how talented is he?
He first took photography. In 1985, he took the lead in "Yellow Land" directed by Chen Kaige, creating an epic shot, and won the Golden Rooster Award for best photography that year. At this time, he graduated from Beiying only three years ago.
The next year, he became an actor. In Old Well, he played the simple and capable farmer Sun Wangquan. His acting skills were natural, and he won the Golden Rooster, Hundred Flowers and Tokyo International Film Festival three Best Actor trophies in one fell swoop. This is the first time that someone in China has won the Best Actor in an A-class international film festival.
Zhang Yimou's acting skills are so good that when Ang Lee directed Lust, Caution, Zhang Yimou was the first choice for the male lead, and Tony Leung Chiu Wai was chosen after being declined.
When modeling Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Ang Lee still followed Zhang Yimou's example, and Tony Leung Chiu Wai readily accepted it.
In his second year as the film emperor, Zhang Yimou started directing, and his directorial debut "Red Sorghum" won the Berlin Golden Bear Award in one fell swoop. This is the first time that a China film has won an international award, and Zhang Yimou is full of pride.
No matter what role he plays in the film industry, Zhang Yimou has achieved the ultimate, and his genius is beyond doubt.
At the same time, Zhang Yimou is also extremely diligent. Even now he is 71 years old, he still insists on a super working rhythm-going to bed at 5 am every day, starting at around 1 am, eating only one meal all day, then reading novels, scripts, holding seminars, and promoting multiple projects at the same time; In the evening, the excitement dissipates, and then take five hours to watch movies and do homework. Every day, all year round.
Perhaps, diligence is the gene engraved in the blood of genius, which makes China the only Zhang Yimou, and of course, three women he met at different stages of his life.
in 195, Zhang Yimou was born in Xi' an, Shaanxi.
His father graduated from Whampoa Military Academy and served as a leading cadre during the Kuomintang period. My mother was born in a big landlord family, and she loved studying very much. After graduation, she worked in a hospital.
In terms of ability and quality, Zhang Yimou's parents are excellent. The most commendable thing is that they are also very resilient and resilient. Before the liberation of Xi 'an, Zhang Yimou's father found that the situation was wrong, so he left the Kuomintang army decisively and became an accountant in the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Finance.
Later, in a special period, Zhang Yimou's parents became the targets of being defeated. They fought back, didn't collapse, didn't complain, and lived a life with their tails between their legs, but never forgot to plan for a good family.
Zhang Yimou's study career is complete, and he has developed his own hobby-painting.
At that time, the study conditions were not good. Zhang Yimou's parents still tried their best to cultivate his painting ability, and bought him many books and albums for him to copy and take notes.
Zhang Yimou carefully analyzed every picture and every unforgettable picture he saw in his daily life. After many years, he fell in love with photography again, using the same method, copied more than a dozen photography books by hand, and his theoretical foundation was very solid. Then he used these classic theories to guide practice, and he really won a lot.
However, Zhang Yimou, who is full of talent, found it a little difficult for him to get ahead, mainly because of his parents' sensitive identity.
When I was in primary school, I was asked to fill in "family background" in the school questionnaire. My classmates wrote "poor peasants and middle peasants". Zhang Yimou didn't know what to fill in, and his parents were embarrassed.
But parents are really strong people. They told Zhang Yimou, "Just because you are different from your classmates doesn't mean you are worse than others. Besides, why do you have to be like others?"
Yes, of course, the Zhang Yimou family is no worse than others. At that time, when 3 yuan's monthly salary was per capita, Zhang Yimou's parents could earn about 12 yuan in a month, and they were rich, but they still held their tails together.
Although the leader recognized him in his daily work, he refused at this critical moment. "Xiao Zhang, there is nothing you can do about your birth."
At that time, there was a general meeting in the factory, and after the daily work was finished, internal communication was organized. The director said, "party member and the League members stay, and the others go."
Of the more than 6 workers in the factory, Zhang Yimou is the only one who left in disgrace, which is not glorious, but it is also attracting people's attention.
No matter what the situation, Zhang Yimou never lost confidence. He was constantly looking for a way out, and he lost his head in the management position, so he turned to his favorite literary and artistic position. It was at this stage that his extremely accurate eye for women was displayed.
When Zhang Yimou was in middle school, a transfer student-Xiao Hua came to her class. Her parents were transferred from Beijing to work in Xi 'an, and she also came to Xi 'an.
Xiao Hua's parents are all intellectuals, and Xiao Hua, whose roots are bright and young, is admired by everyone.
At the first sight of Xiao Hua, Zhang Yimou felt that it was the dawn of his ordinary life, so he took the initiative to contact Xiao Hua and soon formed a deep friendship.
Later, Zhang Yimou went to the countryside to jump the queue, and he invited Xiao Hua to go with him. After all, only in this way can revolutionary friendship be better cultivated, and Xiao Hua agreed.
