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Jia Zhangke, Zhang Ziyi

A TOUCH OF SIN depicts many controversial violent events in the Mainland in recent years

Zhang Ziyi

Zhang Ziyi presents the Camera d'Or to Anthony Chen
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The 66th Cannes Film Festival closed yesterday. The only Chinese film in competition this year, A TOUCH OF SIN, won Mainland director Jia Zhangke his first Best Screenplay award. Jury chair Steven Spielberg praised him. "He is a director with vision. The 4 true stories in the film left a deep impression with the jury. Everyone liked it very much."

As early as 2002 and 2008, Jia Zhangke participated in the Cannes Film Festival with UNKNOWN PLEASURES and STILL LIFE both returned home empty handed both times. This time with A TOUCH OF SIN he won his first Best Screenplay award. He said, "From UNKNOWN PLEASURES to now, a lot of changes have taken place in China. As a director I have been following these changes......the story has 4 characters who face pressure in the rapidly changing background, causing them to create sudden violence. I hope to consider violence through facing violence."

A TOUCH OF SIN has been called Jia Zhangke's most commercial and most violent work to date. His wife Zhao Tao, Jiang Wu, Wang Baoqiang and others performed 4 shocking Mainland news stories of recent years, including sensitive subjects like the Deng Yujiao murder and the Foxconn employee suicide. Foreign media once suspected whether this film will be released in the Mainland? Jia Zhangke after the award reiterated that the film already has the state approval for an October release this year and stressed that the Mainland version will be the same as the Cannes version.

Jia Zhangke said that today he will return home. He hoped to be able to celebrate with the cast and the crew in Beijing and share the joy with production partners across 4 provinces. Zhao Tao yesterday morning congratulated her husband online and posed a photo of them kissing. She could not hide her excitement.

Zhang Ziyi presented that the Camera d'Or to Singapore director Anthony Chen for ILO ILO. After the closing ceremony ended, Zhang Ziyi posted online. "A beautiful journey suddenly ends, just like after the final note of a moving love song people are left with a sense of loss......I am on the road home, missing everything at home."

Jia Zhangke is very happy that his new film makes people think about Chinese culture

For A TOUCH OF SIN Zhao Tao cut her two year long hair
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Mainland director Jia Zhangke and his wife Zhao Tao said about Zhang Ziyi being criticized after praising his new film A TOUCH OF SIN, "I thank her for her support. Her jury work was in a different segment from ours, so she was able to express her feeling. People only yelled at her because they didn't understand. (Reportedly TOUCH reflected on the Foxconn incident?) The film was inspired by internet violent cases, the characters and the story were all fictional. The film passed inspection and will be released in the Mainland in October. I am very happy that this film brought out a reflection of Chinese culture, now it is open. (How was your wife's performance?) I used to think she brought a little luck, now she has opened my eyes. (Will you work with Johnnie To Kei Fung?) Earlier I took time off with him to make TOUCH, he told me to 'hurry back'. Later we will start a collaboration." Director Jia also praised Carina Lau Ka Ling and Chen Kun's performance in BENDS (GOR GAI).

Zhao Tao said, "This character is full of tension, which is rather hard to play. I started in dance, and added dance choreography in the murder scene. The result was decent. For this film I cut the hair that I have grown for two years, which was somewhat regrettable but work was more important. I wasn't worried about inspection, the director was very courageous."

Some online accuses Zhang Ziyi of playing favorites with Mainland films
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Jia Zhangke and Zhao Tao attend the BLIND DETECTIVE premiere
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The Mainland director Jia Zhangke directed A TOUCH OF SIN was the only Chinese film in competition at Cannes and is taking a lead so far. According to yesterday's Cannes Film Festival program, among the 20 films in competition, six that have already been screened received their grades. Mainland film A TOUCH OF SIN so far led with 3 stars (out of 4 stars), then French film THE PAST with 2.8 stars and Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda's LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON with 2.5 stars came in third.

A TOUCH OF SIN's leads Jiang Wu and Zhao Tao were very excited and hoped to maintain the favorite position until the end. Jia Zhangke was also very relaxed, in Cannes he even attended and supported his friends' film premieres; two nights ago he went to the BLIND DETECTIVE (MAN TAM) Premiere and exchanged experience with Johnnie To Kei Fung and Andy Lau Tak Wa.

