How Jiang Wen Reached His Directorial Peak on ‘The Sun Also Rises’
Released in 2007, “The Sun Also Rises” earned critical praise, but failed to make an impact at the box office. Jiang had enjoyed a colorful cinematic career until that point. An actor prior to his directorial work, he got his silver screen break in the 80s, with starring roles in Xie Jin’s award-winning “Hibiscus Town” and Zhang Yimou‘s debut feature film, “Red Sorghum.” Full of frenetic energy and the unrestricted flow of emotions and thoughts, Jiang Wen’s film adaptations often depart creatively from the original stories. His most recent production, “Hidden Man” (2018), also follows this pattern, where he essentially borrows from Zhang Beihai’s wuxia novel “Xia Yin” to tell a fascinating revenge story of his own. This perhaps reveals part of Jiang Wen’s personality as an unconventional director full of expressive power. Read more RADII China
Hong Kong TVB Sitcom Earned Mainland Netizens’ Thumbs-Up
Sitcom “Come Home Love: Lo and Behold,” airing on Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts Limited, has earned numerous thumbs-up from netizens in the Chinese mainland for including a scene promoting national security law. Premiering in 2017, the show often tackles social issues and entertainment hot spots. However, in September 2020, the drama found itself at the center of controversy after it showed a gesture frequently used by Hong Kong protesters. Many viewers accused one of its directors, Justin Fung, who was seen in showing support for Hong Kong separatists, which led to TVB terminating Fung. Read more Global Times
