feel worried whether the relationships between people will become closed. "
is not presenting a "movie universe", but the multiple possibilities of a person's life.
Jia Zhangke's previous films "Xiao Wu", "Platform" and "Ren Xiaoyao" are all "youth movies", and from "Mountains and Rivers Old Friends" From the beginning, Jia Zhangke began to gaze at the long river of time. He no longer limited the narrative to a narrow time and space frame, but extended his horizons and gave the story a longer life. "Old Friends in Mountains and Rivers" spans from 1999 to 2025; "Children of Rivers and Lakes" is told from 2001 to 2018; "The Romantic Generation" spans 22 years. These works also depict the transformation of women from youth to maturity. changes, and their ups and downs in the waves of the times.
Jia Zhangke said with a smile that he is indeed more inclined to long-term narratives, "This may be related to age. As I grow older, I am more obsessed with the curve of time. My previous films were all about young people, but when I entered my forties and experienced more things, I began to find that the charm of movies lies not only in telling the story of temporary difficulties, but also in the passage of time. What is changing, what is permanent. In youth, birth, aging, illness and death seem out of reach, but in middle age, many problems become reality and gradually become a part of life. There are four states of life: birth, old age, illness and death. I like this primitive and inevitable reality. These inevitability in life, coupled with the different new information, new atmosphere, new changes and new concepts in each era, constitute a unique kind of reality. contrast. The world is constantly changing packaging, from department store shopping to online shopping, from restaurant queues to takeaways. What changes is the form, not the essence. The core of human life, old age, illness and death remains unchanged. "
Does Jia Zhangke, who touches the pattern of time, have an anxiety about aging? Jia Zhangke said with a smile that this kind of anxiety has not yet appeared, "People actually warn themselves. When they feel that they are unable to do what they want, they will naturally feel that something is wrong. I can still handle many things at once, so mentally, I really don’t have this anxiety. But after editing "The Romantic Generation", we need to reshoot the latest part in 2022, and Zhao Tao needs to look at the previous material to find a sense of connection for the shooting. At this time, I did have some hesitation - Zhao Tao has maintained his condition very well over the past 22 years, but the changes are still obvious. We hid at that time and asked Zhao Tao to watch the movie in the screening room, and we planned to come back to comfort her. But after reading it, she said: "Don't worry, I can accept myself in every period, because people grow up like this, there is no shame or regret, and no one can escape the changes of time." ’ She can accept herself in all ages. This attitude is great, free of burdens, and very transparent. "
"The Romantic Generation" seems to be the soul of Jia Zhangke's past works. Qiaoqiao and Brother Bin are also the names shared by the protagonists in works such as "Ren Xiaoyao", "Three Gorges Good Man" and "Children of Jianghu". Does this form an interconnected relationship? "Jia Zhangke Cinematic Universe"? Jia Zhangke said: "Although there is indeed some overlap between several of my films, it is not enough to constitute a 'universe'. Maybe it’s more like multiple possibilities in one’s life, with similarities and differences. I reused five shots from the old film in "The Last One" simply because they were crucial to the narrative and I thought they were shot well. For me, images from the past can be used as new material. "
often had "secret battles" with Zhao Tao on the set. Many times she was right.
Since "Platform", Zhao Tao has appeared in every film by Jia Zhangke. Cameron Bay, Chairman of the Toronto International Film Festival Li once commented: "In her collaboration with director Jia Zhangke, Zhao Tao captured the complexity and importance of the great changes in China's times.Zhao Tao is an iconic face of the 21st century and contributed her best performance in "The Romantic Generation". "In Jia Zhangke's view, Zhao Tao has a profound influence on his creation.