Donnie Yen again kisses up to his wife Cissy Wang

Donnie Yen praises Eva Huang for being right for the international action actress role

Wang Baoqiang and Eva Huang promote on a yacht without shoes

Eva Huang and manager Yang Zi
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The 66th Cannes Film Festival is heating up. The Donnie Yen Chi Tan starred giant production ICEMAN 3D (3D BING FUNG HUP) held a party on the 17th. Chi Tan and wife Cissy Wang appeared. Lead actress Eva Huang Shengyi and investor representatives also attended. Many film buyers made the trip for a glimpse of the "Strongest in the Universe".

Chi Tan who have publicly expressed his love to his wife many times before repeated the deed at the party. He stated that thanks to Cissy taking great care of him behind the scene, he was able to focus on his career. He then leaned on his wife's shoulder. Speaking of working with Huang Shengyi, Chi Tan praised Shengyi's performance. "Although she was only responsible for the emotional scenes and didn't have many action scenes, I sensed that Shengyi had a lot of kung fu potential and very right for the international action actress route. Unfortunately this time I didn't arrange more action scenes for her!" Chi Tan felt that Shengyi was very professional, even with a high fever she still insisted of working. He was won over. As for co-star Wang Baoqiang, Chi Tan said that he knew he was a Shaolin disciple but during the shoot he did not deliberately test him. Instead they discussed martial act action more. Because Chi Tan's stay was short and had to rush to Monaco for a Dior fashion show, he was unable to meet with Carina Lau Ka Ling and Tony Leung Chiu Wai in Cannes.

Shengyi who was training for diving in the Mainland kept sneezing during the interview. She has been sick for over a month. After arriving in Cannes due to constantly walking she suffered from hip pains and needed physical therapy. Speaking of working with Chi Tan, Shengyi pointed out that Chi Tan often took care of her and had a gentle and attentive side. She even said that due to visa issues she almost did not make the tirp to Cannes. Luckily she finally was able to. Shengyi and her manage Yang Zi took time to take some photos in Cannes.

Wang Baoqiang who appeared for two movies in Cannes said that he was confident about A TOUCH OF SIN's award chances. "I hope it will be able to win the Palme d'Or grand prize. (Your kiss with your wife on the red carpet was accused of being a spotlight stealing move?) I don't care. I didn't do it for everyone's attention, I only wanted to give something to my wife. I regret nothing."

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Carina Lau and Tony Leung Chiu Wai

Did Tony Leung Chiu Wai take this photo of Carina Lau on the beach?

Kitty Zhang

Li Meng, Jiang Wu, Zhao Tao and director Jia Zhangke walk the red carpret for A TOUCH OF SIN

Wang Baoqiang expresses his love to his wife and kisses her 

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The Carina Lau Ka Ling starred film BENDS (GOR GAI) was selected for the Cannes Film Festival Un Regard Certain segment, and her husband Tony Leung Chiu Wai tag along to cheer her on. Ka Ling appeared at the A TOUCH OF SIN premiere and on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet for the first time this year. Later she along with Chen Kun and director Flora Lau Wan Man attended the BENDS press conference. However she still took time to enjoy the Cannes sunshine and beach. In a cartoon character tee shirt she sat on the beach and looked relaxed. She wrote online, "The sunshine after the rain!" Some asked if Wai Jai personally took the photo for her.

Ka Ling and Chen Kun in BENDS played the wife of a rich man and a driver. Chen Kun even gained weight for the role. Ka Ling said that years ago in DAYS OF BEING WILD (AH FEI JING JUEN) she played a 60s dance escort and director Wong Kar Wai asked her to gain weight. She however turned him down. She said, "Thinking back I don't know why I said no. Now I have the will power to become thin again, I just look at my performance." She has exercised for 18 years, both physically and mentally she was at the best shape of her life. She said, "I used to have two guardians, persistence and tolerance. They are now retired and in their place are compassion and forgiveness, I used these attitudes with work and friends."

Earlier she dined with ang Lee. She said that Wai Jai and Ang Lee worked together on LUST, CAUTION (SIK, GAI) to create another milestone in their performance careers. She lamented that Ang Lee actually was able to make Wai Jai as "street crossing rat" and enabled Wai Jai who longed for a breakthrough at the time to finally create a classic. Although they have not worked together again, Ka Ling felt that it depended on fate. She did not feel Wai Jai was tortured when he performed Ang Lee's film. "I felt he rather enjoyed it, I would be able to too, I have a lot of endurance."

