A widower's entertainment

Cannes Film Festival, France.

Li An's "Strange Tales of the Human World" is truly a very popular and well-received film. For example, a French film critic has praised Li An's "Strange Tales of the Human World," giving it very high marks, writing in the review—

"This is the most touching love story of this century!"

Without a doubt, it is the most touching love story of this century. Although somewhat exaggerated, it proves the huge impact of the film "Human Wonders" on the Cannes Film Festival.

The prestigious French film magazine "The Set," founded in 1951 by André Bazin and others, highly praised the film "The Human Wonder."

"The film 'Human Wonders' reflects the softness deep within director Li An's heart. In this film, he reveals his sincerity towards life, his fascination with those grand and beautiful past events, those romances, hardships, years and love. With such tenderness, Li An made this charming film."

"This film is full of indescribable charm. The mundane plot can make you cry uncontrollably, even if you don't understand why. Director Li An's approach to this film is very detached. He believes that the whole film is just an explanation of love from the perspective of rewinding life, but it would be too limited to understand this film as just a love story. The detached approach is also a very appropriate method. The fact that Lin Qi's physiological inversion is so obvious is enough for him to realize that everyone is living an inverted life, which is a real flaw. Therefore, the Lin Qi we see is serene and pure. He does not become hysterical when faced with his father's confession. It is precisely the strange and absurd physiological defect that gives him a sharp perspective and a peaceful mindset."

"It's like Jiang Xi finally letting go of her stubbornness and returning to Lin Qiming's side. The two are enjoying the happiest moment of their lives. Whether it's walking among the blue sky and white clouds, greeting each other in the bright sunshine, kissing on the romantic beach, the bright and continuous background music, or even Jiang Xi's sweet smile, all the overly beautiful scenes make the audience feel inexplicably sad, and tears are silently brewing, catching people off guard."

"Until near the end of the film, when Lin Qi finally reunites with his beloved after many years, he has become a child who barely reaches Jiang Xi's waist. The face of his former lover makes him feel both unfamiliar and extremely frightened. 'Do we know each other? I feel like I have a whole life now, but I can't remember what it looks like'—it is only at this moment that I realize that the audience's tears were not only for Lin Qi and Jiang Xi, but also for themselves, when faced with those seemingly calm scenes."

"When he became a child, he began to feel confused, as if I had already lived a lifetime. His past aging, his past loves, his past youth, all came to an end at a certain point, when he could only gently let go and obediently walk towards death. In this incredible and fantastical life, I actually saw my own shadow—this is the unspoken secret of Lynch's story: in fact, we all suffer from the incurable disease of aging, but because our symptoms are different from Lynch's, we are not aware of it. Time carries scars, bloodstains, love, and longing. As we experience more and more, our memories fade with age. Just when we think we remember everything, we find that we have forgotten nothing."

"I initially thought that Li An's lens portrayed the story of Lin Qi and Jiang Xi as a cruel twist of time, turning such a beautiful love into a pool of tears. I thought my compassion was for Jiang Xi, seeing her lover die as the baby she held in her arms, seeing her embrace Benjamin as if embracing a melting snowman. But in reality, the sadness I felt was far greater. Just like how Lin Qi's father abandoned him as a monster, living is a constant process of making choices based on various normal standards and principles. We choose a 'correct' life, but such a life, while correct, is also very lonely..."

……

Not only did The Film Set praise Li An's film "Strange Tales of the Human World," but other film magazines also gave it high marks.

Several film critics also rushed to express their opinions on the film "Human Wonders".

"This is a realistic story with a fairytale-like quality! Li An's cinematography is beautiful, and Leslie Cheung's performance is amazing. He truly brings the legendary life of Lin Qi to life for all of us!"

"Looking back on Lynch's life, this magical, childlike existence isn't so different from our own. A father who abandoned him but regretted it, an encounter that happened in his childhood but lasted a lifetime, a fleeting romance in a hotel, a lover he held hands with but couldn't grow old with, and the rest of his days were uneventful. Even the dangerous and special periods of war were just expressions of life's various encounters. His lifeline, which defied the natural order of his biological life, only provides us with a novel narrative vehicle; in fact, it didn't bring him a particularly extraordinary or legendary life."

"The greatest charm of linear time lies in its irreversibility. However, what flows through time are the traces of his body, not the years. His obscurity meant that he had to rely on a diary and an old man's dying words to let people know of his existence, to let a daughter know her real father. Life is like a quietly flowing river. And those who go against the current are actually just like us, although they have more difficulties and discomforts, they also appreciate the same scenery along the way."

"You can rage against everything around you like a mad dog, you can curse your fate, but when the final moment comes, you still have to let go peacefully. Everyone has a different understanding of themselves to some extent, but we will all eventually go to the same place. It's just that we take different paths. You also have your own path."

"In 'Strange Tales of the Human World,' one can see director Li An's deep reflection on time, his admiration for time, and his helplessness in the face of time. In fact, from one perspective, the understanding of time conveyed in the film can be called the bible of time."

"Indescribably good, indescribably timeless, with a narrative that unfolds gracefully, a grand yet detailed quality. Leslie Cheung is the best actor at this year's Cannes Film Festival. Just like in 'Farewell My Concubine,' he has once again delivered a magnificent performance!"

……

"Through Li An's lens, this is a story brimming with the timelessness of time, a lonely protagonist, and a unique narrative. The film's texture is exquisite, like a fine wine with an unforgettable aftertaste. It's a tender fairy tale. Jiang Xi's daughter, in her mother's hospital room, reads the postcards Lin Qi wrote to her that will never be sent: 'I want to be your father. Nothing I've ever done in my life has been as meaningful as this.' This detail is incredibly heartbreaking, and what's moving isn't just the love story."