Jia Zhangke laughed and said that the reason for the long-term cooperation between the two is not tacit understanding. On the set, there are often "secret battles" between him and Zhao Tao," As a director, I don't pursue perfect tacit understanding with actors. Sometimes, actors' doubts or lack of cooperation can bring new creative inspiration. For example, Zhao Tao and I don’t always agree when we work together, but her ideas and understanding are often worthy of respect, and she is often right. Her international popularity also adds a layer of security to our movies. During the pre-sales of movies, international film producers often ask whether Zhao Tao will star, because her participation can often become an important indicator of pre-sales. "
Jia Zhangke revealed that Zhao Tao usually likes walking, reading novels, and watching movies, and has a high amount of movie viewing. "Once, she mentioned the performance issue to me. She said, have you noticed that if the current movies are turned off? If you just look at the voice and expressions, you will find that the characters' performances are often too intense, and seem too exaggerated compared to the conflicts in real life. She feels that movies are not stage plays or TV series, but art that needs to be experienced on the big screen. If the characters appear on the stage and perform for the purpose of drama every moment, that is wrong. Actors do not need to over-act. Instead, we should walk and eat naturally like ordinary people. People don’t necessarily need so many explicit and clear expressions. She proposed a non-dramatic performance, which impressed me deeply. "
In addition, when Zhao Tao is filming, he always asks Jia Zhangke about the specific time of each scene. "I'm curious why she cares about this issue. She said, because different time periods will affect the character's physiological state and excitement. For example, a working woman who gets up early will be energetic, but may be tired at night. She needs to add physiological real characteristics to her performance. Sometimes the audience can catch Zhao Tao's ideas, sometimes they can't, and sometimes they are ineffective, but I know that she thinks about movies from a high dimension, which has greatly inspired my film creation. "
Over the years, Jia Zhangke has enjoyed photographing female characters and the awakening process of female self-awareness, and Zhao Tao's unique understanding and insights into female characters make their cooperation full of fresh possibilities. "Women can often experience it more deeply. When faced with the cruelty and discomfort of life, men may not think deeply about these issues. When filming "The Romantic Generation", Zhao Tao asked me a series of in-depth questions. For example, why did the character Qiaoqiao end up working in a supermarket? Is this character married, with children, or has she always been single, and what is her attitude towards relationships? Actually, I didn't consider so many details when writing. I just set her as a lonely woman. But Zhao Tao emphasized that these details are important and determine Qiaoqiao's reaction when he reunites with Brother Bin. Is it rejection, reconciliation or something else? Then, we had a discussion. Zhao Tao's idea was that the character might be married and the child might be in college; or she might have been single. However, Zhao Tao didn't want her to indulge in past emotions, but to show She has transcended that emotion and can live a wonderful life with or without love. I think this treatment shows the independence and strength of the character very well. As a woman, Zhao Tao can have insight into the living conditions of many middle-aged women who have no family and no love. These middle-aged women may no longer look for love everywhere as they did when they were young, which is what they did in their youth. Zhao Tao's insights also stem from the characteristics of an artist. "Will
still pursue new narrative methods and film languages in his works in the future? Jia Zhangke said with a smile, at least for now, there are no plans to conduct another filming project that will last more than 20 years. "Since I entered the film industry, the film culture has The focus has gradually shifted to identity anxiety, which is caused by the immigration issues brought about by globalization and the mobility of people caused by urbanization; in recent years, the focus has turned to the anxiety of the human body, which is a further step towards self-liberation. think.Then, artificial intelligence became a new topic, and I took a cautious attitude towards artificial intelligence. Regardless, my interest in the latest human condition has never diminished, whether it’s filming a long story that spans many years or capturing the present moment. This is what I have not changed amidst the many changes I have undergone over the years.
Jia Zhangke loves the quality of recording, so his images always shine with the detailed and true light of life. For the movie " Romance Generation ", which took 22 years of filming and production, the "artificial lights" that created a sense of drama were replaced with the halo of the long-ago era, leading the audience to complete a journey through the ages. "The Romance" will be released on November 22 and will only be released for 22 days. In a recent exclusive interview with a reporter from the Beijing Youth Daily, Jia Zhangke said that starting from "Old Friends in Mountains and Rivers", to "Children of Jianghu" and "The Romantic Generation", he was particularly fond of long-term narratives. "As the years change, you will understand clearly. We can clearly see that the inner core remains unchanged in life, old age, illness and death, but the world is constantly changing its outer packaging. This is huge. "
Exploring the infinite possibilities of film as a language
The movie "The Romantic Generation" tells the story of the heroine Qiaoqiao's emotional journey from the millennium to the present. It is the process of women's growth, awakening and change, and it is also the process of women's growth, awakening and change. The destiny curve of the "revolutionary generation" is drawn. The film is directed by Jia Zhangke and stars Zhao Tao , Li Zhubin, Pan Jianlin, Lan Zhou, Zhouyou, PeopleSoft, Maotao , etc.
