Chinese Director Defends Break from Art House1 min read
Reading Time: < 1 minuteGolden Lion-winning Chinese director best known for portraying working-class struggles defended on Saturday his decision to try his hand at commercial cinema as he prepares to make his first kung fu epic.
Jia Zhangke made his name with realist films that describe how China’s youth and workers cope with the country’s rapid economic growth.
“I will be back. I will not be making period movies forever. Old China is just one part of my imagination. The reality of modern China still attracts me a great deal. I want to prove over time that a director can enjoy a wide repertoire,” he said.
The Chinese director, who was visiting Hong Kong to promote his documentary I Wish I Knew, said he won’t follow the career paths of filmmakers like Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou.
