The Banquet
Director Hou Yong Takes About Jasmine Women
Director Hou Yong has been talking to Sichuan Daily
while
doing the editing work of Jasmine Women in Shanghai.
from MonkeyPeaches, July 28th 2003
You read the novel Fu Nü Sheng Huo (Life of Women) a decade ago. What caused you to make it into a film as a director?
Many who have read the book only remember the dark side of human nature written by (the author) Su Tong, but what really touched me are women's struggle and misery in their lives. Back then, I had an idea - let one actress play three women of three generations of the family. This is a feminist film.
You are already a well-known cinematographer. By becoming a director, are you trying to prove anything?
Make it straight. It's human's desire for power. To make it sound better - I have the desire to do better and I keep improving myself. As a director, I am still a rookie.
Are you worried about not being appreciated by the audiences?
No. There is no need to worry right now. Just like buying stocks. Why we buy stock? Because we want to make money! It's your decision of when to buy and which to buy. Just like watching movies. A movie is out, and someone will analyze it - the film is good or not, and how the market will react. Whoever you are, an expert or an artist, like those stock analysts on TVs, it's just nonsense. Their analysis is so complete but how come they are not buying (those stocks). Why show those words telling people to be fully responsible for their own action?
Why let Zhang Ziyi play three characters?
To save money. This is equal to she playing three movies for me. (Laugh) Actually, I insist on letting one actress playing three characters since the beginning. I just want the audience, from an expression in her eyes or a smile, to find in that something from her mother and let them think more. If I use three actresses to play these three characters from three different times, that will not be neo-classic, it will be post-modernist. If I made (the film) ten years ago, these roles would belong to Gong Li, but now they are for Zhang Ziyi. The reason is very simple - I must use the best actress in China and she is also good for the box-office.
But many people think the characters Zhang Ziyi has played are still very similar and she is not able to go beyond performing from her own personality.
That's because was not given the right chance before. Very few actress are given such chance, and offered roles designed for them. I told her each character was created perfectly, and can be called flawless. I give her full marks. Zhang Ziyi's performance in Mo Li Hua Kai (Jasmine Women) will show a brand new of her and it will completely derail what you remembered about her - teen idol, good girl, fight girl, and so on.
Is Zhang Ziyi the biggest star in the film?
Of course. But there is also Jiang Wen and Chen Chong (Joan Chen). Although they play supporting roles, they still shine. People are not just watching the lead. Having these big stars really saved a lot of efforts of mine. They can think everything for me, give me suggestions, and what I have to do is just choose one. Big stars think more for the director. They know, as actors, their duty is to act according to the director, not to do what ever they want.
Did you work well with Jiang Wen? Is he an actor with his own thoughts?
Jiang Wen knows what a direct want. On the set we may have some disagreement, but we all tell our argument to each other, and in the end, it's still the director's decision.
Can you tell me an example?
For example, there was a scene in which Jiang Wen closes the door and stares at Zhang Ziyi. The first take wasn't good, because I wanted Jiang Wen to have a feeling of being a father. After talking with him, he got it during the second take. It was handled perfectly.