As early as 2001, Jia Zhangke came up with the idea of filming this movie. At that time, it was not called "The Romantic Generation", but was named "The Man with a Digital Camera". In this film, Jia Zhangke attempts to challenge traditional concepts of filmmaking and explore the infinite possibilities of film as a language. "My concept of film is deeply influenced by the Dutch director Evans. Evans's work "Rain" captures the emotions of three rain scenes." Different stages - before the rain, during the rain, after the rain, are edited into a continuous rain, without fixed characters and dramatic plots, using only the changes of the city in the rain as the background, creating a poetic and abstract record. by this immersion I was attracted by the experience, so I thought about whether the film can be freed from its dependence on drama and narrative framework. The image is no longer a transformation of the text of the script, but directly serves as a language of narration. Then, each of our Shots are equivalent to words. We collect these shots in real life and then mobilize them to form a complete work.”
In the film era, this idea was difficult to realize; however, in 2001, the emergence of more mature digital cameras allowed Jia Zhangke to discover this possibility, "Although I was not satisfied with the texture of digital photography at first, I felt it was different from film." The gap is too big, but as time goes by, I find it amazing how portable and unique it is, just like we can now shoot at will with our mobile phones, it provides technical support for "html". 4
Jia Zhangke originally planned to record the stories and status of the first five years of the millennium through "Man with a Digital Camera". "We blurred the boundaries between records and fiction, and shot simultaneously, with actor Zhao Tao always present. In July 2001, We even recorded the moment when Beijing successfully bid for the Olympic Games." In the following years, Jia Zhangke continued to shoot intermittently, but was also busy with other film creations. For example, in 2004, he completed the film "The World".
The "Romantic Generation" refers to people who are passionately devoted to change.
However, between 2012 and 2020, Jia Zhangke basically stopped recording the material of "Man with a Digital Camera". "After shooting for so many years, I always feel that this movie is not finished yet, that it has not reached the end yet. I can’t explain why. At first, it may be because there is insufficient material, or I feel that it has not captured what I want, but Gradually, I realized that it was because changes were still happening rapidly, and there were new situations every year. "
The moment when Jia Zhangke really felt that "The Man with a Digital Camera" could be completed was in 2020, "I was there every day. Watch at home Writing books and scripts, my daily life became a three-point and one-line process of home, office and editing room. In the process, I had more time to think about the atmosphere at that time, the changes in people's cognition and the new technology. The arrival of China has brought great changes to the traditional way of life.I realized it was time to tell the story and it was time to finish the film. "
In the past 22 years, with the rapid changes in technology, the equipment used in the filming of "Man with a Digital Camera" has also been constantly updated, from 35mm and 16mm film to various digital cameras, 5D cameras, and even In the 2022 part, v r shooting and other new methods, it seems out of date to continue to use the old name.
At this time, Jia Zhangke thought of the term "Merry Generation". He told reporters: "In my childhood, this term was very popular and originated from Qingdao poet Ji. Yu's poem "Romance Song" published in 1980 was widely circulated in society at that time. Now, there is also a youth magazine called "The Romantic Generation", which reminds me of that era. While editing the film, I understood more and more the true meaning of the 'Wind Generation': it refers to those people who are eager for change, are not satisfied with the status quo, and passionately devote themselves to change. This word accurately describes the growth of those characters. background, so I chose 'The Romantic Generation' as the title of the movie. "
I hope that the film will be shaped like a true journey full of history.
"The Romantic Generation" was ultimately edited from more than 1,000 hours of massive material. When Jia Zhangke looked back at the past in the video, he was filled with emotion. He wrote on Weibo: "This The film is full of "Chinese dream core" and tells the story of a girl who fell in love in 2001. At the same time, our country joined the WTO and Beijing successfully bid for the Olympic Games. Her city was filled with Xiali cars and Rising Sun Ice Tea posters. There are still 486 computers in the Internet cafe. People sing "Walking in a Chic Style" and dance to the dance music of "Butterfly". Then...in 2022, she reached middle age, but she became herself. "
Jia Zhangke said that the film ultimately adopted a linear narrative, "just like our lives, with a clear storyline that contains rich information about the times and the feelings of the characters. "In "The Romantic Generation", the love stories of Qiaoqiao and Brother Bin are always connected, from the love in youth to the separation and reunification later, as well as the changes and differences between the two people. Jia Zhangke said: "Among the many materials, This pair of fictional characters has the most solid storyline, providing support for the entire narrative. After determining such character relationships and narrative clues, we began to improvise and expand the space horizontally around this main line, because in addition to their emotional entanglements, what is more important is the environment and background of the times in which they live. "
