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Series Report Number Five：A Dream — Earth and Heavens

dominic — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:34:20 +0000

Closing film “Flowers in the Mirror” and Award Ceremony

July 18 — If we could go back in time to watch the audience at the screening of a winning film, and talk with them a bit, what would we find? Fortunately, this reporter has recorded events for posterity. Our screening of Flowers in the Mirror at the third Shen Zhou International Film Festival begins in Tokyo, with audience members watching as, in a theater filled with elegant Chinese classical music, an ancient scroll flying in from Heavens to reveal opening titles of one of the festival’s main offerings, Flowers in the Mirror [Meng Xiang, 梦乡 (夢鄉), The Dreamland]. With such storybook simplicity, Director Jinwei Wang’s adaptation of the classical Chinese novel Flowers in the Mirror begins. It is the tale of an immortal, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Maiden. Once a god, she descends to earth. Her memory lost, she must rely on her conscience and the will she has retained to complete her divine mission amidst pitfalls. She never gives up, and is assimilated back to the heavens when, at a lively celebration party, she completely disappears. The arc of the story begins in the heavens and is realized in a dreamlike narrative that reaches to earth and back to the heavens again.

In seeking to create a worthy adaptation, the director has remained true to the classicism of the original text, even reconstructing dialogue with language directly from the original ancient work. A worthy adaptation of Flowers in the Mirror, indeed, this movie is full of classic charm. However, to those diehard fans of Chinese classics, it must be mentioned that in order to fit the breadth of the original work, which spanned 100 chapters, into 45 minutes of film, Wang has accepted the narrative challenge and made some editorial decisions. Flowers opens with a poem written by the director which serves as a prelude before the action begins:

A mirror reflects the sea and sky.
In a cool, shivered moment,
I sail, the captain of my soul;
Moved fast from dream to dream.
To find again the original condition, and to light again
In my hometown.

镜照水天波光凉
花映日月云海茫
缘舟来去梦中梦
归真返本回故乡

It is a fitting beginning for this dreamlike and ultimately uplifting narrative.

And how has this film been met in Japan? In a culture that has helped to develop and outline the concept of the poignancy of this fleeting earthly world, mono no aware, one can imagine that Flowers in the Mirror has brought some relief. Indeed, Japanese audiences on its Japanese festival tour have been receptive. Truly, Flowers was not only appreciated by Chinese audiences, but also drew great attention from the Japanese. At the festival, a Japanese woman in a kimono said, “This [movie] is a kind of pure art, a kind of pure beauty, which renders people to be deeply moved. This movie made me realize that there is a much more beautiful world beyond this human world.”There was also an audience member who said that watching this movie is reminiscent of traveling through Kyoto’s Katsura Imperial Villa, where everywhere one looks one finds deep meaning; so every part needs to be studied, and every moment after you study that part you find another truth revealed. Director Jinwei Wang said that she thinks Chinese traditional culture is a profound culture imparted by the heavens and gods; therefore she intentionally uses rich metaphors that are transparent to this transcendency, in expressing the story of Flowers in the Mirror. Through her vision of the classic, Wang hopes to share her love for Chinese traditional culture with more people in the world, and hopes more viewers will have a chance to experience Flowers in the Mirror. The director’s site for the film is located at http://flowersinmirror.com/indexcn.html. Flowers in the Mirror has been tapped for the 2009 Oscar Student Award competition.

As the last lines of the closing song drew to a close with “… all spreading the dream of the Divine Land to Heaven and Earth”, the audience had a chance to transition from Wang’s dreamlike treatment of Flowers to the everyday world of Tokyo.

In conclusion, the president of the festival delivered a speech and awards were given. In a speech marking the closure of the festival, the president of the third Shen Zhou International Film Festival, Mr. Sato Kokunan, said that this year’s festival carried with it the three-fold theme of protecting human rights, upholding justice, and bringing a renaissance of traditional beauty. He expressed his deep appreciation to audience members for coming and enjoying the film festival. He hoped that the festival’s guests will share their feedback with friends and family. Awards for those films best exhibiting talent and the festival’s themes were delivered as, with a fanfare, the hosts announced three winners. The documentary The Story of Two Professors was chosen for the Justice Award. The Courage Award went to Shock of History. And the Best Film Award, for the highlight of the festival, went to Flowers in the Mirror.

Series Report Number Four: The Ordinary and Great Inspiration

dominic — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:26:28 +0000

It was 2:30 in the afternoon of July 18th when the emcee announced that the third section of Shen Zhou International Film Festival would begin. Three films were shown during the third section including”The Story of Two Professors”from Japan, “Want To Let You Know” from Taiwan and”Meet the Artist” from the USA. The audience experienced three different film styles from these countries.

Professor Nieh Sen From the USA

Yang Guiyuan’s family from Japan

When the opening film of the third section was shown,” The story of Two Professors”, it was very quiet in the assembly room. The movie had a slow rhythm and many in the audience couldn’t help but to shed tears. The film focused on the experience and memorials of two professors living in different social systems, Nieh Sen from the USA and Yang Guiyuan from Japan. But no matter what kinds of social problems they were facing, they were still persistent with their belief. The audience expressed that although the film was plain without any shining words, they were deeply touched in their hearts and their tears kept coming. Some indicated that the huge difference of the experiences between the two major characters made them quite uneasy, however, both personalities of the two professors were so bright that they were totally inspired.
Following this movie was the documentary “Want To Let You Know” from Taiwan and “Meet the Artist” from the USA.Everyone really enjoyed these movies tremendously, that they really did desire to,”meet more artists”.

