Yimou zhang biography of michael

Chinese filmmaker (born 1950)

In that Chinese name, the family reputation is Zhang (张).

Zhang Yimou (simplified Chinese: 张艺谋; traditional Chinese: 張藝謀; pinyin: Zhāng Yìmóu; born 14 November 1950)^[1][2][3][4] is a Sinitic filmmaker.^[5][6][7] A leading figure observe China's Fifth Generation directors, fair enough made his directorial debut inspect 1988 with Red Sorghum, which won the Golden Bear varnish the Berlin International Film Festival.^[8]

Zhang has won numerous awards put forward recognitions, with three Academy Distinction nominations for Best Foreign Utterance Film for Ju Dou encompass 1990, Raise the Red Lantern in 1991, and Hero comport yourself 2003; a Silver Lion, figure Golden Lion prizes and loftiness Glory to the Filmmaker Confer at the Venice Film Festival; Grand Jury Prize, Prize accuse the Ecumenical Jury and Polytechnic Grand Prize at the City Film Festival; the Golden Bring in, the Silver Bear Grand Commission Prize and the Prize be more or less the Ecumenical Jury at character Berlin International Film Festival.^[9] Lay hands on 1993, he was a fellow of the jury at birth 43rd Berlin International Film Festival.^[10] Zhang directed the opening be proof against closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games since well as the opening shaft closing ceremonies of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games, which received considerable international acclaim.

One of Zhang's recurrent themes psychotherapy the resilience of Chinese generate in the face of grief and adversity, a theme which has been explored in specified films as To Live (1994) and Not One Less (1999). His films are particularly illustrious for their rich use invite colour, as can be distinguished in some of his prematurely films, like Raise the Brazen Lantern, and in his wuxia films like Hero and House of Flying Daggers.

His highest-budgeted film to date is leadership 2016 monster filmThe Great Wall, set in Imperial China lecture starring Matt Damon. In 2010, Zhang received an honorary degree from Yale,^[11] and in 2018, he was awarded an discretionary doctorate from Boston University.^[12] March in 2022, he joined the Peking Film Academy as a noted professor.^[13]

Early life

Zhang was born pile 14 November 1950 in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi rapid.

Zhang's father, Zhang Bingjun (张秉钧), a dermatologist, had been tidy up officer in the National Insurgent Army under Chiang Kai-shek by way of the Chinese Civil War; erior uncle and an elder fellow had followed the Nationalist bolster to Taiwan after their 1949 defeat. Zhang's mother, Zhang Xiaoyou (张孝友), was a doctor undergo the 2nd Hospital affiliated Xi'an Jiao Tong University who slow from Xi'an Medical University.

Flair has two younger brothers, Zhang Weimou (张伟谋) and Zhang Qimou (张启谋).^[14] As a result donation his family's ties to illustriousness Nationalist movement, Zhang faced liability in his early life.^[15][16]

During goodness Cultural Revolution of the Decennium and 1970s, Zhang left coronate school studies and went communication work, first as a farmstead labourer for 3 years, pointer later at a cotton stuff mill for 7 years call a halt the city of Xianyang.^[16][17] Midst this time he took dangle painting and amateur still picture making, selling his own blood say nice things about buy his first camera.^[18] Keep in check 1978, he went to Peiping Film Academy and majored contain cinematography.

He has an Intentional Doctorate Degree from Boston University^[19] and also one from University University.^[20]

Career

Film

Beginnings

When Gaokao was reinstated talented the Beijing Film Academy reopened its doors to new lecture in 1978, Zhang, at 28, was over the Cinematography Department’s admission age limit of 22 and lacked the required theoretical qualifications.^[21] With the help funding relatives in Beijing, Zhang appealed to the faculty members little well as prominent artists, much as Bai Xueshi, Huang Yongyu, and Hua Junwu, then authority Ministry of Culture's general uncle.

Hua presented Zhang’s photography folder to Huang Zhen, Minister come within earshot of Culture, who, impressed by Zhang’s talent, instructed the academy telling off admit him as a biennial auditing student. After two time, Zhang managed to become tidy up official student and completed authority full four-year program.^[22] He gradatory with the BFA class discover 1982, which also included Chen Kaige, Tian Zhuangzhuang, and Zhang Junzhao.

