Huayu: Are you even sitting up straight? You're going to be the director?

Chapter 72: Overwhelmingly Positive Reviews! The Suspicion of Zhang Yimou

Cao Zhong's deconstructive response sparked a huge discussion online.

In particular, the response to Jia Zhangke demonstrated the satisfying feeling of taking revenge without holding back!

"Damn, that's a pretty awesome response."

"Yesterday when I was reading Jia Zhangke's response, I didn't realize what was wrong. But today, after seeing Cao Zhong's response, I realized that this guy didn't even understand how to criticize properly. The logic behind his two criticisms was completely opposite. It's hilarious! Cao Zhong is amazing. He's just a college student, how can he react so quickly!"

"But isn't this guy a bit ruthless? This interview seems to have criticized too many people. Won't he get burned?"

"Kill Cao Zhong? We Nanjing people will be the first to object!"

"Tengchong seconds this!"

"People in Lushun also support Cao Zhong!"

"Never forget my Sichuan Army!"

"To be honest, I support him, but I feel like this kid is going to explode! Those are all big directors, and Cao Zhong is verbally denying their legitimacy."

"Didn't Cao Zhong say we could debate on the spot? They actually responded, and I'm just waiting for Cao Zhong to explain it to me. Besides, I don't understand it either."

"I think the funniest thing was Cao Zhong's 'no chicken' line, which, combined with the castration narrative, was so damn vivid. And the comment about Jia's left brain fighting his right brain, is that epilepsy? That was awesome! It's the first time I've felt the charm of verbal abuse! I wasn't planning on seeing 'Nanjing Photo Studio,' but now I have to buy a ticket."

This time, netizens overwhelmingly side with Cao Zhong.

This debate and discussion, with the release of "Nanjing Photo Studio," had already attracted a large number of neutral parties.

After witnessing how entertaining "Nanjing Photo Studio" was, people recalled their frustrations while watching movies like "The Promise" and "Curse of the Golden Flower," and their tempers flared up instantly.

We'd definitely side with Cao Zhong! Even if Cao Zhong loses, they won't lose anything.

If Cao Zhong fights them, he can at least watch the show!
Cao Zhong won, giving them another topic to mock in the future!
For most netizens, taking sides has no impact whatsoever; to them, it's a win! It's truly satisfying!

"Captain Jia, where is your response?"

Netizens started laughing.

Cao Zhong's answer mentioned "Nanjing Photo Studio," which piqued the curiosity of many viewers who hadn't yet bought tickets.

"And they even criticized the second person?"

"I saw it. At first, I didn't understand what Cao Zhong was going to do. It turns out that he cut open the seppuku at the end, but he couldn't bring himself to do it and wanted to use a gun. Was he criticizing their Bushido spirit? That's awesome! That's a really sophisticated way to insult someone. I didn't understand it at first!"

"This movie, wouldn't it be nice to buy a ticket and go see it? I'm really itching to go!"

"Based on Cao Zhong's report and his comments alone, I must buy a ticket!"

"I hope everyone will buy tickets because of the movie's good reputation! It's so good! There are so many negative reviews on Douban, yet this movie still managed to get over 8 points, which shows that its quality is truly explosive!"

The next day, discussions about Cao Zhong were everywhere online.

People love revenge stories.

Many neutrals were also tempted by Cao Zhong and wanted to go see the movie.

……

Jia, at home.

He was reading the news, which contained Cao Zhong's response.

Four questions, each answered.

Use his spear to attack his shield.

They completely stifled Jia Zhangke in the conversation!
The worst part is that we can't even fight back!

My lyrics, all of them are my lyrics!
Jia Zhangke has lost his composure!
Cao Zhong didn't answer the question at all. He simply used his boxing skills and took the points he used to attack him as a template, applying them directly to his own film.

He couldn't respond at all when I called him.

Not responding means admitting defeat, and the other party wins! Responding means the left brain is attacking the right brain, which immediately creates a deadlock.

Jia Zhangke felt like he was going crazy. He was very quiet in the room and didn't say a word for a long time.

Only then did endless regret suddenly rise in my heart.

"How can you do this? My film is art! Why should your patriotic, mainstream film, which is just a box office scam, be compared to my art film?"

Did I fabricate a narrative and fabricate suffering? Did I deliberately try to please the three judges? Did I use my left brain to fight my right brain?
Jia Zhangke read the response word for word, and his face turned green!

Jia Zhangke understood and clearly grasped every point he made, but he simply couldn't refute them.

He suddenly realized that he had encountered an art student who could deconstruct and was not trapped in verbal debate.

His usual literary methods are no longer working!
Jia felt a sweet taste in his throat! His heart raced!
Zhao Tao looked at her husband with heartache, "What are we going to do! This kid is tearing our hearts out with every stroke!"

Jia Zhangke did not respond. He felt as if his spine had been emptied out. He realized that, at least from his own perspective, he could no longer respond.

He went to wash his face.

Sitting on the sink, thinking about her experiences over the past few days, Jia couldn't contain her emotions.

He didn't know why the situation had suddenly changed like this.

