Chapter 2 Beauty and Ugliness

  "The Autumn Cicada's Lawsuit", this film which has won numerous awards both domestically and internationally, is the subject of analysis for this exam. In fact, there are no strict guidelines for the exam, you can write whatever you want.

  This film is very profound and suitable as an examination topic, examining the examinees' understanding of the film and artistic analysis.

  But for this film, Wu Xiang always had a feeling of not spitting out the bad taste, that is, this film made Chinese people look a bit too ugly!

  In terms of the plot and character portrayal, these are all well done, Director Zhang is indeed a world-class director with exceptional skills. The entire film successfully portrays multiple vivid characters, including the simple yet strong-willed Qiu Ju, her timid husband, and the village chief who, despite being rough around the edges, ultimately saves Qiu Ju and her child. The multifaceted nature of the characters' personalities is fully revealed, making it extremely realistic.

  Being able to turn a beautiful woman into a rustic and sloppy peasant woman is simply magic!

  What does Wu Xiang want to say?

  In the last decade of the 20th century, China was still quite isolated, and Western countries had no understanding of the domestic situation. So where did they get their information from?

  It's these movies!

  Since the 1980s, domestic films, especially those shot with local themes, have repeatedly won major international awards. It can be said that as long as a good film with depth and showcasing human nature is made, winning an award is not a problem at all.

  However, if a film wants to have depth, it naturally needs to dig up some dark aspects, and that will also expose the not-so-good sides of Chinese people.

  Overall, the movie "Autumn" is still quite good, with many positive elements, but many other movies don't have such integrity. Because they can win big international awards, at least they have a chance to be nominated for various film awards, many directors start making this type of movie over and over again, focusing on rural themes, poverty, hardship, the ugliness of human nature, the darkness of society, the more miserable the better, the darker the better, even creating a trend, as long as you make it like that, you'll definitely have a chance to be shortlisted for some big award.

  Ugly Chinese people, in these movies, the message presented is like this. Western jurors and audiences receive this kind of message too. In their eyes, our country is still so shabby and poor. If your movie has high-rise buildings, they won't even look at you, not a word.

  Fake!

  What you're saying is that you are speaking on behalf of your government and you are a mouthpiece for the poisonous government!

  This trend is getting more and more intense, as if you don't shoot like this, you'll be embarrassed to tell others that you're a director, an artist.

  Because he likes movies, many award-winning works, although they are banned domestically, don't forget that the tentacles of the pirated empire are extremely powerful. Wu Xiang took a huge risk to watch it, but the result was so disappointing!

  Self-criticism is right, but you have to grasp the degree well. The degree is not easy to grasp, and many films are too dark. The whole trend was like this, and it wasn't until more than a decade later that there was some improvement, because the development of the motherland made those Western film critics have to accept this fact: socialism can also be high-end, elegant and upscale.

  But at this time, Wu Xiang felt deeply disgusted with this trend, he thought that if this was also called art, then this art was a bit too despicable!

  So Wu Xiang wrote whatever he thought, severely criticizing the filming method that catered to Western film critics and audiences. He didn't talk much about this movie itself, but mainly targeted this trend, writing over 2,000 words.

  After finishing the exam, Wu Xiang even thought he did very well. Of course, even now, reborn Wu Xiang doesn't think he's wrong, because even in the era when he was hit to death, there were countless so-called artists doing this. It's just that at that time, movies weren't easy to shoot, because locations weren't easy to find, but photography was okay. As far as Wu Xiang knows, a 'classroom' in a Yi village in the Liangshan Mountains of Sichuan even became a holy land for Chinese photography, and countless professional photographers got their desired works here, took them to international competitions, and often won awards. Who cares if it's posed or not?

  The third test was an interview, Wu Xiang remembered that the interviewer gave himself a blow at the beginning, and because of fainting before, his brain was dizzy, so the final result was not surprising. Wu Xiang remembered clearly what the teacher said.

  "Wu Xiang, you are the only one among over 2,000 applicants to the literature department who dared to criticize Zhang Yimou's work. That's why we let you into the final interview. We want to ask you: as a literary worker, when praising certain things, should he face social reality and dig up the dark side of society? Or how should he dig it up?"

  Wu Xiang had already entered the examination room and was standing in front of the interviewing teacher. Wu Xiang remembered very clearly that at that time, he didn't say anything.

  On the one hand, his head was dizzy, and on the other hand, Wu Xiang was very clear that what the interviewer said was right. Reality had to be faced, and any society would have a dark side unless communism was achieved.

  It's actually a matter of balance, finding a central point. Only when this point is found can one be unbiased and discover social problems amidst praise, revealing darkness while giving people hope, which is a perfect state.

  At that time, Wu Xiang couldn't find this point. The later Wu Xiang also didn't find this point. But now, Wu Xiang can answer this question.

