The Birth of the Best Director

Chapter 45 "Life of Pi", would you like to refer to my opinion?
……

"You guys, what's that expression?"

“Is this article impressive?”

James, who was standing next to them, saw Li An and Zhao Shanshan looking stunned, and couldn't help but ask, "What do you think of the article written by Lu Zhiyuan?"
Li An simply translated a few sentences.

"puff……"

James spat out all the coffee he had just drunk.

[Haneke, he doesn't understand failed art students at all! ]

Perhaps it was because James had a low sense of humour, and this sentence really hit his funny bone, making him laugh for three minutes.

Haneke, although also German, was even born in 1942, the era of war.

However, he was an excellent student since childhood and was admitted to the University of Vienna smoothly.

This is the highest institution of learning in Austria and the oldest university in the German-speaking world. In its history, the school has produced 21 Nobel Prize winners!
It can be said that the University of Vienna is one of the top universities in the world.

Graduating from here means a decent job, a good income, and a respected social status.

This guy Haneke got into such a school so easily.

If that failed art student had been admitted to such a university, how wonderful would his life have been?

Will he write about struggle again?

Most likely not!
So, Haneko knows nothing!

James agrees deeply!
Does the white ribbon symbolize purity? No, it's a moral shackle that Haneke forces upon the audience!

Does the whip represent patriarchy? It's more like Haneke's clumsy visual retelling of Freud's theory!

[If a complex historical tragedy is simplified into a childish fable of "bad fathers raise bad children", it will be the biggest joke in the world!

[According to this logic, Victorian Britain should have transformed its entire population into Jack the Ripper. And the tight pants and high heels of the Napoleonic era should have given rise to concentration camps for psychopaths!]

This crude chain of cause and effect is more of a carnival of historical nihilism than a reflection!

Li An translated Lu Zhiyuan's article into English and read it to James paragraph by paragraph.

At the beginning, James still had a smile on his face, and it felt like he was laughing at Haneke's joke.

But after listening to Li An's translation of the entire article, he was completely stunned.

Because after watching "The White Ribbon", he had some indescribable feelings in his heart. He always felt that the narrative of the whole movie was a bit weird.

However, due to Haneke's prestige in the European film industry, he did not dare to make any comments.

And now, after listening to Lu Zhiyuan's article, he suddenly understood!

That's right!

This guy Haneke is definitely a historical nihilist!
Lu Zhiyuan is absolutely right!

At this moment, he regarded Lu Zhiyuan as his close friend!
Li An had finished translating Lu Zhiyuan's article, but Li An seemed hesitant to speak, and even tried to suppress a smile, which made James very curious.

He couldn't help but look over and asked, "Li, what do you want to say? Don't hold it in. I beg you, just say it! Otherwise, I won't be able to sleep tonight!"

Li An lowered his head, stifling a laugh, and whispered in James' ear, "James, I forgot to tell you... A Yuan was also a failed art student."

what?
James widened his eyes and turned to look at Lu Zhiyuan in disbelief.

real or fake?

No wonder he gave such an incisive analysis of the movie "The White Ribbon"!
It turns out that he was also a failed art student!
"Hahaha……"

The next moment, the room was filled with James' laughter.

After laughing, he calmed down, looked at Lu Zhiyuan and said, "Lu, no, Ayuan, once this article is published, it will definitely trigger a flood of debate."

——For James, the pronunciation of "Ayuan" is a bit difficult, but in order to show closeness, he decided to follow the local customs.

"But you're right. After this article is published, 'White Ribbon' will be dethroned and no longer invincible."

After Lu Zhiyuan's article analyzed "White Ribbon", it was simply like the emperor's new clothes, which was laughable.

The so-called sense of historical weight has turned into historical nihilism.

Moreover, it exposed a fatal weakness!
Its analysis of human nature is too superficial and not at all true. Instead, it is full of deliberateness and seems to be excessive.

From this point of view, "The Heart Labyrinth" is more realistic.

After all, "The Heart Labyrinth" is adapted from real events, and no one can say it is not true!
“I always believe that [film is a visual art].”

"Today, many post-production workers are coloring some black and white images from a hundred years ago, adding vivid colors to these stories."

"But our great director Haneke does the exact opposite. In the 21st century, when colors are so rich and even digital cameras have advanced several generations, he still uses crude black-and-white images like an antique to cover up his narrative incompetence."

As a film lover, Lu Zhiyuan respects maverick directors like Haneke.

But as a competitor, he had to discredit Haneke.

Otherwise, his chances of winning are slim.

After hearing this, the others fell into deep thought.

I have to say that there is some truth to what Lu Zhiyuan said.

As for the judges of the film festival, will they listen?
No one can guarantee it.

However, once such outrageous remarks are made, it is conceivable that they will cause a sensation in the entire European film and television industry.