“Meet the Artist” from the USA
The opening film of the Third section “The Story of Two Professors” was granted “Justice Award” in the Award Celebration.

The Story of Two Professors was granted the “Justice Award” in the Third Shen Zhou International Festival

Series Report Number Three: Review of the Shock of History

dominic — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:23:19 +0000

Documantary “Shock of History”
“Shock of History” was granted “Courage Award” in the Third Shen Zhou International Film Festival
From the black screen to white letters, the pain in Chinese people’s heart echoed silently from the audience. Shots could be heard everywhere and resounded throughout the sky in June of 1989. When the second section of Shen Zhou International Film Festival opened at 1 pm on July 18th, the documentary, “Shock of History “reviewed the world-shaking Tian’anmen Square Massacre. Time flies and although the year 1989 has passed, that history still shocks the people and the pain endured from the CCP has a left a scar in Chinese people’s hearts that can never be erased. The refugees of this massacre are still living in foreign countries. During the 20th anninversary of the Tian’anmen Square Massacre, “Unfinished Appeal”, the second film of this section slowly records a memorial event held in Washington DC to review the painful history from the viewpoint of a person who was born in the 1980′s. With the comparison between then and now, the producers of the films review the movie with honesty and integrity. The audience were surprised and touched to see the courage of the Chinese people. A Chinese living in Tokyo emotionally expressed that he knew about the massacre before, however, he never realized until watching these films just how brutal and cruel the CCP really is.

The first film of the second section was granted “Courage Award” in the Award Celebration
Award celebration

“Shock of History” was granted “Courage Award” in the Third Shen Zhou International Film Festival

“Shock of History” was granted “Courage Award” in the Third Shen Zhou International Film Festival

(中文) 一花一世界：“永遠”觀後感

dominic — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:40:32 +0000

Sorry, this entry is only available in 中文. read more

Serier Report Number Two: “Forever” & “Shake the World” Stun Film Lovers

dominic — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:04:57 +0000

After the opening ceremony of The Third Shen Zhou Film Festival, the audience was captivated by it’s most recent film. In a scene from “Forever” the music was calm and penetrating while the bride wearing a white wedding dress was gently running from a distance through a winding path of snow in the month of June. It was very quiet in the assembly room. A simple story but vivid life details had the audience laughing at times. However, during the course of the story, they couldn’t help but to shed tears. After the film, there was a very big applause for that. Because of the limited seats in the theater, many watched the film by standing.

Director and actors meet with audiences
Afterwards, the director and chief actors of “Forever” went on stage to meet with the audience and answered questions. When being asked about her current feeling, director Wang Jinwei said:”Not only me, but also all the actors and coworkers in our group were looking forward to this day, when “Forever” would be shown. So I am very happy now and cannot express with words. However, let me put it another way, because this film is based on a true story, and the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong is still going on, my heart is still heavy right now. I appreciate all the actors who have created the value of this film and many thanks to the coworkers of the film festival. and ofcourse to the audience who care about this film. Because of you, this film realized its value.” The male leading actor who could not be there sent a congratulatory letter.After watching the film, Congressman Tuwu said: “If we turn a blind eye for murder, torture, and the illegal action of policies, it’s just the same that we agree with Hitler.”

Questions from audiences
Many audience members had comments about the films. Mr. Nantiao from Japan said: “Because it’s a true story, this film really shook me up and had quite an affect on me. After watching the movie,I was thinking that if a person couldn’t adhere to the principle of truth in his or her life, they would lose themself in this world.” Mr. Zuoteng Yiong said:”What those Falun Gong practitioners still insist upon while facing persecution must be the true steadfast belief. Persecution only helps more and more people to know the truth. I have seen the big success of Falun Gong.” Mr. Judi said:”I was touched by the film. Every time when I had a thought that this is a true story, my heart pounded. I was thinking that the Chinese society shouldn’t be like that anymore.” He also said:”This movie really makes me think and I would also like to try practicing Falun Gong.” Mr.Jibei Xiannan said: “The film is clear, beautiful and not complicated, it has an invisible power to catch you.”

Questions from audiences
Foreign citizen Baijing who is of Chinese origin said that he was just like the male leading actor “Yongcheng” before he practiced Falun Gong in the film. He often fought with others. After seeing the film , he wanted to practice Falun Gong and would like to read Zhuan Falun, the core text of Falun Gong.

Actors of “Forever” answer questions

During the the special feature section of the Third Shen Zhou Film Festival, “Shake the World” and “Forever” were shown from 6pm – 9pm. The audience couldn’t help but to cry. Many who couldn’t get tickets for the opening show watched these two films. They expressed that the films were just like their names which shake people’s hearts and deeply touched them forever. The two films are of different styles but when put together, they made people forever shake. Some said that although they watched “Forever” twice in one day, they were still touched. Congressman Shuiye watched the films for three hours and said that before, he only knew about Falun Gong only from the internet. But with “Shake the World” he felt that he was experiencing the brutal persecution. And “Forever” took him to the true life of Falun Gong practitioners. It was very educational.

Director and Congressman Shuiye

Actors of “Forever” answer questions