The literary era since 1979

By the time the script outline for "The Legend of the Seven Heroes of Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit" was completed, it was already August without us noticing.

With less than half a month left before the registration deadline for the Venice Film Festival, Fang Yan could only temporarily hand over the subsequent creation of the script to Yu Hua, Zheng Yuanjie and others. He took a flight back to Hong Kong alone. As soon as he landed, he went straight to the company without stopping.

When the receptionist saw that it was their boss, they immediately greeted him with a smile and led him to Gong Xing's office.

When Fangyan's face came into view, Gong Xing frowned slightly, unable to help but complain:
"Finally you're back. If you hadn't come back, I would have asked someone to book me a plane ticket back to the mainland."

"Alas, there are so many things happening one after another that I can't finish them all."

Fangyan's eyes were filled with tenderness. He opened his arms, hugged her and kissed her.

After a hug and kiss, Gong Xing's frown relaxed and he noticed the suitcase next to him out of the corner of his eye.

"Why don't you rest at home for a while before coming over?"

"I miss you."

Dialect is spoken in a joking tone.

"Grumpy."

Gong Xing said coquettishly.

Fang Yan licked his lips, as if savoring the passionate kiss just now, "It is indeed a bit oily."

"You!"

Gong Xing rolled his eyes, then invited him to sit on the sofa, supported his chin with one hand, and listened quietly to him talking about what he had done in Japan and the mainland.

Fang Yan sighed, "Otherwise, I wouldn't have come back until now."

"You are in such a hurry to come back because you are worried about "In the Mood for Love", right?" Gong Xing knew the answer well.

"Not entirely."

Fang Yan nodded and said that during his trip to Shanghai, he learned a piece of good news about the Venice Film Festival from Xie Jin.

Gong Xing looked at the sly smile on his lips and was surprised.

Fang Yan said that Venice Film Festival president Biraghi and selection director Marco Mueller are both close friends of Xie Jin.

Gong Xing was very surprised, "What a coincidence?"

"It's just such a coincidence."

Fang Yan said that Marco Muller, the selection director of the Venice Film Festival, was one of the first international students from Italy to come to China. He studied at Liaoning University and Jinling University successively. It was during his studies that he met Xie Jin and developed an indissoluble bond with Chinese films.

It was also because of his assistance and operation that Lingzi's "Wilderness" was sent to Venice that year, becoming the first mainland film to participate in a large-scale foreign film festival since the reform and opening up. Later, he also introduced Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou's "Yellow Earth" to the Locarno Film Festival.

He also won the Silver Leopard Award at that session. Since Chen Kai was unable to attend, Marco Muller went on stage to receive the award on his behalf.

“It turns out there is such a deep connection.”

Gong Xing couldn't help but sigh, "I thought it was a pity that In the Mood for Love missed the Cannes Film Festival, but I didn't expect it to be a blessing in disguise."

Fang Yan said, "It can be considered a kind of fate, but with the friendship between Director Xie and Marco Mueller, it will not affect the results of In the Mood for Love at the Venice Film Festival. The judges of the jury will not give the Golden Lion Award to In the Mood for Love just because of Director Xie's face."

………………

Lido Island, Italy.

As the curator of the Venice Film Festival, Biraghi is confirming the list of members of this year's jury.

"Nasto Elmendros, Pupi Awati, Daniel Heyman..."

While ticking the names of the candidates one by one, he sighed deeply. Although the Venice Film Festival is known as one of the three major European film festivals along with Cannes and Berlin, it has been ranked last in terms of discussion and attention for many years, making it unattractive.

Every year, the films that enter the Venice Film Festival are basically the leftovers from the Berlin and Cannes Film Festivals. Just when I was worried, there was a "dong dong" sound outside the door.

Marco Muller knocked on the door and walked in with a smile on his face.

Bilagi said, "Looking at you, something good must have happened, right?"

"That's right!"

Marco Mueller said that the quality of the films registered for this year's Venice Film Festival is much higher than in previous years, especially the two Chinese films.

Biraghi suddenly became excited, "Chinese movies! Which two? Who directed them?"

Marco Muller talked about a movie called "A City of Sadness", directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien from the beautiful island of China.

"The other one is called In the Mood for Love. As for the director and screenwriter, you'll never guess who they are!"

"Who?"

Bilaji originally thought it would be Chen Kaige or Zhang Yimou, but when he heard the names "Gong Xing" and "Fangyan", he stood up suddenly.

Seeing his stunned look, Marco Mueller was very satisfied with his reaction, "Yes, we are not dreaming, it really is them!"

"Oh!"

Biraghi was both surprised and delighted. You know, Fang Yan and Gong Xing shined at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The Palme d'Or-winning "Farewell My Concubine" not only received rave reviews in Europe, but also won the Best Picture at the Oscars, greatly enhancing the prestige and reputation of the Cannes Film Festival.

Even "Rain Man", which lost to "Farewell My Concubine", won the Berlin Golden Bear Award that year.

Among the three major European festivals, only the Venice Film Festival won nothing at the Oscars ceremony. How shameful, so damn shameful!

Now it’s all right, Teacher Fang is here! The sky is clear! Teacher Fang is here, and the good days of the Venice Film Festival are here!

"Hahaha."

Marco Mueller said: "I have a suggestion for this Venice Film Festival, but I don't know if I should mention it."

"you say!"

Biraghi was still grinning from ear to ear.

Marco Mueller asked: "I wonder if the list of the film festival jury has been finalized?"

Biraghi picked up the list on the table and said that it was still under consideration and the invitation letters would be sent out immediately after it was confirmed.

"Here's what I think. Since there are two Chinese films participating in the competition this time, why not invite a Chinese director to be a judge? That way, we can avoid the jury making unfair judgments due to a lack of understanding of Chinese history and culture, which would affect the results of the Chinese film competition."

Marco Muller said bluntly.

"So which Chinese director do you think is suitable to be a judge this year?"

Biraghi thought about it carefully and felt that it made sense.

Marco Muller pretended to ponder for a while, and then said the answer he had already thought of, Xie Jin!

"I heard that you have a close relationship with him. You even hosted his director's master class at the Three Continents Film Festival in Nantes, France, right?"

Biraghi narrowed his eyes.

Marco Mueller did not hide it and said that Xie Jin was not only his teacher and guide in the film industry, but also an amiable "old uncle". However, this was only one of the reasons for his recommendation. The more important reason was that Xie Jin and Fang Yan had a friendship that was no less close than his own.

"In the early years, the two of them worked together on a movie called The Shepherd, which was very popular in China!"

"Really!"

Bilagi was moved and added the name "Xie Jin" to the list. (End of this chapter)