Chapter 002: Beauty and Ugliness

This story was obtained by Wu Xiang from the internet, and the narrator is an international student, which Wu Xiang remembers clearly. The story is relatively acceptable, and Wu Xiang did not dare to embellish the tale of the tea egg; the strength of the people of Taiwan is absolutely beyond what the interviewers can imagine

In the last few years of the twentieth century, China was still quite isolated, and Western countries had no real understanding of the domestic situation. So, how did they come to learn about it?

In fact, this is a question of how to achieve balance, how to find a central point. Only by locating this point can one remain impartial, discovering social issues amidst praise, showcasing darkness while also providing light. This is the essence of a perfect state

Fake

This film is very profound and is well-suited as an examination question, assessing the candidates' understanding of the film and their artistic analysis

"The Story of Qiu Ju," a film that has won multiple awards both domestically and internationally, is the subject of this examination analysis. The exam does not have many strict guidelines; you can write however you wish.

Wu Xiang was somewhat agitated: "What I actually want to criticize in the article is the pursuit of ugliness for the sake of ugliness, aiming for international awards, and catering to Western tastes by recklessly digging into all things ugly. This is what I detest the most! The result of such actions is that it makes the outside world understand us even less. Not to mention the West, even the Koreans, who are so close to us, hold such views. I deeply feel that this is selfish, shameful, and hateful!"

Dear teachers, I would like to tell you a story, may I? However, at this moment, Wu Xiang did not directly answer the teachers' questions, but instead posed a counter-question.

In the face of this situation, Wu Xiang felt somewhat uncertain: "Could it be that I have gone too far in what I said?"

In utter silence, after Wu Xiang finished speaking, all the interviewers seemed stunned, gazing at the lanky, tall candidate as if they were observing an alien along with the * illustrations *.

"No, I won't." Wu Xiang still wore a smile: "I believe that the issues in rural areas actually boil down to one problem. The imbalance in social development is evident; to put it bluntly, it is poverty, a lack of money. If we can resolve this issue, everything will be fine. If given the opportunity, I wouldn't make films, but I have other ways to address it."

Wu Xiang had already entered the examination room, standing right in front of the interview teacher. Wu Xiang clearly remembered that at that moment, he did not say anything.

At this moment, the interviewers were captivated by Wu Xiang's story. They wanted to know what this tall and thin candidate was going to say, as the story seemed to have little connection to his essay

This is the story I want to tell, and this is also why I wrote such an article. I know that the current information is relatively limited, and there are still biases against us from abroad. They believe that we are still an uncivilized nation, that we are barbaric, that we are ugly! But do we not have our own reasons?

Esteemed teachers, I truly admire Director Zhang Yimou. At my age, I can say that I grew up watching his films. The former "Red Sorghum" stirred my blood; the story ignited my passion, and the use of color revealed the utmost beauty of the world. The rural backdrop contained a sense of grandeur, evoking the feeling of a roar in times of national peril, a sensation I will never forget! It made me... it even made me yearn to become a filmmaker.

On one hand, his head was very dizzy, and on the other hand, Wu Xiang was very clear that the interview teacher was right; reality must be faced. Every society has its dark side, unless the day communism is realized.

At this moment, the four teachers had stopped all their work and were simply watching Wu Xiang

Wu Xiang also replied with a smile: "It's very simple, because I have no life experience. I am an only child born and raised in a big city. I have no experience of rural life at all. To recklessly shoot such a film would be a very irresponsible act"

What does Wu Xiang want to say?

Furthermore, you are speaking on behalf of your government; you are a mouthpiece for the corrupt government

Finally, there are questions. After a period of silence, the interviewers have finally returned to normal. They were truly taken aback just now; they did not expect this young person to have such ideas, almost making them forget the examination procedures.

Since the reform began in 1980, domestic films, especially those focusing on rural themes, have repeatedly won prestigious awards internationally. It can be said that as long as a film is made with depth and showcases the essence of humanity, winning awards is not a problem at all

These are the films

After finishing the exam, Wu Xiang even felt that he had performed quite well. Of course, even now, the reborn Wu Xiang does not believe he was wrong, because even in the era when he was killed in an accident, there were countless so-called artists doing the same. However, at that time, making movies was quite difficult due to the scarcity of suitable locations, but photography was still feasible. As far as Wu Xiang knows, a "classroom" in a Yi village in the Daliang Mountains of Sichuan has even become a renowned photography destination in China, where countless professional photographers have obtained the works they desired, taken them to international competitions, and often won awards. As for whether it was staged or not, WHO CARES.

At that time, Wu Xiang could not find this point; later, Wu Xiang also did not find this point. However, the current Wu Xiang can answer this question

Then, Classmate Wu Xiang, let us return to the main topic. I would like to ask, if it were a film reflecting rural themes, like "Autumn Chrysanthemum Sues the Government," depicting extreme poverty in the countryside, how would you approach filming such a piece?

Wu Xiang continued, saying: "The landlord took out a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste, and then said to her, 'This is toothpaste and a toothbrush. You need to use these items to clean your teeth. You probably haven't seen these in your country.'"

