Huayu: Enjoy Yourself

Chapter 23 Everyone Will Like It

5 month 9 day.

The film festival has officially begun.

The opening film was "Absurdity," directed by Patrice Lecomte.

Chen An hadn't seen this French film before, but it wasn't too late to watch it this time. It tells a story set in the 18th century.

The movie is in French, and the subtitles are in both French and English.

Chen An couldn't understand it. If it weren't for the bad influence it would have caused, he would have run away after watching half of it.

After watching all the interviews, Chen An stopped watching; he couldn't stay any longer.

Afterwards, Chen An strolled around the film festival. Following "Absurdity," many other films began to be shown. Chen An looked at the movie posters and picked out some that he liked to watch.

Chen An's movie premiere hasn't started yet, so he can only watch other people's movies around.

Chen An also attended the screening of Chen Kaige's "Fengyue".

Watching Gong Li's character Ruyi become addicted to smoking in the movie, and Leslie Cheung die at the hands of a gangster, the style is very reminiscent of Chen Kaige's work, and the visuals are as beautiful as a painting.

The film captures the exquisite beauty of visual imagery with remarkable precision. Compared to Chen An, it's like the film completely outclasses Chen An, while also gagging him.

To be honest, Chen An found it a bit confusing. The filming techniques couldn't cover up the film's shortcomings, but it was still a step up from his later films.

"Farewell My Concubine, ah~"

Thinking of all this, Chen An couldn't help but recall Chen Kaige's classic film, which was already beyond his ability to recreate.

Whether in terms of cinematic language or aesthetics, it undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of Chinese or even world cinema, but unfortunately it was short-lived and fleeting!

Despite this, a huge round of applause still erupted in the theater after the film ended.

Chen Kaige was also very satisfied with the audience's reaction. He happily went to the front to greet everyone and give an interview.

Afterwards, Chen An went to see a movie, also directed by a very famous director: Hou Xiaoxian!

This time, he brought his film "Goodbye South, Goodbye" to Cannes, where it was very well received at the screening. His filming style is similar to that of Wong Kar-wai and is very popular with European audiences and film critics.

This film, however, brought a different feeling. From the initial sentiment of local customs to the later attachment to the history of Taiwan, what he wanted to express has been changing all along, and now there is a sense of confusion about the urgent need to broaden his creative ideas.

Chen An could feel that his two years of study had paid off.

The protagonist, Xiao Gao, a rogue in his thirties, is an old-fashioned figure in the new society. He is family-oriented, loyal, and idealistic, but struggles amidst the chaotic interpersonal relationships around him, running around between gangs, his hometown, and his followers, feeling very lost.

Just like him now, he feels lost about what the future of his films will show.

This also led to his later film "Flowers of Shanghai" scaring away many of his fans, who couldn't believe that it was directed by Hou Xiaoxian.

However, Chen An felt that this film was better than "Temptress Moon," at least Hou Xiaoxian was strongly demanding a breakthrough.

Of course, Chen Kaige is also trying his best to get rid of the shadow of "Farewell My Concubine", but not as strongly.

Clearly, these European film critics also understood the film's message, and their applause far exceeded that for "Temptress Moon," expressing their appreciation.

Chen An sat below, watching quietly. That's how Hou Xiaoxian's movies are—they have a powerful aftertaste.

"This is really well-made. Can our movies be like this too?"

Duan Long, who came with Chen An, sat down next to him and asked.

Watching Hou Xiaoxian on stage being interviewed by reporters and film critics one after another.

Chen An said quietly, "Yes."

The day finally arrived: the premiere of "Run Lola Run".

Chen An was filled with nervousness as he waited at the venue for the film's first public screening.

Since it was a screening of the main competition segment, quite a few people arrived one after another, and the venue was soon full.

Chen Kaige also brought his crew to show their support, since they were both Chinese-language films. However, to Chen An's surprise, Hou Xiaoxian also came.

Wearing his signature hat, he entered the venue, nodded and smiled when he met Chen An's gaze, and then sat down without exchanging many words.

