Movie Box Review

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Zhang Yimou and THE FLOWERS OF WAR cast yesterday appeared at the Berlin Film Festival yesterday and attended the premiere.  Before that, Zhang Yimou spoke with Xinhua reporters.  THE FLOWERS OF WAR production process was very complex and involved many different languages.  It was a result of people from over 20 nations and places working together.  Zhang Yimou said, "This was a very unique experience.  I believed such an unique experience would be reflected in my work in the future."

This year China had WHITE DEER PLAIN, THE FLOWERS OF WAR and FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE taking part in the film festival.  In addition nine films took part in the short film, panorama and other segments.  Zhang Yimou said, "Actually it should be even more."  He felt that Chinese directors should participate in more international film festivals and said, "Not just Berlin Film Festival, all international
film festivals are very important to Chinese films because they are windows."

Speaking of the old subject of Chinese films "going global", Zhang Yimou said, "This slogan has been shouted for years, but actually any type of cultural product has no shortcut to go global, the key is in good work.  Cultures may be different but the emotions are the same.  As long as good work that stands up in common human emotions can exceed the obstacles of nations, races, geography and culture and go global."  For Chinese films to "step outside", they need even more young directors to touch people with good work.  As for how to create good work, he simply answered, "Everyone should try to do their best."

On the day of the premiere, Zhang Yimou, writer Yan Geling, Ni Ni, Christian Bale, Dong Dawei and others appeared on the film festival red carpet.  Before the premiere, they appeared at the film festival press hall and responded to reporters' questions.  Zhang Yimou said that he chose to make this film because this story was very unique and deeply attracted him.  When asked why he often made his movies from the female perspective, he said, "Maybe because I am a male director."

Some European viewers said that the story seemed excessively cruel, Zhang Yimou said that the facts were much crueler than in the film.  however he hoped this part of history would be able to make people think about and cherish peace.

In addition, the Taiwan film 10+10 representatives earlier arrived in Berlin.  They included directors Hou Hsiao-Hsien, Kevin Chu Yen-Ping, Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga), Wei Te-Sheng and others.  Yesterday they attended the press conference.  This was Cheung Ngai Ga's fourth Berlin Film Festival.  She said, "Every time I come here it feels more and more cheerful, I also feel younger and younger."

Qin Hailu

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Carina Lau and Sandy Lam.  Carina Lau receives 99 white roses from someone anonymous despite her Best Actress defeat. courtesy of mingpao.com

The Golden Horse Award has come to an end.  One of the jury members Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) stated that this year's judging process was fair and sensible.  Most of the jury did not know the final result.  The longest discussion was for the "Best Director" award, after three rounds of vote Ann Hui On Wa edged out LET THE BULLETS FLY's Jiang Wen and WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE's Wei Te-Sheng.  The second high scorer for Best Actress was Shu Qi, and Best Actor Andy Lau Tak Wa narrowly beat Ge You.

Ko Chen-Tung won the Best New Performer.  Cheung Ngai Ga said, "The New Performer award passed with one round, relying on the actor's strength and performance."  Back stage she praised Eddie Peng Yu-Yen for his infinite potential, only that this year's Best Actor competition was too strong.  As for Best Feature Film SEEDIQ BALE, Korean jury member Lee Chong-Dong said that the film won due to its inspiration for national films worldwide.

Mainland Best Actress Qin Hailu was nominated for Best Actress but finally won Best Original Screenplay.  Before presenting the award to herself, she joked on stage that the Golden Horse had a conspiracy.  Yet when director Fruit Chan Gor announced her name, she was very surprised.  She joked, "If you knew I really would win, I wouldn't have said that!"

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Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) and Stanley Kwan Kam Peng yesterday attended a Taiwan literature and film forum.  With the recent Taiwan film success in Hong Kong box office, have they planned to make a
Taiwan film?  Kwan Kam Peng said that earlier he already made some.  He was the happiest when Cheung Ngai Ga earlier invited him to be on the Taipei Film Festival jury and he was very touched.  He also saw that the Taiwan film industry atmosphere was different Hong Kong's.

From Taiwan, Cheung Ngai Ga felt that Taiwan film could be very rich.  Since she served as the Hong Kong Film Festival vice chair and Taipei Film Festival chair, she understood that Hong Kong and Taiwan had fewer film exchanges in recent year because the focus went to the Mainland.  She hoped that no one would lose such a good partner.  Thus she was planning to gather Hong Kong and Taiwan financing to lead and do something for Hong Kong and Taiwan directors.  Yet she estimated that she would not start until the year after.

As for her personal film work, she said that the soonest she will start work will be next year.  Because she was busy earlier, the script has not been finished yet.  The script that she wrote mainly talked about something between people so it definitely would have emotional elements.  When asked whether she would ask her proteges Angelica Lee Sinjie and Rene Liu (Lau Yeuk Ying) to star?  She said that now many new comers perform very well and praised that Lau Ching Wan recently has been great.  She thought that he was more charming the older he got.  Before they have never worked together before, she also hoped to be able to work with him in the future.

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Cable Entertainment News invited Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) to be a guest on its Saturday program to talk about her years as an actor and a director in the film industry.  She admitted that Johnnie To Kei Fung was right, she did not know how to make commercial films.  She also honestly said that she was very worried about the Hong Kong film development, as she hoped Hong Kong would be able to produce more movies with local authenticity.

Speaking of directing, Cheung Ngai Ga enjoyed letting her cast and crew to perform on their own.  She said, "I would let actors express themselves, give them time to digest characters and get into emotions.  Once I waited Cora Miao (Miu Hin Yun) for three days for a shot, but the result was great."  She agreed with To Kei Fung's claim that her films were not commercial enough.


She not only directed and wrote, but also was Rene Liu (Lau Yeuk Ying) and Angelica Lee Sinjie's manager.  Some said that she once turned down being Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho)'s manager.  Cheung Ngai Ga said that she was not a professional manager and would treat her artists as friends.  She thought that Lau Yeuk Ying had an unique quality and was afraid that others would not be able to discover her advantages.  Thus she helped her develop them; in comparison, she might not have that familiarity with a male artist.  Turning down Ng Yin Cho she could only said that destiny was not on their side and she had no regret.


Cheung Ngai Ga since age 13 has worked to make her own money and rarely asked her family for it.  Has she passed on the same money concept to his son?  She honestly said that she was paying for her son's education in England, but only gave him the most basic needs in hopes of him learning to be independent.  During the summer he just worked part time as a hotel bellhop.  She said, "I know finding the job wasn't easy for him.  Seeing him finding a job on his own and did not mind the low pay, his nature truly touched me."

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Richie Jen, Johnnie To, Denise Ho, Sammi Cheng, Peter Lam, Ivana Wong, Wilfred Lau, Andrew Lau

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Vincent Chui Wan Shun, Kwong Pui Sze, Connie Lam, Liu Wing Leung, Natalie Tong Wing Sze, Yeung Lok Sze, Kate Yeung Kei, Stella So Man Yee

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Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga)

Judy Ongg makes Best Actor Wang Qianyuan weak at the knees

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