Italian Director Has a Special Connection with Beijing Tornatore: the Young BJIFF Has Potential

　　In last year’s Venice International Film Festival, Italian famous director Giuseppe Tornatore once said he loves China and admires the rapid development of Chinese film: “Cinemas in China pop up like mushrooms after rain while those in other countries are shutting down. Chinese film is rather dynamic, and we should find a way to cooperate.” and now, in less than a year, he has taken the first step in cooperating with Chinese film.

　　On April 16, Tornatore was invited to attend the Opening Ceremony of 6th Beijing International Film Festival, and the Sino-Foreign Film Co-production Forum later on which he communicated with filmmakers all over the world and announced that he is going to sign contract with Alibaba Pictures in China to co-produce a film targeting at the global market. This is the first time for Tornatore to cooperate with Chinese film company, and he is excited about that: “I’ve worked with French and American film companies many times, film is an art that transcends the language. Film market in China enjoys a rapid development, which will have important influence on the creation and production of global film industry in the future.”

　　Feel the influence of Beijing International Film Festival

　　Giuseppe Tornatore is surely an idol of film fans in China. Though he does not have many works, the “Space Time Trilogy” (Nuovo cinema Paradiso, The Legend of 1900 and Malena) has already made him the world-class film master. Everybody's Fine, which is directed by Zhang Meng and released in the beginning of 2016, is a rescreen work of Tornatore’s film Stanno tutti bene (1990). Because of that, every time Tornatore shows up in China, he will receive warm welcome from Chinese fans. I was flattered, he said modestly.

　　In order to shot promotion video for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Tornatore came to China for the first time in 2006. At that time, the press went “crazy” for more information about this world-class director’s first visit to China and even started tailing him in Houhai so as to take a photo of him eating roast meat and taking a boat trip. Recalling that memory, Tornatore mentioned he was almost immediately attracted by this city. He said: “Shooting this short video for Beijing is the most important experience in my career. I can see the vision and expectations for the future in the eyes of those young people in the street, they believe the future while not giving up on the tradition. I am deeply touched by the enthusiasm of people in Beijing and the rich cultural atmosphere here.” This experience is “beautiful and cherishable”, which also becomes one of the reasons of him coming to China, especially Beijing, for many times later.

　　However, this is the first time for Tornatore to attend Beijing International Film Festival. He said, Organizing Committee made contact with him in previous years, it’s a pity he could not come for some reasons. And this time, he just could no longer miss it. The director is looking forward to see his old friends and feel the vitality of Beijing once again. Tornatore said he has been to the Imperial Palace, Jingshan, the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Beijing Hutong, Shichahai bar and the Bird’s Nest and also has experienced the food culture with the most clear Beijing characteristics like roast duck. In his mind, Beijing City has a color of brassiness, ancient and mysterious. Coming to Beijing this time, he praises that Beijing has changed a lot and become more dynamic and powerful, giving people more expectations, “This kind of vitality makes me feel that Beijing is having another Olympic Games next year.”

　　As for the feeling about Beijing International Film Festival, Tornatore thinks that comparing with other international film festivals, Beijing International Film Festival is more energetic and powerful, “Beijing International Film Festival is still young, with plenty rooms for improvement. This is a very powerful film festival which represents the development of Chinese film industry. Right now it is looking for the right position in international arena, and that is also the rising period. I like the infinite possibilities created in this period.”

　　Admire the vitality of Chinese film

　　As we all know, Mark Muller, former president of Venice International Film Festival, has special favor to Chinese film; and he also played a very important role in the going out of Chinese film. Tornatore is proud to talk about that, “Italy can be regarded as one of the countries which pay attention to Chinese film returning to the world in the first place, Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, Jia Zhangke and other Chinese directors are very popular in Italy.”

　　Tornatore is curious and confident about the speed and capability of China making film, “Italy and the whole Europe are experiencing a down turn, and more and more people will focus on Chinese film industry as China is currently the only place in the world where the number of cinema is still increasing while situation in other places are rather different. So, if you love cinema, China will be like a playground to you. As for someone like me who love film, China is a wonderland; here are numerous audiences and cinemas, that’s a real market with full potentials. We can learn a lot from China, and also offer many experiences to it. As a matter of fact, I think Italy and China have some shared interest points. ”

　　He added, Italy has a splendid film history while Chinese film is experiencing its growing period. Tornatore hopes to see the cooperation between two countries strengthened and the industry condition offered more space to this cooperation. That’s one of the reason why he attend this Beijing International Film Festival and the film forum: “I want to hear more sounds of Chinese film.”