She performed BENDS' end credit song. Who sang better between her and Wai Jai? She analyzed, "Technically I am good, but emotionally he would be better. You see his Putonghua isn't fluent either and would be off key, but when he sang he had a lot of flavor."

A TOUCH OF SIN lead actor Wang Baoqiang made a strong showing. He not only appeared with his wife but also expressed his love to her on one knee from multiple angles as the media's demanded. They also kissed many times. Finally under the urging of security he finally reluctantly dragged his wife and left. Some said that his performance in comparison to the film was the real "China style explosion".

A TOUCH OF SIN director Jia Zhangke at the press conference responded to the film inspection question that everyone was concerned about. He said, "The film has already passed inspection and received a release permit, hopefully it will be released in the Mainland in the fall this year." Would inspection standards affect creative freedom? He said, "The inspection passed very smoothly. I didn't study why it was so smooth, but one of the motivation was that I had no fear inside." Since it involved social violence, would it truly be released? "I hope through this film even to have more viewers in China, because what I am talking about is the violence that all Chinese experience in public space. If our society wants to avoid violence and escape from personal tragedy, first we have to learn to understand evil and violence in art and not avoid it."

Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Carina Lau dine with friends in Cannes

Fan Bingbing
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Jackie Chan is very happy to meet Pele at a Cannes event

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Zhang Ziyi is a member of the Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard jury. While in Cannes she took the chance to enjoy work of different directors. Yesterday she enjoyed Jia Zhangke's film in competition, A TOUCH OF SIN. Afterward she had nothing but praise online. "Not apt at metaphors, Jia Zhangke made an achievement with A TOUCH OF SIN. A group of little people who we have turned a blind eye to emerged in the great era. Thank you Jia Zhangke for displaying film's alternative power!"

She also said, "Today is the third day of the Cannes Film Festival, so far I have watched 6 films, followed 6 directors through 6 different life experience and experienced the heaven, earth and human nature behind the 6 stories. All the styles are different, the rewards are different."

Luo Lanshan, Zhao Tao, Jia Zhangke, Jiang Wu, Wang Baoqiang, Li Meng

The Wenzhou train collision reappears in the film

With the film's sensitive subjects even foreign viewers are reminded of the Foxconn incident

Jia Zhangke and his wife and star Zhao Tao
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The Jia Zhangke directed A TOUCH OF SIN was selected for the 66th Cannes Film Festival as the Mainland's only film in competition. Two days ago it premiered in Cannes, the audience and the media's opinions of the film were polarized. Some said that modern China under the cameras of Jia Zhangke was shocking and praised his courage; some said that the film was too long and too bloody and violent to watch.

A TOUCH OF SIN's story connected four Mainland news items, its massive amount of violent and bloody scenes was rare among Mainland films. Jia Zhangkei's earlier film STILL LIFE was "China in transition". Some described his new film A TOUCH OF SIN as "China style explosion", the murder and suicide scenes made an impact as a direct depiction of social reality.

In the film were bloody news stories that happened to civilians. Jiang Wu blew away an account's head with a shotgun, Wang Baoqiang robs and kills, and the female lead Zhao Tao's blood murder scene left deep impression with the audience. A TOUCH OF SIN even touched on sensitive subjects like the Foxconn sweatshop and Wenzhou train crash. Even when foreign viewers saw the worker suicide they could easily make the connection to the Foxconn incident.

After A TOUCH OF SIN's Cannes media screening, some reporters questioned whether the film would be able to pass Mainland inspection due to its massive amount of violence and sensitive subjects; in addition the film did not have a "dragon seal" (Chinese films in overseas film festival competitions all have "dragon seal" to indicate passing inspection and in competition without any violation). They were suspicious that A TOUCH OF SIN has not passed inspection and worried that Jia Zhangke competed in violation of Mainland rules. However, the authorities have said that the film has already passed inspection and received a permit. Because Jia Zhangke was still editing a day or two before the film festival, the "dragon seal" was not placed in time.

Kitty Zhang is mistaken for Fan Bingbing

A TOUCH OF SIN's Jiang Wu

Kitty Zhang's facial features are more prominent than before

ALL ABOUT WOMEN

2006 

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Poor Kitty Zhang is mistaken for Zhang Ziyi
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Kitty Zhang

Fan Bingbing

Zhang Ziyi

Chen Kun and his Un Certain Regard selection film BENDS director  Flora Lau

Zhao Tao and Wang Baoqiang, stars of the only Chinese film in the Palme d'Or competition, A TOUCH OF SIN

Zhang Ziyi
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