Indeed, there is some excitement; Wu Xiang needs to calm down a bit. However, his response is not yet finished

However, if the film aims to have depth, it naturally requires a thorough exploration of some darker aspects, which will also reveal the less favorable traits of our people

This trend is intensifying, as if you would feel embarrassed to tell others that you are a director or an artist if you do not engage in such practices.

As soon as the teacher heard this, he immediately asked again: "So if you become a screenwriter or director, will you never care about the social realities of rural areas for the rest of your life?"

However, regarding this film, Wu Xiang has always had a feeling that he cannot express, which is that this film portrays the Chinese people in a rather unflattering manner

Student Wu Xiang, you are the only one among the more than 2,000 candidates applying for the Department of Literature who dares to critique the works of Director Zhang Yimou. This is why we have invited you to the final interview. We would like to ask you, as an artistic worker, when celebrating certain matters, should one confront social realities? Should one delve into the darker aspects of society? Or how should one go about this exploration?

The portrayal of ugly Chinese people in these films conveys such a message. The Western judges and audiences receive this same message: our country still appears dilapidated and impoverished in their eyes. If your film features any skyscrapers, they won't even give it a glance, plain and simple

The third test was an interview. Wu Xiang remembered that the interviewer immediately gave him a tough time. Moreover, having fainted earlier, his mind was in a daze. Therefore, the dismal final results were not surprising. Wu Xiang recalled very clearly what the teacher had said.

Immediately, a teacher with a *picture* book smiled and asked, "I don't want to force you, but I would like to know why."

Thus, Wu Xiang wrote freely according to his thoughts, sharply criticizing the filming techniques that cater to the tastes of Western film critics and audiences. He did not discuss the movie itself much, focusing primarily on this trend, and Wu Xiang wrote extensively, amounting to over 2,000 words.

Ah? As soon as Wu Xiang's words fell, the four interviewers all displayed expressions of disbelief

In terms of the plot and character development, there is little to critique; Director Zhang truly deserves his reputation as an internationally acclaimed filmmaker with exceptional skills. The entire film successfully portrays multiple vivid characters, including the simple yet stubborn Qiujun, the ineffectual husband, and the village chief who, despite his rough demeanor, ultimately saves Qiujun and her child. The multifaceted nature of the characters is vividly expressed, making them extremely authentic

At this point, Wu Xiang paused for a moment. He glanced at the interviewers and noticed that they were all listening attentively, which filled him with confidence. He continued, "The reason I want to discuss this film is that I believe its treatment is exceptionally well done. The characters in the film, although from a different era, can still represent us. Their portrayal, to put it colloquially, is rather rustic and somewhat ignorant, and ultimately, they ended up blowing themselves up due to overloading the cannons with gunpowder. However, their spirit is one of resilience! This deeply moved me and commanded my respect! Therefore, I yearn to create such a film. Of course, this is not easy; it is very difficult, but I am determined to strive for it. Teachers, I have finished speaking."

Overall, the film "Autumn" is quite commendable, featuring numerous positive elements and showcasing the brilliance of humanity. However, many films lack such integrity. Winning international awards at the very least provides opportunities for nominations at major film awards, prompting many directors to continuously produce such films. These works often focus on rural themes, poverty, suffering, the ugliness of human nature, and the dark aspects of society. Everything is portrayed in the most unflattering light, as dark as it can be, even creating a trend where the darker the content, the better the chances of being nominated for prestigious awards. Winning international awards at the very least provides opportunities for nominations at major film awards, prompting many directors to continuously produce such films. These works often focus on rural themes, poverty, suffering, the ugliness of human nature, and the dark aspects of society. Everything is portrayed in the most unflattering light, as dark as it can be, even creating a trend where the darker the content, the better the chances of being nominated for prestigious awards.

Wu Xiang began, speaking very calmly: "My cousin has a friend who once studied abroad, in a country very close to us, South Korea. She rented a house off-campus, but when the landlord first met her, he did something quite interesting."

Hmm? What would you do? Wu Xiang's statement caught the teachers' attention; it seemed that this candidate was indeed very different, bringing them many surprises

This response once again astonished the interviewers; this candidate is quite cunning

Wu Xiang seemed to be shouting at the top of his lungs, while the interviewers were completely taken aback by him; this child is truly audacious!

Self-criticism is indeed correct, but one must grasp the right measure; this measure is not easy to handle. Many films have gone too far in their negativity. The overall trend has been like this, and it was only after more than a decade that the situation slightly improved, as the level of development in our country compelled those Western film critics to accept the fact that socialism can also be sophisticated and high-end.

Oh, of course. Although it was somewhat unexpected, the teachers still granted Wu Xiang freedom

Because of his love for movies, there are many award-winning works. Although they are banned domestically, one must not forget that the reach of the piracy empire is extremely powerful. Wu Xiang took a great risk to watch them out of curiosity, but the result was quite disappointing

Transforming a stunning beauty into a worn-out peasant woman is nothing short of magic

Wu Xiang thought for a moment and immediately replied: "If possible, I do not wish to shoot such a film"

At this moment, Wu Xiang felt a deep aversion to this trend; he believed that if this could be called art, then this art was indeed rather contemptible