Wu Tianming

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Wu Tianming (2007)

Wu Tianming ( Chinese  吳天明  /  吴天明 , Pinyin Wú Tiānmíng ; born October 19, 1939 in Shaanxi ; † March 4, 2014 ) was a Chinese film director and producer. He is considered "one of the most colorful characters in new Chinese cinema."

Life

Wu was born in Shaanxi, the son of a communist guerrilla fighter. He grew up in humble circumstances, but with his family he was also constantly on the run from the men of Chiang Kai-shek . After the proclamation of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, Wu's father rose to the communist cadre. Wu studied at the Beijing Film School and was accepted into the drama department of the Xi'an film studio founded in 1958 in 1960 . He appeared in supporting roles before turning to directing. The Cultural Revolution interrupted his cinematic work, which he began in 1974 as assistant director to Cui Weiresumed. Two years later, he became an assistant at the Xi'an studio and, in 1983, director of the film studio. In this role he brought numerous young directors, some directly from the film academy, to the Xi'an Studios “and offered them all the freedom to realize their ideas”. He thus became the producer and mentor of some controversial directors of the "fifth generation" such as Chen Kaige , Tian Zhuangzhuang and Zhang Yimou .

With his criticism of Confucianism and the ideologies of Mao and Deng , Wu created numerous enemies in China and was dismissed in 1989 as an “intellectual thought leader of the student protests”. Wu, who at the time had accepted a teaching position at Columbia University , remained in exile in America in 1989, where he worked, among other things, in a video store. His daughter and wife followed him into exile in 1992 and 1993, respectively.

Wu returned to China in 1994 and made public appearances again in 1996 with his film The King of Masks .

Filmography

As a director

  • 1984: People's Lives (Ren Sheng)
  • 1984: River without buoys (Meiyon hangbiao de helin / 没有 航标 的 河流)
  • 1987: Old Well (Lao jing / 老 井)
  • 1996: The King of Masks (Bian Lian / 变脸)
  • 1998: Stand by You (Feichang aiqing)
  • 2002: CEO (Shouxi zhixingguan)

As a producer

  • 1988: Red Cornfield (Hóng gāoliang / 紅 高粱 / 红 高粱)
  • 1988: Code name Puma (Dàihào Měizhōubào / 代號 美洲豹 / 代号 美洲豹)
  • 1988: Rock Kids (Yaogun Qingnian / 摇滚 青年)
  • 2007: Mr. Cinema (Lo kong ching chuen / 老 港 正传)

Awards (selection)

literature

  • Stefan Kramer: Bodhisattva is also a woman: Wu Tianming . In: Lexicon of International Films , Volume 1: A – G. Zweiausendeins, Frankfurt am Main 2002, pp. F4 – F7.
  • Harry H. Kuosho: Celluloid China. Cinematic Encounters with Culture and Society . Southern Illinois University, Illinois 2002, ISBN 0-8093-2455-5 , pp. 233-247.

Web links

Commons : Wu Tianming  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Stefan Kramer: Bodhisattva is also a woman: Wu Tianming . In: Lexicon of International Films , Volume 1: A – G. Two thousand and one, Frankfurt am Main 2002, p. F4.
  2. a b Stefan Kramer: Bodhisattva is also a woman: Wu Tianming . In: Lexicon of International Films , Volume 1: A – G. Zweiausendeins, Frankfurt am Main 2002, S. F5.
  3. Stefan Kramer: Bodhisattva is also a woman: Wu Tianming . In: Lexicon of International Films , Volume 1: A – G. Two thousand and one, Frankfurt am Main 2002, p. F6.
  4. Kevin Thomas: 'Masks' Director Sees Changing Face of China . In: Los Angeles Times , May 21, 1999.