Customer Reviews

Speaking in Images: Interviews with Contemporary Chinese Filmmakers (Global Chinese Culture)

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Fascinating interviews from virtually every prominent Chinese director working today, including Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Ang Lee, Hou Hsiao-hsien, and Edward Yang. Although, curiously, missing perhaps the most influential and "hip" auteur of all, Wong Kar-wai, it also includes some young up and comers like Jia Zhangke, Zhang Yuan, and Li Yang. The question and answer sessions, conducted by the author over the past several years from around the world, ranging from their home turfs to various promotional visits in New York, etc, show detailed research and preparation aforehand. The interviews delve into the personal histories of the filmmaker to see what cultural and historical experiences, especially during their adolescence and developing years, influenced their works (eg. parents dying during Mao's Cultural Revolution, social turmoil during the Taiwanese revolts against Nationalist hegemony). Interviews then follow into their filmographies, with their key works (eg. Tian Zhuangzhuang's "Horse Thief", Edward Yang's "A Brighter Summer Day") questioned in depth.

The filmmakers were usually very forthcoming about their works, such as the effect of censorship by the government, regrettable choices in project selection (eg. Chen Kaige's foray into Hollywood with "Killing Me Softly"), and the difficulty in trying success in Asia with the poorly developed distribution system and rampant piracy. Extensive bibliographies following each chapter offer more analysis if the reader is interested. Overall, a comprehensive and illuminating look into the minds and works of the most prominent auteurs in and around China.

Those interested in the prominently featured "Fifth Generation" may want to take a gander at Memoirs from the Beijing Film Academy: The Genesis of China's Fifth Generation (by Zhen Ni).

This is exactly what I needed for my film class, but it was in such remarkable condition! When they say "Like New" they mean exactly that! Thanks.