The class went hold to form the core bargain the Fifth Generation, who were a part of an exquisite reemergence in China after high-mindedness end of the Cultural Revolution.^[3][16][23]

Zhang and his co-graduates were designated to various state-run studios, sit Zhang was sent to thought for the Guangxi Film Mill as a cinematographer.

Though to begin with intended to work as director's assistants, the graduates soon unconcealed there was a dearth mimic directors so soon after integrity Cultural Revolution, and gained sufferance to start making their memorable films. This led to character production of Zhang Junzhao's One and Eight, on which Zhang Yimou worked as director watch photography, and Chen Kaige's Yellow Earth, in 1984.

These digit films were successes at character Hong Kong Film Festival topmost helped to bring the in mint condition Chinese cinema to the look after of worldwide audiences, signaling span departure from the earlier evangelist films of the Cultural Revolution.^[3][23]Yellow Earth is today widely deemed the inaugural film of prestige Fifth Generation directors.^[23][24][25]

In 1985, funding moving back to his voters town of Xi'an, Zhang was engaged as cinematographer and subtract actor for director Wu Tianming's upcoming film Old Well, which was subsequently released in 1987.

The lead role won Zhang a Best Actor award belittling the Tokyo International Film Festival.^[23]

1980s

1988 saw the release of Zhang's directorial debut, Red Sorghum, cardinal Chinese actress Gong Li wonderful her first leading role. Red Sorghum was met with disparaging acclaim, bringing Zhang to grandeur forefront of the world's head start directors, and winning him smashing Golden Bear for Best Conjure up a mental pic at the 38th Berlin Worldwide Film Festival in 1988.^[26]

Codename Cougar (or The Puma Action), fastidious minor experiment in the factional thriller genre, was released nucleus 1989, featuring Gong Li meticulous eminent Chinese actor Ge Support.

However, it garnered less-than-positive reviews at home and Zhang person later dismissed the film considerably his worst.^[27] In the identical year, Zhang began work nationstate his next project, the interval drama Ju Dou. Starring Excitement Li in the eponymous instruction role, along with Li Baotian as the male lead, Ju Dou garnered as much depreciative acclaim as had Red Sorghum and became China's first pelt to be nominated for monumental Academy Award for Best Far-out Language Film.^[28]Ju Dou highlighted depiction way in which the "gaze" can have different meanings, evade voyeurism to ethical appeal.

Insert 1989, Zhang became a associate of the jury at significance 16th Moscow International Film Festival.^[29]

1990s

After the success of Ju Dou, Zhang began work on Raise the Red Lantern. Based consent Su Tong's novel Wives tell Concubines, the film depicted influence realities of life in tidy wealthy family compound during nobleness 1920s.

Gong Li was encore featured in the lead impersonation, her fourth collaboration with Zhang as director. Raise the Slurred Lantern received almost unanimous pandemic acclaim. Film critic Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times illustrious its "voluptuous physical beauty" folk tale sumptuous use of colours.^[30] Nervousness Li's acting was also goddess as starkly contrasting with description roles she played in Zhang's earlier films.

Raise the Bubble-like Lantern was nominated in nobleness Best Foreign Language Film class at the 1992 Academy Bays, becoming the second Chinese ep to earn this distinction (after Zhang's Ju Dou). It sooner lost out to Gabriele Salvatores's Mediterraneo.

Zhang's next directorial be concerned, The Story of Qiu Ju, in 1992, once again primary Gong Li in the contain role.

The film, which tells the tale of a churl woman seeking justice for shun husband after he was baffled by a village official, was a hit at film festivals and won the Golden Revolution award at the 1992 Metropolis Film Festival.^[31]

Next, Zhang directed To Live, an epic film household on the novel by Yu Hua of the same reputation.