At the very least, the team of "The Prophet" will definitely fan the flames behind the scenes and try every means to bring "White Ribbon" down from the altar!
Of course, "White Ribbon" will not sit idly by.

Next, the struggle will become more intense.

There's something good to watch!
"Ayuan, I didn't realize before that you could speak so sharply."

Among the people present, Zhao Shanshan had the most contact with Lu Zhiyuan.

She always thought that Lu Zhiyuan was a taciturn technical man who was not good at speaking.

Now, she was very thankful that Lu Zhiyuan was usually quiet. If Lu Zhiyuan was a chatterbox like Xin Yukun, he would probably kill her with just a few words, making her furious, then turn around and think that what he said made sense.

This is the most infuriating thing!
After they chatted for a while, Lu Zhiyuan's personal insights that transcended his time and his occasional golden sentences seemed so dazzling and unique.

"Oh my God, Ayuan, you are such a genius!"

"Li's remarks are too conservative!"

"You are a hundred times better than he described!"

James was completely impressed by Lu Zhiyuan. He no longer hesitated and decided to use all his connections to help "The Heart Labyrinth" win the Palme d'Or.

In fact.

He felt that if Lu Zhiyuan continued in this way, it would not be long before the two Palme d'Or favorites, "The Prophet" and "The White Ribbon", would be devalued.

It can't even be sold at a good price.

Those film producers are probably about to cry.

This is not in any of their interests.

"Miss Zhao, I really envy you!"

"I've been in Hollywood for many years and have met many crazy people and many insane artists, but Ayuan is truly special."

"He looks gentle and refined, with the effortless and casual air of an artist, but deep down, he's crazy!"

"But in the midst of this madness, he was full of reason."

"This bit of rationality is the most important thing."

"This means that he is always able to control his behavior and not let the madness in his bones make things a mess."

James looked at Zhao Shanshan with envy.

Lu Zhiyuan is a cash cow.

Moreover, he is very rational, smart, and even cunning.

Of course, the most important thing is that Lu Zhiyuan is very young and still on the road to growth.

The future has infinite possibilities.

Perhaps, he will be the next Christopher Nolan?

Who knows?

Everything is possible!
"Ayuan is a genius I discovered. Of course I know he is special."

A smug look appeared on Zhao Shanshan's face.

In order to avoid disturbing Lu Zhiyuan and Li An's artistic exchange, Zhao Shanshan pulled James to a nearby conference room.

"James, you've already met Ayuan. Next, we should discuss the specific ways we can collaborate on the film 'Upgrade'."

……

Zhao Shanshan and James went to another room to discuss business.

Li An and Lu Zhiyuan were on the terrace, basking in the sun while discussing how to better integrate painting art into movies.

Li An poured Lu Zhiyuan a cup of coffee and asked with a smile, "Ayuan, have you seen my movie, 'Taking Woodstock'?"

"I watched the trailer."

Lu Zhiyuan nodded, took the coffee handed to him by Li An, and said thank you.

After taking a sip of coffee, he hesitated for a moment and said, "You made extensive use of Peter Max's pop psychedelic lines in your film."

"This color tension, and the spirit of freedom symbolized by pop psychedelic lines, fits perfectly with the anti-war and freedom ideals of the Woodstock Music Festival."

“I think the visual effect is quite good, and it can even be called a unique personal label.”

Lu Zhiyuan didn't say much after that, giving Li An enough face.

But Li An understood the implication of Lu Zhiyuan's words.

The color and art style of this film are very good, but Lu Zhiyuan is silent on the narrative theme and the core of the thought process...

What is clear is that the narrative of this movie is very weak and the core ideas are not expressed enough!

What a proud fellow!

I am a senior!

You don't even like my movie?
Although he complained about Lu Zhiyuan in his heart, Li An became more and more impressed by Lu Zhiyuan, an art student, and his superb aesthetic sense for visual arts.

He smiled, turned around, and carefully took out a stack of concept drawings from his briefcase.

"Ayuan, I'm currently preparing for a new movie, and I'm a little hesitant about the art style. As a visual artist, could you give me some advice?"

Li An is very clear about the level of most art students.

Anyway, with Lu Zhiyuan's level, he would not fail even if he took the entrance exam for the Florence Academy of Fine Arts.

There's a high probability that there's something wrong with that exam.

"Let me consider."

Lu Zhiyuan did not rush to speak. He lowered his head and looked at the concept drawings that Li An took out.

A young boy, a rubber boat, and a tiger, drifting alone on the sea.

Huh?
Isn't this "Life of Pi"?

This film won four awards at the Academy Awards ceremony, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Original Score... It is the pinnacle work of the great director Li An!
Whether it is the bold use of colors or the philosophical speculation on faith, survival, stories, and reality... this movie is a historic one!

Now, asking for my references?
Haha!

I am honored!
(End of this chapter)