In the years when people jumped the queue, Xiao Hua was pursued. Zhang Yimou punched him and wrestled with the other side. Later, he wrote a bloody book to Xiao Hua to express his strong feelings. Xiao Hua was moved to tears.
Xiao Hua always listens to Zhang Yimou, so that her parents plan a good way for her to study at Shanghai Jiaotong University, and because of Zhang Yimou's words, "When you go to college, you will change, and you will never look down on a hillbilly like me again." Xiao Hua gave up decisively.
However, two years later, the college entrance examination system was resumed, and the Beijing Film Academy came to Xi 'an to recruit students. There was only one examination place in the whole factory, and Zhang Yimou tried his best to get it. However, he was 28 years old at that time, and his age exceeded the enrollment requirement of 22 years old. Beiying refused to let him take the exam.
Before leaving for Beijing, Zhang Yimou and Xiao Hua got married. After all, this is the woman who changed his fate. However, what Xiao Hua didn't expect was that Zhang Yimou, who was worried that she would change after studying in college, changed after studying in college for ten years ...
On September 18, 1978, the 78th grade of Beijing Film Academy officially opened. Later, this day was named as the 1th film history in the 2th century by Film Handbook.
Zhang Yimou was even more excited. He filled in his enrollment registration form with extremely correct gestures. I don't know if it was for the sake of keeping a low profile and not causing discussion, or for some other reason, Zhang Yimou silently left a blank, leaving nothing.
After entering school, Zhang Yimou worked very hard. During class, he was always conscientious and meticulous. After school, he was one of the students who borrowed the most books in the library. After the holiday, other students went out to play and relax. Zhang Yimou took the camera issued by the school and took photos in the street. Moreover, it was very good and infectious.
In the process of communicating with classmates and teachers, Zhang Yimou was honest, sincere and cautious, and won unanimous praise from everyone.
However, what people didn't expect was that Xiao Hua broke the news many years after his divorce. When Zhang Yimou was a sophomore, he wrote a letter to his family, pointing out that Xiao Hua could not dress up, so he should study more and improve his aesthetics.
Xiao Hua's heart is uneasy, but she loves Zhang Yimou too much and has given her all for him. She can only hope that Zhang Yimou will always love her. So, she took care of her children and Zhang Yimou's parents wholeheartedly, and became a good daughter-in-law praised by everyone, but Zhang Yimou will still find that she is not very good at dressing up.
After the second semester of sophomore year, it's time for Zhang Yimou's further study. According to the truth, he should return to his original work unit, but Zhang Yimou wants to stay in school for further study. So, as he wanted to join the League many years ago, he actively ran around.
The school teacher recognized his photography level, so he held a special seminar for him. Finally, Zhang Yimou wrote an application, which was reported by the school to the Minister of Culture, and asked the leaders for advice again.
Zhang Yimou's application is beautifully and neatly written. In order to perfect the composition, he chose to use a dot instead of a comma in some places, which is patchy and full of artistry.
In the application, Zhang Yimou thanked the party and government, schools and teachers, and expressed that he hoped to stay in school to serve the people better. The whole article was sincere, sincere and modest, just like his character.
But the reality is that Zhang Yimou recalled many years later that he was willing to leave school if the school issued him a diploma.
you are really an old fogey. You have your own plans in your heart, but you must be cautious and modest in your mouth.
Such an old schemer not only stayed in Beijing Film Academy, but also obtained special approval from the school, completing the college entrance procedures, and changed from a advanced student to an upright college student.
after graduation in 1982, he was recommended by the dean of the college as the best graduate to go to Guangxi Film Studio, and he performed well. He worked as a photographer in One and Eight, and won the China Film Excellent Photography Award that year, which was later considered as the first work of the "fifth generation" directors.
After becoming popular, Zhang Yimou was transferred to Xi 'an Film Studio, which was one of the best film studios in China at that time, and Chen Kaige's father was in this factory.
Zhang Yimou is more like a duck to water. As mentioned earlier, he became the film emperor and was preparing to shoot his debut film Red Sorghum. At this time, he met the second woman in his life, Gong Li.
At that time, Gong Li was a student of the Performance Department of the Central Academy of Traditional Chinese Opera. She thought she looked like Japanese movie star Yamaguchi Momoe, so she wanted to be an actress. However, she didn't get into the exam several times, and finally she was successfully enrolled by a fellow villager and a performer.
Gong Li, one of the five golden flowers in Chinese opera, performed very well, but there was one thing that overtook her, that is, super beauty Shi Ke.
Shi Ke, with her plump breasts and buttocks, bright facial features and sexy temperament, is recognized as the beauty of the school. In front of her, Gong Li looks like a firewood girl.
When Zhang Yimou was preparing Red Sorghum, according to Mo Yan's original novel, the heroine had big breasts and fat buttocks. At that time, everyone thought that history was the best candidate.
But at the last moment, Zhang Yimou saw Gong Li's audition, and he decisively chose Gong Li.