It all started with an objective response from Ozu... but before we knew it, the situation had deteriorated to this extent... all because of Cao Zhong.

Cao Zhongtai is a fucking bastard!
People who don't understand art, deliberately frame others, and spread baseless rumors should be condemned to death!
Jia Zhangke roared silently, his face almost distorted!
Suddenly, he laughed excitedly.

He looked up at his wife and said, "We don't need to respond; someone else will. Cao Zhong isn't just criticizing me."

Jia Zhangke's eyebrows suddenly contorted into a ferocious expression.

His lips curled up slightly, revealing an excited smile.

Overwhelmed by fear, he finally realized the two traps he had set for Cao Zhong.

Cao Zhong jumped in.

He jumped!
Cao Zhong also criticized everyone.

They especially criticized Jiang Wen and Li Anquan!

Jia Zhangke suddenly became excited. Cao Zhong was still too young. Even if I had a hundred problems, you could target me, but you targeted everyone, whether intentionally or unintentionally. You did it.

If you did it, it was wrong.

How strong can you be? Even if you have a lot of box office revenue now, you are still just one person in the end!

Can you truly make all beings equal?

Thinking of this, Jia Zhangke couldn't help but laugh, a wild and unrestrained laugh.

In the midst of extreme joy and sorrow, he suddenly looked up, and due to low blood sugar, he fainted.

……

"That bastard, I ignored him the other day, and he's gotten even more aggressive?"

In the new footage, Zhang Weiping saw what Cao Zhong had said and was furious.

In a previous interview, Cao Zhong attributed all the insulting remarks about being kept by someone else to Zhang Weiping, but Zhang Weiping remained magnanimous and did not respond.

Seeing that Cao Zhong had actually come to his God of Wealth this time.

Zhang Weiping was furious!
He doesn't allow anyone to criticize Zhang Yimou.

Although Cao Zhong did not name names or target anyone specifically, what he criticized was something closely related to Zhang Yimou and Zhang Weiping.

It could even be said to be the foundation of its current status.

How can we allow him to slander us?
It's like starting a war; you have to deny the legitimacy of the other side first.

Zhang Weiping would absolutely not allow it.

"Yi Mou, should we run him over?"

Zhang Weiping has a very explosive temper, and now even a child is riding on his head, which makes Zhang Weiping very angry.

Zhang Yimou watched Cao Zhong's interview and remained silent for a long time.

"Do you remember when I broke with Cannes?" he asked.

"Of course I remember, but wasn't that eight years ago?"

"It's been eight years. The three major European film studios have invited Gong Li and Wang Jiawei to be the jury chairpersons, but not me. The last time I was a jury member was in 1993. I know the main reason is that I've been making commercial blockbusters and haven't returned to art films. In recent years, I've only made one film, 'Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles,' and I didn't submit it to the three major European film studios for personal reasons."

But last year, after you criticized Jia, they immediately invited me to the Venice International Film Festival this year. Doesn't that have some hidden meaning?

"What could it mean? You criticized him, and he doesn't want to break ties with you, so he tries to win you over. Isn't that all there is to it?"

"But aren't they pursuing art and culture? I don't even make art films anymore, so what's the point of trying to win me over? In the past few years, I've been to Berlin and the non-competition section of Cannes, but I haven't been to Venice."

Zhang Yimou squinted his eyes.
"Back then, because of 'Not One Less,' I simply displayed the national flag, and Cannes accused me of political propaganda, forcing me to turn against them. From 2002, when 'Hero' received a Golden Bear nomination for the main competition, until today, I have had no contact with the main competition sections of the three major European film festivals. I no longer submit films for selection, and they no longer contact me. So why did they choose me this time?"

Zhang Weiping's breath hitched upon hearing this: "You don't believe what Cao Zhong said, do you?"

"I know their nature. My two films were meant to advocate for love, love for children, and concern for the overall cultural quality and future of the nation. The second film celebrated the purity and truth of love, but it was met with prejudice from their chairman for political rather than artistic reasons. That's why I withdrew from Cannes and went to Venice instead."

Because I know that Cannes previously only had two logics: 'fg' and 'promoting the country', I had to think more deeply about Cao Zhong's words.

Does my film also conform to Cao Zhong's triple structure? Or was I chosen unintentionally?
Wei Ping, think about it again. At the end of last year, you practically blew Jia Zhangke apart. So, is there some intention behind you contacting me this time to try and redeem Venice's reputation?

Zhang Yimou didn't criticize Cao Zhong; he was just thinking.

He'd seen far too much discrimination against Chinese films. How many directors who'd reached his level weren't perceptive? Even now, recalling his falling out with Cannes, he couldn't help but laugh; the other party's thinking was like a diode.

Childish and one-sided.

However, they are very open and generous towards works from the United States, France, Italy, and other countries.

As for Cao Zhong's opinion?
He believed that Cao Zhong was indeed relatively extreme.
However, after watching Cao Zhong's interview, Zhang Yimou felt a strange atmosphere.

I stared intently at Cao Zhong's predictions for the award-winning films.

Eileen Chang? A rare original work?

He frowned.

(End of this chapter)