Jia Zhangke hopes that the film will be a real journey full of history, "It's like I'm going to a foreign country I've never been to. Maybe from the moment I step on the long-distance bus, I'll start observing. People coming and going can see different scenes in the middle, and then there are grasslands, mountains, and loess land. This is an unknown and exploratory journey, full of unknowns waiting to be discovered. From the beginning, I wanted to shoot and edit "The Merry Generation" like this, following the protagonist step by step from 2001 to 2022. Although this journey can be summarized in one sentence, the scenery on the journey needs us to describe it, so, I We have made a lot of expansions in details, hoping to show the picture of life as much as possible and let people experience the daily life that was once within reach. Our daily life is not always dramatic, but full of fragmented information. "
"The Romantic Generation" contains a total of 19 songs. Many plots are advanced by music, and the characters in it often sing. In this regard, Jia Zhangke said, "At the turn of the century, At the beginning, we went through an exciting period together, filled with songs and dances everywhere, eager to go into business or change jobs, pursue a career that we love, or move to places full of opportunities, from north to south, from inland to coast , social mobility has increased, bringing vitality. "
Jia Zhangke revealed that when he looked back on the first part of the film, he still missed the closeness between people in that era, "Compared to me now, I seemed to be more open-minded at that time.When we were at Nortel, we often communicated with classmates from other schools. Once we heard that the other person was a Chinese actor, we would naturally become friends, eating, playing ball, and watching movies together. We are immersed in the kind of communication between people, discussing philosophy passionately, or gossiping. Nowadays, young people seem to be more inclined to seek social interaction on their mobile phones. I also feel worried whether the relationships between people will become closed. "
is not presenting a "movie universe", but the multiple possibilities of a person's life.
Jia Zhangke's previous films "Xiao Wu", "Platform" and "Ren Xiaoyao" are all "youth movies", and from "Mountains and Rivers Old Friends" From the beginning, Jia Zhangke began to gaze at the long river of time. He no longer limited the narrative to a narrow time and space frame, but extended his horizons and gave the story a longer life. "Old Friends in Mountains and Rivers" spans from 1999 to 2025; "Children of Rivers and Lakes" is told from 2001 to 2018; "The Romantic Generation" spans 22 years. These works also depict the transformation of women from youth to maturity. changes, and their ups and downs in the waves of the times.
Jia Zhangke said with a smile that he is indeed more inclined to long-term narratives, "This may be related to age. As I grow older, I am more obsessed with the curve of time. My previous films were all about young people, but when I entered my forties and experienced more things, I began to find that the charm of movies lies not only in telling the story of temporary difficulties, but also in the passage of time. What is changing, what is permanent. In youth, birth, aging, illness and death seem out of reach, but in middle age, many problems become reality and gradually become a part of life. There are four states of life: birth, old age, illness and death. I like this primitive and inevitable reality. These inevitability in life, coupled with the different new information, new atmosphere, new changes and new concepts in each era, constitute a unique kind of reality. contrast. The world is constantly changing packaging, from department store shopping to online shopping, from restaurant queues to takeaways. What changes is the form, not the essence. The core of human life, old age, illness and death remains unchanged. "
Does Jia Zhangke, who touches the pattern of time, have an anxiety about aging? Jia Zhangke said with a smile that this kind of anxiety has not yet appeared, "People actually warn themselves. When they feel that they are unable to do what they want, they will naturally feel that something is wrong. I can still handle many things at once, so mentally, I really don’t have this anxiety. But after editing "The Romantic Generation", we need to reshoot the latest part in 2022, and Zhao Tao needs to look at the previous material to find a sense of connection for the shooting. At this time, I did have some hesitation - Zhao Tao has maintained his condition very well over the past 22 years, but the changes are still obvious. We hid at that time and asked Zhao Tao to watch the movie in the screening room, and we planned to come back to comfort her. But after reading it, she said: "Don't worry, I can accept myself in every period, because people grow up like this, there is no shame or regret, and no one can escape the changes of time." ’ She can accept herself in all ages. This attitude is great, free of burdens, and very transparent. "
"The Romantic Generation" seems to be the soul of Jia Zhangke's past works. Qiaoqiao and Brother Bin are also the names shared by the protagonists in works such as "Ren Xiaoyao", "Three Gorges Good Man" and "Children of Jianghu". Does this form an interconnected relationship? "Jia Zhangke Cinematic Universe"? Jia Zhangke said: "Although there is indeed some overlap between several of my films, it is not enough to constitute a 'universe'. Maybe it’s more like multiple possibilities in one’s life, with similarities and differences. I reused five shots from the old film in "The Last One" simply because they were crucial to the narrative and I thought they were shot well. For me, images from the past can be used as new material. "
often had "secret battles" with Zhao Tao on the set. Many times she was right.
