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Zhu Wen (director)
Encyclopedia
Zhu Wen is a Chinese short story writer turned director.
Zhu Wen was born in 1967 in Quanzhou
City, Fujian
Province. He attended Southeast University
in Nanjing
, and graduated with a degree in electric power. After working as an engineer in a state-owned thermal power plant for five years, he quit his job in 1994 to become a freelance writer.
His first published short story, I Love Dollars, was denounced by some critics as the "shameless and indecent novel of a hooligan."
In 1998, he instigated and became identified with the Rupture movement(duanlie) to voice dissatisfaction with the literary establishment. He sent questionnaires to about 70 writers, about 55 of which responded. The responses were sarcastic and mostly expressed discontent, and later spawned publications that nurtured more independence among writers.
In an introduction to Zhu Wen's short stories, translator Julia Lovell
characterized his 'trademark narrative style' as "a loosely punctuated, first-person voice in which speech, both direct and indirect, run on within sentences of descriptive prose, designed to capture the unceremonious, free-flowing rhythms of action and dialogue in contemporary China."
As a writer, he was labeled as part of a 'newly-born generation' (xinshengdai) movement.
He began writing short stories and novellas in 1991.
He has written the following novellas:
His only novel-length work is What is Garbage, What is Love. (什么是拉圾，什么是爱).
A selection of his short stories were translated by Julia Lovell and published by Columbia University Press
in January 2007.
.
He is considered a member of the Sixth Generation of Chinese film makers. His first movie was Seafood
(海鲜), about a policeman and prostitute's friendship in Beidaihe
. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the 58th Venice Film Festival
. It cost about 300,000RMB to produce.
His second film, South of the Clouds
(云的南方), was awarded the NETPAC (Network for Promotion of Asian Films) Prize at the Berlin Film Festival and won 'Asia's Best New Director Prize' at the Shanghai International Film Festival
, sharing the prize and half of the 150,000RMB prize with a Thai director.
He explained the title referred to desires that cannot be fulfilled.
It cost about 100,000RMB to produce.
Zhu has also been highly critical of some of the Fifth Generation of Chinese directors, saying of Zhang Yimou
and Chen Kaige
, "They're successful directors, but they're not good directors."
Early life and writing
Quanzhou
Quanzhou is a prefecture-level city in Fujian province, People's Republic of China. It borders all other prefecture-level cities in Fujian but two and faces the Taiwan Strait...
City, Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
Province. He attended Southeast University
Southeast University
Southeast University , colloquially Dongda is a public, coeducational research university located in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China....
in Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, and graduated with a degree in electric power. After working as an engineer in a state-owned thermal power plant for five years, he quit his job in 1994 to become a freelance writer.
His first published short story, I Love Dollars, was denounced by some critics as the "shameless and indecent novel of a hooligan."
In 1998, he instigated and became identified with the Rupture movement(duanlie) to voice dissatisfaction with the literary establishment. He sent questionnaires to about 70 writers, about 55 of which responded. The responses were sarcastic and mostly expressed discontent, and later spawned publications that nurtured more independence among writers.
In an introduction to Zhu Wen's short stories, translator Julia Lovell
Julia Lovell
Dr. Julia Lovell, born in 1975, is a prize-winning translator who has also written on China for The Guardian, The Times , The Economist, and The Times Literary Supplement.Her translations include works by Lu Xun, Han Shaogong, Eileen Chang and Zhu Wen...
characterized his 'trademark narrative style' as "a loosely punctuated, first-person voice in which speech, both direct and indirect, run on within sentences of descriptive prose, designed to capture the unceremonious, free-flowing rhythms of action and dialogue in contemporary China."
He began writing short stories and novellas in 1991.
He has written the following novellas:
- I Love Dollars《我爱美元》(1994)
- A Boat Crossing《三生修得同舟渡》 (1995)
- A Hospital Night 《幸亏这些年有了一点钱》 (1996)
- Wheels 《把穷人统统打昏》 (1998)
- Ah, Xiao Xie《小谢啊小谢》(1999)
- 《因为孤独》
- 《弟弟的演奏》
- 《人民到底需不需要桑拿》
- 《大汗淋漓》
His only novel-length work is What is Garbage, What is Love. (什么是拉圾，什么是爱).
A selection of his short stories were translated by Julia Lovell and published by Columbia University Press
Columbia University Press
Columbia University Press is a university press based in New York City, and affiliated with Columbia University. It is currently directed by James D. Jordan and publishes titles in the humanities and sciences, including the fields of literary and cultural studies, history, social work, sociology,...
in January 2007.
