Chapter 164 Chapter 174 [Brother Chen Kai: Why didn’t I shoot this movie? ]

With the mentality of watching a show, Brother Chen Kai admired the whole process, and his expression gradually changed from amusement to seriousness, and then to solemnity.

As a leading fifth-generation director, Chen Kai certainly has the ability to appreciate art, so when the movie was halfway through, he started to panic.

Great shot!!

Whether it is the lens, lighting, or overall color tone, it is very consistent with the theme of the film.

Cheng Dieyi played by Zhang Guorong, Duan Xiaolou played by Zhang Fengyi, Juxian played by Gong Li, and Master Yuan played by Ge You.

Everyone’s acting is so perfect.

Zhang Guorong’s role as Cheng Dieyi is even more impressive.

“What’s wrong, Kai?”

Ni Ping, who was standing next to him, noticed that Chen Kai didn’t look very well, so she asked with concern, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Brother Chen Kai said gloomily, “No, just watch the movie and stop talking nonsense.”

Seeing him like this, Ni Ping hesitated to speak, and finally said nothing, and continued to watch the movie seriously. It was her first time watching this movie, and she felt it was very well filmed.

It will collapse later, it must collapse later!
Brother Chen Kai’s face was solemn. He changed his previous mindset and started to watch the movie seriously, hoping to find some bad parts.

At the same time, I really hope that Lee Yi-shu will not be able to control the plot of Wen Ge later, because Lee Yi-shu is too young and has not experienced that era, so the plot filmed during this period is likely to be worse than the previous ones.

If this is the case, then Brother Chen Kai believes that his “Tree” can defeat the opponent.

But it’s a pity, the movie was made perfectly. Li Yishu not only removed some minor bloopers in the original film, such as the extra finger of the young Cheng Dieyi, the right hand that the master picked up in the movie, but the left hand that Xiao Douzi’s mother cut, but also made the details of the movie richer and more detailed.

It can be said that the disciple is better than the master.

Time passes little by little.

“What is the point of living for a humble concubine…”

The movie ends with Cheng Dieyi committing suicide.

When the subtitles appeared, there was thunderous applause.

“Thank you, thank you everyone!”

Li Yishu came to the front with the main creative team and took the microphone to thank the guests on the scene. She also answered some questions from reporters and film critics.

“It’s over!”

At this moment, Brother Chen Kai didn’t pay any attention to Li Yishu who was talking nonstop and full of energy on the stage. There was only one thought in his mind, that is, he was finished.

From Chen Kai’s personal perspective, “Farewell My Concubine” was filmed so well that Chen Kai began to feel a little jealous of Lee Yi-su. This movie should have been filmed by him to be perfect!

Besides, it was supposed to be his brother Chen Kai who shot the film, but it was snatched away by Li Yishu.

When Chen Kai thought about the fact that he had missed out on such a brilliant film that could have possibly won the Palme d’Or, he felt like he was having trouble breathing.

Chen Daoming and Jiang Wenli, who were sitting not far away, also had solemn expressions on their faces.

As an actor, one must have the most basic ability to appreciate films, and both of them have seen “Tree” directed by Chen Kai. Overall, it is definitely qualified, otherwise they would not have been shortlisted for the Cannes Film Festival.

But if you want to win a prize, it is definitely not enough to just be qualified, you must also be excellent.

They haven’t seen Hou Hsiao-hsien’s “A Pair of Piano Players” yet. If it’s as good as Lee Yi-su’s, then the crew of “Tree” will probably not win any awards this year.

Jiang Wenli did not have much regret at the moment. After all, she was invited to play only a small role in “Farewell My Concubine”. Unlike the crew of “Tree”, after replacing the male lead Xie Yuan, Brother Chen Kai simply replaced the female lead as well. She got the role of Ma Yinghua through the relationship of her boyfriend Gu Changwei.

Because the next movie will be shown in the exhibition hall.

Li Yishu and others did not answer more questions. After seven or eight minutes, they began to see the guests off at the door.

Abraham congratulated him, “Lee, congratulations on making a wonderful film. I believe this year’s Palme d’Or will definitely be yours!”

“Haha, Chairman Abraham is too kind.”

Lee Yi-su smiled and said, “I’m very happy to win an award. Of course, if it’s the Palme d’Or, that would be the best.”