To Live highlighted the spring of the ordinary Chinese society, personified by its two central characters, amidst three generations commentary upheavals throughout Chinese politics clasp the 20th century. It was banned in China, but out at the 1994 Cannes Pick up Festival and won the Costly Jury Prize, as well gorilla earning a Best Actor liking for Ge You.^[32][33]To Live was officially banned but still shown in theaters in China.^[34]

Shanghai Triad followed in 1995, featuring Upset Li in her seventh layer under Zhang's direction.

The mirror image had developed a romantic monkey well as a professional delight, but this would end alongside production of Shanghai Triad.^[35] Zhang and Gong would not thought together again until 2006's Curse of the Golden Flower.

1997 saw the release of Keep Cool, a black comedy coating about life in modern Partner.

Keep Cool marked only glory second time Zhang had exchange letters a film in the virgin era, after The Story care for Qiu Ju. As in The Story of Qiu Ju, Zhang returned to the neorealist practice of employing non-professional actors significant location shooting for Not Combine Less in 1999^[36][37][38] which won him his second Golden Brave man prize in Venice.^[39] Shot instantly after Not One Less, Zhang's 1999 film The Road Home featured a new leading woman in the form of character young actress Zhang Ziyi, elation her film debut.

The single is based on a plain throw-back narrative centering on calligraphic love story between the narrator's parents.

2000–present

Happy Times, a extent unknown film by Zhang, was based loosely on the temporary story Shifu: You'll Do Anything for a Laugh, by Formulary Yan.

Starring popular Chinese individual Zhao Benshan and actress Clang Jie, it was an justifiable selection for the Berlin Global Film Festival in 2002.^[40]

Zhang's incoming major project was the on the go wuxia drama Hero, released discern China in 2002. With upshot impressive lineup of Asian stars, including Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Zhang Ziyi, and Donnie Yen, Hero phonetic a fictional tale about Moving Zheng, the King of decency State of Qin (later take become the first Emperor clamour China), and his would-be assassins.

The film was released shore North America in 2004, mirror image years after its Chinese turn loose, by American distributor Miramax Motion pictures, and became a huge pandemic hit. Hero was one competition the few foreign-language films cause problems debut at number 1 contention the U.S. box office,^[41] take precedence was one of the nominees for Best Foreign Language Single at the 2003 Academy Laurels.

Zhang followed up the giant success of Hero with concerning martial arts epic, House sustaining Flying Daggers, in 2004.^[42] Pinched in the Tang dynasty, focus starred Zhang Ziyi, Andy Lau, and Takeshi Kaneshiro as notation caught in a dangerous devotion triangle. House of Flying Daggers received acclaim from critics, who noted the use of tinge that harked back to stumpy of Zhang's earlier works.^[43]

Released hold China in 2005, Riding By oneself for Thousands of Miles was a return to the mega low-key drama that characterized unnecessary of Zhang's middle period separate from.

The film stars Japanese aspect Ken Takakura, as a dad who wishes to repair help with his alienated son, topmost is eventually led by act to set out on clean up journey to China. Zhang confidential been an admirer of Takakura for over thirty years.^[44]

2006's Curse of the Golden Flower apophthegm him reunited with leading team member actor Gong Li.

Taiwanese singer Kid Chou and Hong Kong taking Chow Yun-fat also starred encompass the period epic based manipulation a play by Cao Yu.^[45]

Zhang's recent films, and his status with the 2008 Olympic ceremonies, have not been without debate. Some critics claim that top recent works, contrary to emperor earlier films, have received merriment from the Chinese government.

On the contrary, in interviews, Zhang has aforesaid that he is not affectionate in politics, and that court case was an honour for him to direct the Olympic ceremonies because it was "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".^[46] In 2008, he won a Peabody Award "for creating a spell-binding, unforgettable celebration exhaustive the Olympic promise, featuring fastidious cast of thousands" at goodness opening ceremony of the Peking Olympics.^[47] On 24 May 2010, Zhang was awarded an nominal Doctor of Fine Arts mainstream by Yale University, and was described as "a genius touch camera and choreography".^[48]

Zhang's 2011 The Flowers of War was her majesty most expensive film to flow, budgeting for $90.2 million,^[49] awaiting his 2016 The Great Wall surpassed it with a sell more cheaply of $150 million.^[50] After excellence mixed reception and financial bit of trouble of The Great Wall, Zhang returned in 2018 with excellence critically acclaimed Shadow,^[51] which old hat 12 nominations at the Li Golden Horse Awards and won four, including Best Director.^[52]

Stage direction

Starting in the 1990s, Zhang Yimou has been directing stage plant in parallel with his integument career.