"The film is beautifully shot, especially the makeup, which is excellent. While watching the film, I couldn't help but think of screenwriter Lin Youcheng's 'The Time Traveler's Wife,' both of which are pure love stories wrapped in a fantasy shell. Of course, 'Human Wonders' is not just a love story. The central point of youth and aging, the two parallel directions, the time structure, the narrative of the two characters, and the whole story are all combined to create a wonderful story."

"Director Li An filmed the adult fairy tale written by Lin Youcheng so beautifully, to the extreme. Leslie Cheung also interpreted and performed Lin Qi's life to the fullest, just like this story going against the tide of time and reaching a perfect end."

"A deeply moving film that explores life and time. The concept of reverse aging and rejuvenation seems fantastical, but in reality, it has little impact, since the intersection between people is often just a snapshot. The weaving of Chinese history is seamless and natural, flowing smoothly and movingly. The special effects and makeup are superb, making it a truly captivating film."

"We, who have been struggling to go back in the long river of time, are finally caught up in fate at the end of life. All the waiting is for the moment of reunion, to touch the eternal meaning in each other's best time; life slices are played back, this is 'Human Wonders,' a great film!"

...Clearly, these comments are all affirmations of the film "Human Wonders," and naturally, also of the special story. Many filmmakers believe it is the most moving film at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

"Human Wonders" is undoubtedly full of praise. Both the film itself and the actors' performances are highly praised. Not only Leslie Cheung, but also Zhang Manyu are highly praised. It even ranked first in the festival's program.

No matter what kind of film festival it is, the biggest highlight in the end is naturally the awards. At this year's Cannes Film Festival, Isabelle Adjani is the jury president, and Gong Li is also a jury member. As for whether she can win an award, it depends on how the jury competes.

Many film critics now believe that "Humanity's Wonders" deserves the Palme d'Or, and that Leslie Cheung's performance should also win Best Actor.

However, the outcome is uncertain. In fact, during the awards ceremony for "Farewell My Concubine," Leslie Cheung lost by a single vote. There were rumors that he voted for the Best Actress award, but in reality, when selecting the Best Actress, one of the judges was dissatisfied with the performances of the actresses and insisted on voting for Leslie Cheung. The rumor is true, but that was the vote for the Best Actress and did not affect the Best Actor selection. At that time, the Cannes jury president believed that since "Farewell My Concubine" had already won the biggest award, the Best Actor award should not be given, otherwise there would be too many awards. In fact, all of this is nonsense, since that year the Palme d'Or was a tie, with "The Piano" winning both Best Actress and the Palme d'Or.

However, "Farewell My Concubine" was not so lucky.

Amidst the heated discussions at the film festival, the Cannes Film Festival has unknowingly reached its final closing ceremony.

The crew of "Human Wonders" was undoubtedly looking forward to winning awards, especially director Li An, who was naturally eager to win the most important Palme d'Or, especially since he knew that many film critics had recently praised "Human Wonders".

However, there are rumors circulating within the judging panel that are difficult to verify, and it is said that there are significant conflicts among the judges.

Initially, the jury chairwoman for this year's competition, Isabelle Adjani, insisted on personally selecting the judges, demanding the replacement of several candidates already selected by the organizing committee. However, Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Foster, and others she invited declined, causing the judge lineup to remain uncertain for a long time. Ultimately, the organizing committee had to step in urgently, and judges such as Gong Li were added at the last minute.

Italian director Nanni Moretti, with his extensive industry experience and political acumen, quickly dictated the voting process. Isabelle Adjani, often speaking last, struggled to influence the judgment of the films' merits and was even led by the nose by other judges, resulting in considerable controversy during the judging process.

Rumors have been circulating that there is a lot of conflict between the parties involved. It is said that Isabelle Adjani is fickle in her decision-making and lacks logic. For example, she initially supported "Taste of Cherry" as a tribute to the master, but later switched her support to "Unexpected Spring". This wavering attitude has exacerbated the internal conflicts within the jury.

Although Lin Youcheng did not attend the Cannes Film Festival, he knew that this year's festival was very controversial, which led to the complete failure of Isabelle Adjani's presidency and permanently labeled her as the "most unsuccessful jury president".

As for the current situation, no one knows whether the news outside the Cannes Film Festival is true or false, with various rumors constantly circulating, and no one knows the most accurate result.

However, it must be said that "Human Wonders" is definitely a strong contender for the Palme d'Or, after all, it ranked first in the festival's daily publication, which to some extent says it all.

With the film festival closing ceremony, being able to attend the closing ceremony naturally means that the film could win an award.

The film festival organizing committee also invited the crew of "Human Wonders" to participate in the final closing ceremony. Upon receiving the invitation, the main creators of "Human Wonders" were naturally very excited and looked forward to the final closing ceremony awards presentation.

Regardless of the award, it is ultimately an honor for the entire production team, and winning any award is an achievement for the film.

The Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony wasn't particularly long. As awards were presented one after another, "Human Wonders" didn't win any. However, not winning any awards now is a good thing, as it means there are still big awards to come.

With such anticipation, the award presenters soon announced that "Human Wonders" had won the award.

"Best Actor, congratulations to Leslie Cheung for 'The Human World'!"

When the name was announced, the entire audience erupted in applause. The result was not unexpected, as Leslie Cheung was a strong contender for Best Actor in the predicted list, and the people at the awards ceremony applauded him as well.

The crew of "Strange Tales of the Human World" was even more excited.

However, Leslie Cheung himself was stunned, and even a little dazed!
He won an award?

He won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor! (End of Chapter)