  "Everyone, I want to tell you a story, can I?" But now Wu Xiang didn't directly answer the teachers' question, instead he asked back.

  "Oh, of course." Although somewhat unexpected, the teachers still gave Wu Xiang his freedom.

  Wu Xiang began, speaking very calmly: "My cousin has a friend who went abroad to study in a country not far from here, South Korea. She rented a house outside of school, but when the landlord saw her for the first time, he did something interesting."

  At this time, the interviewers were all attracted by Wu Xiang's story and wanted to know what this tall and thin candidate was going to say next, because this story seemed to have nothing to do with his article.

  Wu Xiang continued: "The landlord took out a toothbrush and toothpaste, then said to her, 'This is toothpaste and a toothbrush. You use these things to clean your teeth. I guess you haven't seen them in your country, right?'"

  "Ah?" As soon as Wu Xiang's words fell, the four interviewing teachers all revealed incredulous expressions.

  This story was obtained by Wu Xiang from the internet, and the narrator is an overseas student. Wu Xiang remembers it clearly. This story is still acceptable, and Wu Xiang didn't even dare to embellish the tea egg story. The greatness of the curved people is absolutely unimaginable for a job interviewer!

  "This is the story I wanted to tell, and that's why I wrote such an article. I know that news is relatively closed off now, and foreigners still have biases against us, thinking we're still an uncivilized nation, barbaric and ugly! But don't we ourselves have a reason for this?!"

  At this time, the four teachers had stopped all their work and were staring at Wu Xiang.

  Wu Xiang was somewhat agitated, "What I actually wanted to criticize in the article is that for the sake of ugliness, for the sake of winning international awards, and for catering to Western tastes, they recklessly dug up all sorts of ugly things. This is what I detest the most! The result of doing so is that outsiders will be even more misunderstand us, not to mention Westerners, but even Koreans who are so close to us have such views. I deeply feel that this is selfish, shameful and despicable!"

  Wu Xiang finally spoke as if he was shouting loudly, and the interviewing teachers were all stunned by him. This kid is too daring!

  Indeed, Wu Xiang was somewhat excited and needed to calm down his emotions, but his answer had not ended yet.

  "Respected teachers, I actually have great admiration for Director Zhang Yimou. At my age, it can be said that I grew up watching his films. The former 'Red Sorghum', the story made my blood boil, and the use of color made me see the ultimate beauty of human life. That kind of rural background, with a sense of grandeur, that kind of screaming feeling when the nation is in danger, I will never forget for the rest of my life! It even makes me... yearn to become a film worker."

  Here is the translation:

  "Up to this point, Wu Xiang paused for a moment. He looked at the interviewing teachers and found that they were all listening attentively, which made him full of confidence. He continued: "The reason I want to talk about this film is that I think it's handled very well. The people in the film, although from an earlier era, can still represent us today. Although their image, to put it bluntly, is rough and unrefined, and they are also quite ignorant, ultimately leading to their own demise due to overloading the cannon with gunpowder. But their spirit, their refusal to yield! This moved me deeply and earned my utmost respect! So, I yearn to make a film like this too. Of course, it won't be easy, it's very difficult, but I want to strive for it. Teachers, that's all I have to say."

  The crows and sparrows made no sound, after Wu Xiang finished speaking, all the interviewing teachers seemed to be stunned, staring at this thin and tall examinee as if they were watching an alien.

  Facing this situation, Wu Xiang felt a bit uncertain, "Was it because I said something too excessive?"

  "So, Wu Xiang, let's get back to the topic. I'd like to ask you, if it's a film that reflects rural themes, like 'Qiu Ju Goes to Court', which is about rural poverty, how would you approach filming such a movie?"

  Finally, there's a problem. After being silent for a while, the interviewer teacher has finally returned to normal. They were really shocked just now and didn't expect this young man to be so thoughtful, almost making them forget the exam procedure.

  Wu Xiang thought for a moment before responding: "If I can help it, I don't want to make this kind of film."

  This answer once again surprised the interviewing teachers, this candidate is too slick.

  A teacher immediately smiled and asked: "I don't want to force you, but I want to know why."

  Wu Xiang also smiled and replied: "It's very simple, because I don't have a life. I'm an only child born and raised in the big city, I've never experienced rural life at all. If I were to recklessly go and film something like that, wouldn't that be very irresponsible?"

  The teacher immediately asked again: "Then if you become a screenwriter and director, will you ignore the social reality of rural areas for the rest of your life?"

  "No." Wu Xiang still had a smile on his face, "I think the problem with rural areas is actually just one problem. The uneven development of society, now it seems that's all there is to it, in short, it's poverty, lack of money, if we solve this problem, we'll be fine. If I were given the chance, I wouldn't make a movie, but I have other ways."

  "Hmm? What would you do?" Wu Xiang's words caught the attention of the teachers, and it seemed that this examinee was really different, bringing them a lot of surprises.