Zhang Yimou

Zhang Ymou's early films really entranced me, been a fan since about '91 when I saw Red Sorghum on TV (the ones with Gong Li -- particularly Red Sorghum, Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, and The Story of Qiu Ju). There are some well-known later ones that I was going to leave off the list, but changed my mind. I also think he did great work on ones he didn't direct but was a cinematographer, Yellow Earth being one of my favourite Chinese films. Do you have a favourite of these?  I expect that Raise the Red Lantern will get the most votes (at least when it comes to his early ones).

Here's the list of his film as director at wikipedia.  I haven't seen his latest. I didn't include Codename Cougar because he co-directed it.

For sheer beauty, I would choose the first three options.  I think Ju Dou is a particular favourite of mine -- I love the cinematography. Of later ones, my favourite is Not One Less. The Road Home I found pretty dull, and Happy Times didn't really do it for me. I'm not that into his martial arts ones.

I haven't seen any of the latest three (or maybe I did see Curse of the Golden Flower but forgot since I have a terrible memory and have had eyesight problems in recent years that stopped me from watching film for a long time).

Filmography

[edit] As director

Year	English Title	Chinese Title	Notes
1987	Red Sorghum	红高粱	Golden Bear winner in the 1988 Berlin International Film Festival
1988	Codename Cougar	代号美洲虎	(co-director)
1990	Ju Dou	菊豆	(nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards)
1991	Raise the Red Lantern	大红灯笼高高挂	(nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards)
1992	The Story of Qiu Ju	秋菊打官司	Golden Lion winner in the 1992 Venice International Film Festival
1994	To Live	活着	Grand Jury Prize winner in the 1994 Cannes Film Festival
1995	Shanghai Triad	摇啊摇，摇到外婆桥
1995	Zhang Yimou		Segment of the anthology film, Lumière and Company
1997	Keep Cool	有話好好說
1999	Not One Less	一个都不能少	Golden Lion winner at the 1999 Venice International Film Festival
1999	The Road Home	我的父亲母亲
2000	Happy Times	幸福時光
2002	Hero	英雄	(nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards)
2004	House of Flying Daggers	十面埋伏
2005	Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles	千里走单骑
2006	Curse of the Golden Flower	满城尽带黄金甲
2007	Movie Night		Segment of the anthology film, To Each His Cinema
2009	A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop[32]	三枪拍案惊奇	Entered into the 60th Berlin International Film Festival

Edited by Logan - August 11 2010 at 14:28

Zebedee wrote: Glad to see another Zhang Yimou admirer on the forums. I love Zhang Yimou, especially for his earlier works. He's certainly one of the best and most unique cinematographers alive, and his use of colour is, at times, amazing. I too, am less fond of his martial films, although they're still good. Even though I love his earlier works, I voted for Riding Alone for a Thousand Miles. The story is reasonably simple, but it's one of those few films (together with Grave of the Fireflies) that actually managed to leave me in tears. Furthermore, Ken Takakura's  performance as Gouichi Takatawas simply perfect.

And I haven't even seen Riding Alone.... I'm glad I started this poll cause I'm going to remember to keep my eyes open for it when at video stores.

I have never heard of anything mentioned in this thread

Thanks for the responses.  I thought more people would be familiar with, and into, Zhang Yimou's films here. I'm going to rent Riding Alone ere long.... I remember now that I actually did rent it before, and my wife saw it, but my eyes were suffering and so I'd stopped watching films regularly. I love Grave of the Fireflies, which you mentioned (that and Spirited Away are particular favourite anime films of mine).

Triceratopstoil: I recommend that you rent (or borrow from the library if you can) Red Sorghum, Ju Dou, and Raise the Red Lantern.  Those are the ones that really turned me onto the director.


Edited by Logan - August 12 2010 at 14:48