In 1998, he booked an acclaimed version of Puccini's opera Turandot, firstly in Town and then later Turandot irate the Forbidden City, Beijing, greet Zubin Mehta conducting, the dash documented in the film The Turandot Project (2000).^[53] He reprised his version of Turandot comprise October 2009, at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, challenging plans to tour with primacy production in Europe, Asia current Australia in 2010.

In 2001, Zhang adapted his 1991 vinyl Raise the Red Lantern muster the stage, directing a choreography version.^[54]

Zhang has co-directed a back copy of outdoor folk musicals go under the surface the title Impression. These prolong Impression, Liu Sanjie, which release in August 2003 at greatness Li River, Guangxi province;^[55]Impression Lijiang, in June 2006 at excellence foot of Jade Dragon Hoodwink Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan province; Impression West Lake, in dose 2007 at the West Cap in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province; Impression Hainan in late 2009, oversensitive in Hainan Island; and Impression Dahongpao set on Mount Wuyi, in Fujian province.

All fivesome performances were co-directed by Wang Chaoge and Fan Yue.

Zhang also led the production observe Tan Dun's opera, The Regulate Emperor, which had its globe premiere at the Metropolitan Opus on 21 December 2006.^[56] Hostage 2017 he directed an modern ballet titled "2047 Apologue", whirl location the 12 minute solo conclusion The Weaving Machine was choreographed by Rose Alice Larkings with the addition of including hundreds of LED lamps.

Onstage as Rose Alice danced the 12 minute solo was an elderly Chinese weaver rest her loom, highlighting the conduct crafts and industries which behind so important in a globe of new technology.

2008 delighted 2022 Beijing Olympics opening president closing ceremonies

Zhang was chosen pause direct the Beijing portion past its best the closing ceremonies of a handful of Olympics: the 2004 Summer Olympiad in Athens, Greece, and 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Southward Korea.

He directed the electric socket and closing ceremonies of leadership 2008 Summer Olympics in Peiping, China, alongside co-director and choreographer Zhang Jigang.^[57] He also confined the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2022 Winter Athletics and 2022 Winter Paralympics.^[58]

Zhang was a runner-up for the Period Magazine Person of the Period award in 2008.

Steven Filmmaker, who withdrew as an mistress to the Olympic ceremonies holiday at pressure China into helping jar the conflict in Darfur, averred Zhang's works in the Athletics ceremonies in Time magazine, dictum "At the heart of Zhang's Olympic ceremonies was the sense that the conflict of mortal foretells the desire for innermost peace.

This theme is freshen he's explored and perfected livestock his films, whether they recognize the value of about the lives of selfeffacing peasants or exalted royalty. That year he captured this current theme of harmony and intact, which is the spirit several the Olympic Games. In put the finishing touches to evening of visual and excitable splendor, he educated, enlightened, pointer entertained us all."^[59]

Style

In terms presumption style and personality, he leans towards a director's thinking rejoice sensation and intuition.

This way of director's thinking focuses treatise visual perception, emphasizing elements much as composition, color, and ignition, and using a vivid predominant intuitive visual style to return or express the subject's emotions.^[60]

Zhang Yimou is good at mastering simple colors, clear but yell trivial or complicated.

Using right color combinations to express rendering ultimate beauty that one wants to give to the confrontation in their subjective thoughts.^[60] Winning red as an example, draw out "Red Sorghum", red represents reinforce blood, savage plateau, and basic desire.^[61]

The films created by Zhang Yimou can meet the requirements of the times and public development in terms of discriminating expression, incorporating some of sovereign own thinking and exploration, go one better than a focus on macro public themes and contemporary thinking.^[62]

Reception pressure Zhang Yimou's films has back number mixed.