Since "Platform", Zhao Tao has appeared in every film by Jia Zhangke. Cameron Bay, Chairman of the Toronto International Film Festival Li once commented: "In her collaboration with director Jia Zhangke, Zhao Tao captured the complexity and importance of the great changes in China's times.Zhao Tao is an iconic face of the 21st century and contributed her best performance in "The Romantic Generation". "In Jia Zhangke's view, Zhao Tao has a profound influence on his creation.
Jia Zhangke laughed and said that the reason for the long-term cooperation between the two is not tacit understanding. On the set, there are often "secret battles" between him and Zhao Tao," As a director, I don't pursue perfect tacit understanding with actors. Sometimes, actors' doubts or lack of cooperation can bring new creative inspiration. For example, Zhao Tao and I don’t always agree when we work together, but her ideas and understanding are often worthy of respect, and she is often right. Her international popularity also adds a layer of security to our movies. During the pre-sales of movies, international film producers often ask whether Zhao Tao will star, because her participation can often become an important indicator of pre-sales. "
Jia Zhangke revealed that Zhao Tao usually likes walking, reading novels, and watching movies, and has a high amount of movie viewing. "Once, she mentioned the performance issue to me. She said, have you noticed that if the current movies are turned off? If you just look at the voice and expressions, you will find that the characters' performances are often too intense, and seem too exaggerated compared to the conflicts in real life. She feels that movies are not stage plays or TV series, but art that needs to be experienced on the big screen. If the characters appear on the stage and perform for the purpose of drama every moment, that is wrong. Actors do not need to over-act. Instead, we should walk and eat naturally like ordinary people. People don’t necessarily need so many explicit and clear expressions. She proposed a non-dramatic performance, which impressed me deeply. "
In addition, when Zhao Tao is filming, he always asks Jia Zhangke about the specific time of each scene. "I'm curious why she cares about this issue. She said, because different time periods will affect the character's physiological state and excitement. For example, a working woman who gets up early will be energetic, but may be tired at night. She needs to add physiological real characteristics to her performance. Sometimes the audience can catch Zhao Tao's ideas, sometimes they can't, and sometimes they are ineffective, but I know that she thinks about movies from a high dimension, which has greatly inspired my film creation. "
Over the years, Jia Zhangke has enjoyed photographing female characters and the awakening process of female self-awareness, and Zhao Tao's unique understanding and insights into female characters make their cooperation full of fresh possibilities. "Women can often experience it more deeply. When faced with the cruelty and discomfort of life, men may not think deeply about these issues. When filming "The Romantic Generation", Zhao Tao asked me a series of in-depth questions. For example, why did the character Qiaoqiao end up working in a supermarket? Is this character married, with children, or has she always been single, and what is her attitude towards relationships? Actually, I didn't consider so many details when writing. I just set her as a lonely woman. But Zhao Tao emphasized that these details are important and determine Qiaoqiao's reaction when he reunites with Brother Bin. Is it rejection, reconciliation or something else? Then, we had a discussion. Zhao Tao's idea was that the character might be married and the child might be in college; or she might have been single. However, Zhao Tao didn't want her to indulge in past emotions, but to show She has transcended that emotion and can live a wonderful life with or without love. I think this treatment shows the independence and strength of the character very well. As a woman, Zhao Tao can have insight into the living conditions of many middle-aged women who have no family and no love. These middle-aged women may no longer look for love everywhere as they did when they were young, which is what they did in their youth. Zhao Tao's insights also stem from the characteristics of an artist. "Will
still pursue new narrative methods and film languages in his works in the future? Jia Zhangke said with a smile, at least for now, there are no plans to conduct another filming project that will last more than 20 years. "Since I entered the film industry, the film culture has The focus has gradually shifted to identity anxiety, which is caused by the immigration issues brought about by globalization and the mobility of people caused by urbanization; in recent years, the focus has turned to the anxiety of the human body, which is a further step towards self-liberation. think.Then, artificial intelligence became a new topic, and I took a cautious attitude towards artificial intelligence. Regardless, my interest in the latest human condition has never diminished, whether it’s filming a long story that spans many years or capturing the present moment. This is what I have not changed amidst the many changes I have undergone over the years."
stills and pictures/film crew
character photography/Wang Xiaoxi
text/Beijing Youth Daily reporter Xiao Yang
editor/Gong Lifang
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