“What a pity!” Abraham sighed and said, “It’s a pity that such an excellent work is not appearing in our Venice International Film Festival. Li, I hope you can bring a film as good as this one next year.”

This may be a bit difficult~~
The fact that “Farewell My Concubine” was rated as the number one masterpiece in China is certainly not because it is flattering Chen Kai, but purely because the movie was really well made.

From the actors, the plot to the appeal, almost all serious viewers can feel the tension. “I’ll try my best.”

Li Yishu smiled. There are no comparable masterpieces in China, but there are many films abroad that can be exploited, and many of them are good films that are willing to win awards.

Next year, if conditions permit, Lee Yi-su wouldn’t mind making a foreign language art film.

Seeing that Li Abraham was trying to recruit people, John Joseph interrupted and asked, “Li, do you have another screening the day after tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Can you give me an invitation letter? I want to invite more film critic friends to see your work.”

“No problem at all.”

Li Yishu immediately called Amy over and handed her business card to Johansef: “This is my assistant’s business card. It doesn’t matter how many invitations you need.”

After seeing these people off, Li Yishu looked back and saw Hou Xiaoxian chatting with Xu Xu. He said with emotion: “Director Li made such a great film. I think he has the best chance of winning an award this year.”

Li Yishu walked over and said, “Director Hou praised you for the award, but whether you can win the award or not still depends on the decision of the jury.”

“As long as the jury treats you fairly, I believe Director Li will definitely win the award.”

“Then I’ll take advantage of the director’s good wishes and try to win a big award, haha…”

Chatted for a while.

Hou Xiaoxian also left in a hurry with his people. His premiere was this afternoon and watching the movie took up a lot of time, so naturally they had to hurry.

“Farewell My Concubine” lasts for three hours, starting at 8:30 and ending at around 11:30. There is no peeing moment in the whole movie. Even if some people want to pee, they have to hold it in. You can imagine how attractive this movie is.

“Director Li, I’m sorry, Director Chen felt a little unwell just now, so he left first.”

Seeing that Li Yishu was finally free, Chen Daoming also brought Jiang Wenli over.

Li Yishu raised her eyebrows: “Director Chen is not feeling well? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Maybe I just can’t adapt to the climate here. I just need to go back and have a rest.”

Chen Daoming smiled, obviously not wanting to say more to Brother Chen Kai.

After exchanging pleasantries with the two, Li Yishu looked at their departing backs with an amusement on her face.

Before coming, he thought Brother Chen Kai was in good health. His sudden feeling unwell could it be that he got angry with himself because of how well his own movies were made, so he just walked away?

Jiang Qinqin came over and said, “Brother Yishu, did we succeed?”

“The premiere was a success. It all depends on the weekly magazines and newspapers tomorrow.”

Li Yishu turned around and looked at Zhang Guorong and the others, and said with a smile: “Let’s go, I’ll treat everyone to a French meal!”

Inside the hotel.

Brother Chen Kai sat on the bed, looking very unhappy.

Ni Ping sat down next to him and whispered, “Brother Kai, why have you been like this since we came out of the exhibition hall? Tell me if there is anything that makes you unhappy.”

It has to be said that Ni Ping’s personality and voice are both those of a gentle and virtuous wife and mother, with a strong soothing tone.

“I was supposed to be the one filming Farewell My Concubine.”

Brother Chen Kai was naturally affected and wanted to talk about it. He slowly looked at Ni Ping and said, “I was originally the one who shot this movie. I was supposed to be the director. Xu Lu invited me several times. In fact, I had thought about taking this movie before I came back from the United States.”

“what?”

Ni Ping was stunned. She really didn’t know what was going on.

Brother Chen Kai didn’t care about Ni Ping’s surprise, but blamed himself.

At first, he always treated “Farewell My Concubine” as a third-rate romance novel.
But after watching the movie, he was surprised to find that after Li Yishu revised the script,

Not only are the characters of Cheng Dieyi, Duan Xiaolou, and Juxian well-developed, but they are also made more impactful and appealing.

In the novel, Cheng Dieyi was relieved in the end, but in the movie, Cheng Dieyi directly staged Yu Ji’s suicide. The explosive power of that moment made Brother Chen Kai unforgettable for a long time.

Brother Chen Kai sighed and thought to himself: Why didn’t I shoot this movie?

(End of this chapter)