In the end, Red Sorghum won the Golden Bear Award in one fell swoop. Gong Li, a very traditional and iconic face with oriental charm, was amazed by the western world and became an instant hit.
Next, they cooperated for ten years, such as Alive, story of qiu ju, Ju Dou, etc. A history of cooperation between Zhang Yimou and Gong Li is the best chronological history of China films.
This is the peak of Zhang Yimou's artistic creation, and his choice is extremely precise and pragmatic.
Different from Chen Kaige's early film creation, which was poetic and grand, but had no story, Zhang Yimou was more pragmatic. He understood that the first essence of a film was good-looking, and the quickest and most secure way was novel adaptation.
Zhang Yimou picked Mo Yan, who was a fledgling at that time, and bought the adaptation right of his novel Red Sorghum. Sure enough, the strong anti-Japanese feelings of the Chinese nation, together with the secret and rebellious feelings of oriental men and women, strongly shocked the western audience.
Zhang Yimou is also very pragmatic in choosing actresses.
Shi Ke is really beautiful, but her appearance is westernized, and China people think she is rare in beauty. However, if Zhang Yimou wants to send the film abroad for awards, he needs an oriental face that foreigners have never seen before, so he chose Gong Li.
Zhang Yimou's choice is thoughtful and realistic, but Gong Li looks at Zhang Yimou with girlish feelings.
She used up all her talents, and under her simple and delicate appearance, she was full of passion and sexy. Coupled with meticulous and vivid performances, she always showed all kinds of female images in Zhang Yimou's mind perfectly, and her performance gave the director extra points. How lucky a director is.
However, they collided fiercely not only with their talents, but also with their bodies.
One day in 1988, Xiao Hua found a hot love letter written by Gong Li in Zhang Yimou's shirt. Xiao Hua was so angry that she loved Zhang Yimou so much that she put it back and pretended that nothing had happened.
But Zhang Yimou didn't want to maintain the status quo. He found that the letter had been passive, so he simply confessed and filed for divorce. Xiao Hua refused, and the two continued to stalemate.
At that time, Zhang Yimou's father knelt down to prevent their divorce, and his mother cried and said, "I only recognize Xiao Hua as my daughter-in-law." Zhang Yimou was forced to give up her divorce plan for the time being.
Later, Xiao Hua couldn't hold back, because she heard Zhang Yimou talking to someone on the phone and said, "My marriage with Xiao Hua was just a mistake when I jumped the queue."
Xiao Hua's heart was dying. When Zhang Yimou hung up the phone, she filed for divorce. Zhang Yimou was a little surprised, but after a short thought, he only said, "I'll try my best to make it up to you", with no intention of staying. Finally, the two divorced.
Gong Li thought that Zhang Yimou divorced for her, but Gong Li was also wrong.
After Zhang Yimou's divorce, she made it public with Gong Li, which became the biggest news in the film and television circle at that time. Gong Li sweetly said that she was ready to get married and have children at any time, and Zhang Yimou also smiled happily, but his heart actually had other plans.
Zhang Yimou and Xiao Hua gave birth to a daughter, who was awarded to Xiao Hua, but she and Zhang Yimou had a good relationship. They could talk for an hour on the phone. Gong Li was jealous and always lost his temper. Zhang Yimou was very dissatisfied with this. He decided that Gong Li was the perfect screen goddess, but not his perfect wife, so he kept dragging on ...
In 1995, they fell in love for eight years.
Gong Li's second brother asked Zhang Yimou when he would marry Gong Li. Zhang Yimou said simply, it's just a piece of paper. Why do you care so much?
Gong Li was disheartened. After filming "Shake, Shake, Shake to the Waipo Bridge" that they were working together at that time, she announced that she broke up with Zhang Yimou.
after Gong Li left, it was suddenly difficult to attract investment in Zhang Yimou's films. Many people advised him, "Anyway, you and Gong Li really love each other and are perfect partners in your career. It would be great if you got married, with a beautiful wife, box office and investment. "
However, Zhang Yimou decided that Gong Li was not the best choice in his marriage, so he would never look back.
Since then, Zhang Yimou has begun to explore the road of commercial blockbusters ...
In 1996, Zhang Yimou filmed "Let's Talk Well", which is an urban light comedy with Qu Ying as the actress.
Without Gong Li, this work was not valued. The film investment was withdrawn in the middle, and Zhang Yimou was at a loss. At this moment, he met Zhang Weiping.
With a wave of his hand, Zhang Weiping invested 26 million yuan. In the end, the film only recovered 8 million yuan, which was a huge loss for Zhang Weiping.
but he didn't care, "it's okay, start all over again."
At this point, Zhang Yimou became the first well-known director in China who had deep contacts with capital.
After the failure of Talk Well, Zhang Yimou returned to his best rural theme, and made No Less of One, My Father and Mother, etc., which once again set off an upsurge of watching movies.
time has come to 199.