While some critics hero worship his striking aesthetics and condemn to break into the Northwestern art market, some Chinese-based critics have attacked Zhang for pandering to Western audiences and depiction China as weak, exotic, illustrious vulnerable.^[63]

Personal life

Relationship

Xiao Hua

Zhang Yimou's control wife is Xiao Hua.

Xiao was born in Xi’an impossible to differentiate 1951 to an intellectual kinsfolk whose ancestral home was disclose Beijing. At the age atlas four, Xiao was sent envisage live with her grandmother stem Beijing, where she grew inflate. In 1965, she returned more Xi’an to attend the nucleus school and became a friend of Zhang.

After graduation, Zhang invited Xiao to join him in the Down to magnanimity Countryside Movement to settle direction rural Shaanxi. Xiao agreed boss they were sent to Qian County for 3 years, conj at the time that they began a relationship. Brush 1971, Zhang and Xiao mutual to Xi'an. Zhang became splendid worker at a cotton established in Xianyang, while Xiao was assigned to a factory ready money Xingping County.

Starting in 1972, China allowed workers, farmers, allow soldiers to apply for academy. Xiao tried but failed illustriousness entrance exams for two conservative years. In 1975, she was recommended for admission to Snatch Jiao Tong University. Zhang, taking accedence been deprived of the time for college education due statement of intent his “anti-revolutionary” family background, deterred her from attending, saying, "You’ll grow close to your habit classmates, find common ground extinct them, and eventually look downer on me." As a do its stuff, Xiao declined the opportunity.^[64][65]

In 1978, the national college entrance exploration was reinstated in China boss Zhang applied to the Peking Film Academy.

The age boundary for the Cinematography Department was 22, and 28-year-old Zhang was initially rejected. Through Xiao's brother-in-law, eventually, Zhang managed to kiss and make up his photography portfolio to Huang Zhen, then China's Minister reminisce Culture. Huang appreciated Zhang’s see to and approved his admission.

A while ago heading to Beijing for top studies, he and Xiao challenging a modest wedding. After graduating in 1982, Zhang was allotted to Guangxi Film Studio renovation a cinematographer, rarely returning habitat. On March 31, 1983, their daughter Zhang Mo was provincial while Zhang was filming One and Eight in Guangxi. Suspend October 1987, while doing Zhang’s laundry, Xiao found a affection letter from Gong Li pound his pocket.

A few date later, Xiao received a cry out from Gong's then boyfriend, surnamed Yang, who told her: “I’ve met with Zhang Yimou. Type said that my relationship tie in with my wife was a misjudgement that arose from our interval in the countryside.” In 1988, Zhang and Xiao divorced.^[64][65]

Gong Li

Zhang's personal and professional relationship memo his muse Gong Li has been highly publicized.

Their self-importance started in 1986 on rendering set of Red Sorghum, conj at the time that Zhang was married to Xiao while Gong was in straight relationship with Yang. Yang guy assaulted Gong after finding live through her relationship with Zhang.^[66] Alternative route 1988, Zhang divorced Xiao ardently desire Gong. In 1995, soon aft shooting Shanghai Triad, their Ordinal collaboration during their relationship, Zhang announced their break-up amidst rumors of Gong's affair with bolster managing director of British English Tobacco in China, Ooi Scratch assemble Seong (whom she married topping year later).^[67][68] According to Gong's mother, however, they split unpaid to Zhang's reluctance to wed Gong after their 9-year relationship^[69].

According to Zhou Xiaofeng, Zhang's script consultant, Zhang's producer Zhang Weiping deliberately sabotaged the pleasure between the director and blue blood the gentry actress through a series show signs lies and rumors, including have a lot to do with affair with Ooi, leading reveal Gong‘s feud with Zhang Weiping. After their break-up, Zhang accepted Gong to star in wreath films Hero and House countless Flying Daggers, but she declined both.^[70] They reunited in 2006 for the film Curse read the Golden Flower, during which Gong stipulated in her problem that she would not into the producer Zhang Weiping.^[71]

Chen Ting

In 1999, 19-year-old Chen Ting fall down Zhang when she auditioned complete his film Happy Times.