The only thing that surprised Chen An was that the last two people to walk in were the chairman of the jury, Francis Ford Coppola, and two jury members, Greta Skaci.

Chen An didn't know either of them and didn't expect them to come.

Francis Ford Coppola didn't say much and simply sat down in the audience, while Greta Scáthach, the blonde beauty, walked up to Chen An and shook his hand.

69 new books

"Young director An-chen, I love your films, and I believe that from today onwards everyone will love your films."

She spoke in English, which Chen An only partially understood. It was only after a translator translated for him that he was able to comprehend her.

"Thank you for liking it."

After consulting with the translator, Chen An personally thanked Greta Skaci.

The blonde beauty smiled, let go of his hand, and walked into the audience to sit next to the jury president.

After everyone arrived, the film "Run Lola Run" officially began screening.

After the production company was introduced, rhythmic background music began to play slowly.

Lola from the anime started running, and the "Director: Chen An" sign blocking her way was kicked away by her.

The other people's names didn't fare any better; they were smashed to pieces!

All the performers posed for photos with their names on them, like prisoners.

The film then officially begins. Lola's boyfriend, Manny, has lost 500,000 dollars, which has been picked up by a beggar. He asks his girlfriend for help, needing to get the 500,000 dollars within 20 minutes, or he will be killed by the boss.

After making the call, Lola officially started running, her fiery red hair symbolizing her emotions and personality.

She began to recall people who could help her, and she finally focused on her father. However, in a separate scene, her father shook his head, which foreshadowed the outcome.

Accompanied by rhythmic music, Lola runs along the screen.

She transforms into an animated character and runs downstairs, then reverts to a real person. Along the way, she encounters various people whose future experiences flash before her eyes.

A divorced woman, a thief who finds true love, and so on.

After her father refused to let her go, Lola, who arrived late, had no choice but to rob a supermarket with her boyfriend. In the end, Lola was shot and killed by the police.

The scene changes to the two lying in bed talking, with Lola leaning on Manny's arm.

Just when the audience thought the story was over, they realized it was too short, and they thought it would be like Pulp Fiction, with multiple storylines interwoven with other stories.

The opening sequence is always in reverse, with the red telephone's center of gravity resting on the telephone stand.

Laura is back!

I dashed out the door again and started running once more!

"cool!"

Many audience members began to praise the director's arrangement, saying that they had considered all the possibilities except for the story's unfolding, which was just like a game. Yes, just like a game!

Reporters and film critics were constantly taking notes, which was definitely an innovation!

The directors behind them also showed different expressions; some liked it, and some didn't.

Lola starts running to save the male protagonist again, but this time the people she encounters are different again.

The future of everyone who had previously shown their future has also changed.

Lola did the same; this time, she robbed her own father at gunpoint, demanding 500,000 from the bank.

When she went outside, the bank was surrounded by police, but the police thought she was an ordinary person and let the robbers go.

The audience below breathed a sigh of relief, but Lola, who finally made it in time, watched as her boyfriend, who was turning to walk towards her, was hit and killed by the rushing ambulance!

Here, Chen An deliberately used Wong Kar-wai's frame-skipping technique, contrasting the people walking quickly around with Lola's incredulous expression, which caught the attention of many film critics.

This time, the scene again includes the two talking while lying in bed, except this time Manny is lying on Lola's arm.

Then Lola's third run began.

In her animated form, she is no longer afraid of the vicious dog in the corridor as before; instead, she scares the dog away with her gaze.

This time, due to a series of unforeseen circumstances, she failed to catch up with her father and left everything to God.

He won 500,000 with 100 yuan, but didn't choose to commit a crime.

Because of the change in circumstances, the thief sold the bicycle to a beggar, which led to Manny finding the beggar and getting back the 500,000 that had been lost.

When Lola finally arrived, she saw her boyfriend had finished what he was doing. The two held hands and walked into the distance, and the film officially ended!

Then a sound far louder than before rang out in the hall, lasting for several minutes!

At that moment, Greta Scáthach walked up to him, smiling, and said, "I told you, from today onwards everyone will love your movies!"

(End of this chapter)