　　Tornatore said besides admiring the power of Chinese film industry, he also believes that Chinese film becoming influential is benefit for the development of global film industry. He added with a smile that to him, the most urgent and important task is to learn and study Chinese culture.

　　Co-producing film with China

　　China has become the source of idea to filmmakers all over the world, Tornatore makes no exception. That’s why he decided to co-produce film with Chinese filmmakers. On Sino-Foreign Film Co-production Forum, he announced that he is going to sign contract with Alibaba Pictures in China to co-produce a film targeting at the global market. Detailed information about that project has not yet revealed, but he surely will stick to his creation ideas. As for the film subject, Tornatore said he does not have a specific requirement on that, the point is whether this subject interests him and makes him want to shoot. “If you only think about the taste of audiences, you will fail to make a good film. It is important to protect and respect your own point of view and tell the story you like in a smart way. Most importantly, the film should reflect your identity and culture recognition. Directors should not be the judge of audience, they should try to do what they like, and in this way, you will gradually receive favorable comments from others.”

　　With the background of film globalization, Tornatore thinks cooperation between filmmakers around the world is a trend, which makes the film more creative. To him, it is natural for a film carrying cultural characteristics of its nation. While at the same time, some subjects are also beyond the border of both the nation and the market, which is exactly the charm of film. Specifically speaking, about dealing with problems like culture and language he might encounter when shooting a co-production film, Tornatore said, “I have experiences of cooperating with French and American film counterparts, and we had no problems when making the film, which indicates that I’m capable of directing a film with different languages. What’s more, different language reflects different culture, which has a unique charm, you can add some elements of the new culture and your understanding to make a better film.” He takes his first time to come to Beijing shooting film as an example, Tornatore said when shooting Reunion in 2006, he only brought three Italian staffs with him, and other crew members and technicians were all Chinese: “Though there was a translation team, when we had eye contacts with Chinese members, plus some simple gestures, we just could understand each other.”

　　Should remain “respect” to film

　　As a world-class film master, what advises does Tornatore have to Chinese young directors? For starters, he emphasized the importance of the story. Tornatore said he did not study film making systematically, and can be regarded as a “self-made man”; he knows how to direct by watch other people’s film at home. In his career, he does not feel worried about technical problems very much; he spends most of the time thinking about the story: “Story is of vital importance and a good film must have a good story for it can interest the investor and attract the director.”

　　Second, Tornatore suggests Chinese directors should not make films to “cater to” the audiences: “Making film is not for attracting interests of audiences all around the world; that’s not what you should consider while shooting. Focusing on somewhere else will surely bring you failure; director can make good film only when you are creating the work according to your own interests. So, I strongly suggest that Chinese film works hard finding its own root and tries to be based on its own culture, rather than simply imitates Hollywood works.”

　　In addition, Tornatore also believes that directors should show “respect” to this career. No matter how famous you are, if you are lack of this “respect”, it is difficult for you to make some good films, “This is the driving force of director; it’s not good to be too confident.”

　　With the rapid development of Chinese film and the trend of audiences becoming younger in age, comedies always sell well while serious films not, many famous directors cannot figure out what type of film the young like most, they choose to highly depend on “big data” and highlight the element of “fashion”. How does Tornatore feel about this phenomenon? In this Beijing International Film Festival, director Feng Xiaogang met with Tornatore and asked that question. The latter answered it with great wisdom, winning audiences’ admiration. Director Feng posted a Weibo: “I asked him about how does he think of fashion, he said, if a watch is inaccurate, then it works wrong in every second; but if the watch stops, then at least, it is right twice a day.” 

　　In his eyes, age is never the reason one director can be the forerunner of film: “Film has a possibility that may make you become someone epoch-making. So, as a director, we should have passion for film and try hard to protect our love for film. As long as we have this love, we will be loved by the young. ”