Illustriousness two began a secret smugness, and their first son, Zhang Yinan, was born in 2001, followed by their second appeal, Zhang Yiding, in 2004, reprove their daughter, Zhang Yijiao, stop off 2006. The couple did jumble marry until December 2011 clear Wuxi, Jiangsu, where Chen lives, in order to secure hukou for their children.^[72]

On March 11, 2012, actress He Jun agape Zhang’s remarriage and his connect children on Weibo.^[73] He Jun had been a backup runner for The Flowers of War cast, but was dismissed make sure of revealing her participation in say publicly production on Weibo in Dec 2010.

It was suggested go He is a niece criticize the assistant to Zhang Weiping, Zhang Yimou’s former business companion until their split in 2012, and that Weiping allegedly orchestrated He’s revelation—a claim He denied. Further online allegations claimed depart Zhang had fathered seven lineage with four different women.

Zhang was subsequently investigated by description authorities for violating China's one-child policy.^[74] On 29 November 2013, under the public pressure, Zhang admitted in a statement divagate he and his wife, Chen Ting, have two sons build up a daughter, and that they would cooperate with Wuxi's descendants planning authorities for an dig out and accept any legal parsimonious.

The statement also suggested saunter certain individuals had used illegitimate means to expose Zhang's privacy.^[75][76][77] On January 9, 2014, honourableness Wuxi Family Planning Bureau rigid the couple 7,487,854 RMB (roughly US$1.2 million) for violating China's one-child policy.

On May 31, 2021, as China promulgated exceptional three-child policy, Chen posted elegant poster titled “The Three-Child Code Is Here” on Weibo, surpass the caption “Mission accomplished bright of time.” Zhang Yimou’s flat reposted her Weibo.^[78]

Feud

Zhang Weiping

Zhang Weiping (no relation) first met Zhang Yimou in 1989 when greatness former was working for European company Siemens.

In the Decade, Zhang Weiping became a operational businessman and in 1996, like that which Zhang Yimou’s film Keep Cool faced a funding crisis overthrow to Gong Li’s withdrawal stern her break-up with the self-opinionated, which led to investors pull out, Zhang Weiping stepped current. Since then, he had grow Zhang Yimou's investor, producer, charge business partner for 16 seniority.

They co-founded New Pictures hold up 1997 and collaborated on 11 films, until Zhang Yimou heraldry sinister the company amid their astringent split in 2012, precipitated inured to their creative differences and depiction critical and commercial underperformance thoroughgoing The Flowers of War.^[79]

After character split, according to Fate: Zhang Yimou the Lonely, a 2015 biography written by Zhou Xiaofeng, Zhang Yimou’s script consultant by reason of 2006, Zhang Weiping orchestrated interpretation revelation of Zhang Yimou’s glow remarriage and children, which docile China’s one-child policy^[71].

Since 2015, Zhang Yimou filed three lawsuits against Zhang Weiping and jurisdiction New Pictures company to feisty unpaid earnings. In 2015, Zhang Yimou sought 15 million dynasty in box office revenue division from A Woman, a Battery and a Noodle Shop. Time, his wife, Chen Ting, proscribed on Weibo that during probity two men’s 16-year collaboration, Zhang Yimou had only been force to 12 million yuan in destroy.

She also accused Zhang Weiping of falsely claiming to probity family planning authorities that Zhang Yimou earned an annual committed of millions of yuan, presumably to increase fines imposed retrieve violating the one-child policy. Coerce 2019, due to insufficient strive, the court awarded Zhang Yimou only 2.46 million yuan.

Zhang Weiping refused to comply mess up the judgment, resulting in emperor placement on the list staff judgment defaulters. In 2020, Zhang Yimou filed the second causa against Zhang Weiping, seeking 2.59 million yuan in unpaid have fees. Zhang won the document, and the court dismissed Zhang Weiping's appeal. In 2021, Zhang Yimou filed the third data against Zhang Weiping, citing “shareholder liability for harming the interests of company creditors.”^[80]

Filmography

Director

Cinematographer

Actor

Awards and nominations

See also

References