The literary era since 1979

Two days later, the weather was fine and the sky was clear.

The opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival was held as usual at the Alfred Hitchcock Theater.

There was no order at the Cannes red carpet show. A bunch of people gathered at one end of the red carpet, and it was as lively as a vegetable market.

Both sides of the red carpet were filled with entertainment reporters from all over the world, especially from France, with their cameras and taking endless photos.

"Kaka."

At this moment, the reporter from "Screen" pressed the shutter, but heard the reporter from "Film Handbook" next to him muttering.

In terms of the authority and influence of magazines, although "Screen" has always been one of the program publications of the Cannes Film Festival, it can score all the films screened at the festival and predict the final awards of the main competition unit, but it is still far inferior to "Film Handbook".

After all, Cahiers du cinéma was the platform for the rise of French New Wave films.

With the editorial department of Cahiers du Cinema as the center, it united a group of promising young people, such as François Truffaut, Claude Chabrol, Jean-Luc Godard and others, who later became the flag bearers of the French New Wave in film. This is what the French film industry is most proud of.

"I didn't expect the news to be true. Coppola really came."

There was a hint of excitement in the tone of the reporter from "Film Handbook".

"It is said that he came to the Cannes Film Festival this time for a Chinese film that was participating in the competition, right?"

The Screen reporter was very curious.

"Yes, he came here for Farewell My Concubine."

The reporter of Film Handbook was well-informed and couldn't help but sigh, "I never expected that Farewell My Concubine would be made into a movie so quickly."

"But it's too unbelievable. I don't think I've ever heard of the director Gong."

The reporter from Screen asked, "She should be a very famous and powerful director in China and even in Asia, right?"

The reporter from Cahiers du Cinema said in a serious tone: "I don't know whether she is very good or not, but I know that even Fang, who won the Oscar for Best Screenwriter, wrote the script for him personally and served as a producer. Zhang, who won the Golden Bear Award in Berlin earlier this year, also helped her as a photographer. And the assistant director Chen, it is said that his debut film won the Silver Leopard Award at the Locarno International Film Festival..."

"what?!"

The reporter from "Screen" gasped. If his subordinates were so awesome, how bad could Gong Xing, as a director, be?

"That's nothing. What's more important is that Coppola, who has never been interested in European film festivals, came to Cannes from Hollywood this time just for her film Farewell My Concubine," the reporter from Cahiers du Cinema asked. "So what kind of person do you think Gong will be?"

"me……"

The Screen reporter's mind went blank.

"Before coming here, the editor-in-chief specifically told me to interview the director of Farewell My Concubine and take a picture of her."

The reporter from Cahiers du Cinema said seriously, "As a friend, don't blame me for not reminding you how important you are."

"Thank you, thank you for the reminder."

The reporter from Screen nodded solemnly, "I can't wait to see the crew of Farewell My Concubine."

"Haha, everyone here thinks so!"

The reporter from "Film Handbook" looked around and saw media outlets looking left and right, all expecting the appearance of Fang Yan, Gong Xing and others.

As everyone was chattering and talking, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted:
"Look, it's the Chinese!"

"That's Fang! The author of Farewell My Concubine! He's walking in the front!"

"Which one is 'Gong', who is the director of Farewell My Concubine, is she the lady next to him?" "………"

As soon as Fang Yan, Gong Xing, Zhang Guorong and others appeared on the red carpet, it was like a flame thrown into hot oil, and the whole audience exploded instantly.

All eyes and cameras in the audience were directed towards them, and the crowd erupted in shutter clicks, exclamations and cheers.

They shouted "gong" loudly, but what a coincidence, Gong Xing and Gong Li's surnames both correspond to "gong".

Thanks to Fangyan's whispered reminders and on-the-spot advice, director Gong Xing and heroine Gong Li were able to work together and take photos together.

He also "supports the younger generation" and gives rare exposure opportunities to Jiang Wen, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige, Zhang Guorong and others.

The media's enthusiasm really made the Japanese, Korean and other film crews, such as "Storm Hill", envious.

Seeing that the time was almost up, Fang Yan was still unwilling to stay on the red carpet, and led Gong Xing, Gong Li and others into the theater.

As the artistic director of the Cannes Film Festival, Gilles Jacob stood respectfully at the gate, welcoming each participating crew.

"Fang, I have provided you with the largest theater in the theater, which can accommodate 1.25 people at a time."

"Thank you for your kindness. It's a great trouble."

Fangyan shook hands politely.

“In fact, this is also to take care of the audience.”

Giles Jacob smiled and said that ever since the news that "Farewell My Concubine" was set as the opening film, it immediately attracted a large number of media and movie fans. Even though a theater with a capacity of 1.25 people was arranged, it was still in short supply and many fans were unable to enter.

Upon hearing this, Gong Xing, Zhang Yimou, Zhang Guorong and others smiled at each other and rejoiced.

Fangyan disagreed and felt it was reasonable.

From "The Last Emperor" winning the Oscar for Best Picture to "Red Sorghum" winning the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival, there is no doubt that European and American audiences and the film market are increasingly favoring Eastern films, especially art films from China.

Of course, this is also inseparable from the best-selling novel "Farewell My Concubine" in Europe. After all, it has won many major awards including the French Literature Award.

"If the situation continues in this way, and nothing unexpected happens, we will consider adding more screenings for Farewell My Concubine."

Giles Jacob said: "In order to meet the expectations and needs of more passionate movie fans."

Fang Yan said: "That's really great."

After chatting for a while, Giles Jacob reminded:
"The members of this jury are already in the theater. Oh, and your old friend is there too."

"Then we'll go first, see you later."

Fangyan nodded, then walked along the corridor and entered the theater with a poster of "Farewell My Concubine" posted at the door.

Thierry Frémaux enthusiastically introduced Ettore Scola, Robbie Muller, Claude Berry, Nastassja Kinski and others to Gong Wei, Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige and others. The simple greetings gradually broke the unfamiliar atmosphere and they began to get closer to each other.

Fangyan ignored Natasha Kinski's attentive gaze, and immediately spotted Francis Coppola.

I saw him sitting with Nicolas Cage and his daughter. They also noticed me and were waving at me.

The reporter of "Film Handbook" keenly captured this moment, immediately realized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime picture, and immediately pressed the shutter.

"Crack!"

In the camera, Fang Yan, the great oriental writer, and Francis Coppola, the famous western director, greeted each other and nodded in greeting. (End of this chapter)