Directorial career
Zhu decided to direct a movie in 2000. He has said that most of the directors he admires come from Continental Europe and Russia, including Andrei TarkovskyAndrei Tarkovsky
Andrei Arsenyevich Tarkovsky was a Soviet and Russian filmmaker, writer, film editor, film theorist, theatre and opera director, widely regarded as one of the finest filmmakers of the 20th century....
.
He is considered a member of the Sixth Generation of Chinese film makers. His first movie was Seafood
Seafood (film)
Seafood is a 2001 Chinese film directed by the established writer Zhu Wen. Though Seafood was Zhu's first film as director, he had already gained some experience with filmmaking as a screenwriter for Zhang Ming and Zhang Yuan...
(海鲜), about a policeman and prostitute's friendship in Beidaihe
Beidaihe
Beidaihe District is a district in Qinhuangdao municipality, Hebei province on the coast of the Bohai Sea in North China. It has an area of 70.14 square kilometers and a population of 66,000. is also known as a birding haven. The Beidaihe Beach Resort stretches 10 km from east to west, from...
. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the 58th Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
. It cost about 300,000RMB to produce.
His second film, South of the Clouds
South of the Clouds
South of the Clouds is a 2003 Chinese film and the second film directed by the writer Zhu Wen. The film stands in stark contrast to Zhu's previous film. In terms of production, South of the Clouds received the cooperation of the state apparatus unlike 2001's Seafood which was an underground...
(云的南方), was awarded the NETPAC (Network for Promotion of Asian Films) Prize at the Berlin Film Festival and won 'Asia's Best New Director Prize' at the Shanghai International Film Festival
Shanghai International Film Festival
The Shanghai International Film Festival , abbreviated SIFF, is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia.Along with Tokyo International Film Festival, the SIFF is one of the biggest film festivals in Asia. The first festival was held from October 7 to 14, 1993, and was held biennially until...
, sharing the prize and half of the 150,000RMB prize with a Thai director.
He explained the title referred to desires that cannot be fulfilled.
It cost about 100,000RMB to produce.
Zhu has also been highly critical of some of the Fifth Generation of Chinese directors, saying of Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer. He is counted amongst the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Sorghum....
and Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige
Chen Kaige is a Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema. His films are known for their visual flair and epic storytelling.-Early life:...
, "They're successful directors, but they're not good directors."
Filmography
- Director
Year English Title Chinese Title Notes 2001 2001 in filmThe year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...Seafood Seafood (film)Seafood is a 2001 Chinese film directed by the established writer Zhu Wen. Though Seafood was Zhu's first film as director, he had already gained some experience with filmmaking as a screenwriter for Zhang Ming and Zhang Yuan...海鲜 2003 2003 in filmThe year 2003 in film involved some significant events. Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Pokémon Heroes, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,...South of the Clouds South of the CloudsSouth of the Clouds is a 2003 Chinese film and the second film directed by the writer Zhu Wen. The film stands in stark contrast to Zhu's previous film. In terms of production, South of the Clouds received the cooperation of the state apparatus unlike 2001's Seafood which was an underground...云的南方 - Screenwriter
Year English Title Chinese Title Director 1996 1996 in filmMajor releases this year included Scream, Independence Day, Fargo, Trainspotting, The English Patient, Twister, Mars Attacks!, Jerry Maguire and a version of Evita starring Madonna.-Events:...Rain Clouds over Wushan Rain Clouds over WushanRain Clouds over Wushan is a 1995 Chinese film directed by Zhang Ming and written by Zhu Wen. The film follows the lives of two lonely people living in Wushan on the banks of the Yangtze River during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.The satirical portrayal of rural life is considered part...巫山云雨 Zhang Ming 1999 1999 in filmThe year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...Seventeen Years Seventeen Years (film)Seventeen Years is a 1999 Chinese film directed by Zhang Yuan and starring Li Bingbing in her feature film debut. Seventeen Years was screened at several international film festivals where it garnered numerous accolades, including the Director's Award at the 56th Venice Film Festival.The film is...过年回家 Zhang Yuan Zhang YuanZhang Yuan is a Chinese film director who has been described by film scholars as a pioneering member of China's Sixth Generation of filmmakers...2001 2001 in filmThe year 2001 in film involved some significant events, including the first of the Harry Potter series and also the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy...Seafood Seafood (film)Seafood is a 2001 Chinese film directed by the established writer Zhu Wen. Though Seafood was Zhu's first film as director, he had already gained some experience with filmmaking as a screenwriter for Zhang Ming and Zhang Yuan...海鲜 Zhu Wen