"I can only say that Cannes gave me a good first impression, Mom, you must know that I only arrived today." Angela, who was standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, was watching the night scene of Cannes while talking on the phone. She had apparently just taken a shower, dressed in a silk bathrobe and wrapped her head tightly like an Indian from decades ago.
"That's it, Mom, I love you." After finishing the call, Angela threw the phone aside and stretched out in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Although I took a nap on the plane and slept for a few hours at the hotel, I still feel a little uncomfortable. There is also a problem of time difference and climate. After all, the southern hemisphere has begun to enter winter. When she thought of flying back in a few days, she couldn't help but feel depressed, the trapeze really wasn't that easy.
After stretching her body, Angela folded her arms and stared at the night scene outside and became stunned again. Although the nights in all modern cities are full of feasting and feasting, there are still some differences. The key lies in whether you can observe it. . It's just that Angela seems to be enjoying the night view, but her mind is not on it.
She didn't expect the 53rd Cannes Film Festival to be so interesting. For example, Luc Bedou was actually the chairman of the jury; for example, there were very few Hollywood films participating in the Cannes Film Festival. The posters of "Spy 2" and "Patriot" are big enough, but the film critics don't buy it much; the most interesting thing is that "Victoria's Secret" will hold a show in Cannes on the eve of the film festival, which is good. This is just a charity fundraising event that didn't last long. It ended after the film festival opened. Otherwise, it would be fun to fight against the stage.
The Chinese films Angela on the exhibitor list are somewhat trance-like. "In the Mood for Love", "The Devil's Coming", "Yiyi" and other Taiwanese films from mainland China, Hong Kong, etc. made the kind of film that said no four years ago. The feeling came back to my mind again. So this afternoon, when I ran into Director Li, who was still very young, and Miss Zhang, who was still a little young, in front of the elevator, Angela just politely said a few words and entered the elevator.
Forget it, don't think about those, they have nothing to do with themselves. Angela said this to herself. But some things don’t mean that they don’t exist if you don’t think about them. Even the three relationships that have been escaping and being right have come to the point where you need to find a solution; then the problems that bothered you when filming “The Pianist” will sooner or later be solved. Answer accordingly.
Anyway, there is still some time before I do it myself, so think about it slowly. Angela sighed helplessly, leaning on the head of the bed and turning on the computer to divert her attention by doing other things.
The next day, because of the time difference, Angela still stayed in the hotel and didn't go anywhere. She wasn't here for vacation anyway. Participated in the award ceremony the day after tomorrow and immediately returned to New Zealand to continue filming, so all interview requests for European media were rejected on the excuse of jet lag.
What Angela did not expect was that Luc Besson, the chairman of the jury, came to visit her in the afternoon.
"It's surprising, I thought the candidates and the judges should not meet at this time." Angela smiled and handed the coffee to Besson, although his hair was still in a mess, and it was rare to shave his beard. a clean.
"The outcome of some things can't be changed with just one vote. Besides, you may even lose my vote if you question my professional quality like this." Besson said, sipping his coffee.
"If you voted for another movie because of my doubts rather than the possible problems of the film itself, it only means that my doubts are correct." Angela raised her eyebrows, her index finger and thumb lightly raised the cup He also took a sip of his own coffee.
"Okay, I can't tell you, but don't want to know who I voted for." Besson laughed and shook his head in a sigh, with a nostalgic look on his face: "Time flies so fast, That cute and immature little girl has become so outstanding, a beautiful woman who turns life upside down and an amazing talent."
"Could it be that the chairman of the film festival's judges came to me just for nostalgia?" Angela asked with interest.
"Damn, when did nostalgia become out of date?" Luc Besson rolled his eyes immediately, put down the cup in his hand, and then coughed again: "Of course, apart from nostalgia, I'm still a little curious, even if you are also a movie The boss of the company, it's a bit unreasonable to be so indifferent to Cannes, right?"
"If my memory is correct, Ed and the others have already explained it to the organizing committee. After all, I am still making movies in New Zealand. The director Peter is very dissatisfied with my frequent departure from the crew." Angela Innocent hands open.
"I understand that. But I don't come until the awards are presented, and I leave immediately after the awards." Besson leaned on the sofa and looked at Angela depressedly, "Can't you squeeze in a few days?"
"The problem is that I have a lot of other things to do besides acting." Angela showed a helpless look.
"Really?" Besson raised his eyebrows, wanting to get to the bottom of it.
"Of course, for example, I had a phone call with the record company as soon as I got off the plane yesterday. After a while, I had to start recording immediately after I finished filming for my scene; for example, in the morning, I deliberately talked to the "Harry Potter" crew in London. Over the phone, remind them not to forget to lobby the House of Commons to amend the Child Protection Act, otherwise, I don't know how much effort it will take to shoot like this." Angela put her face on one hand and gave a few random examples with a smile. .
Besson didn't speak for a long time, sighed after taking a few sips of coffee: "Singing, acting, directing, etc., you are involved in too many fields, but you can still shoot a movie like "The Pianist", I suddenly I don't know what to say..."
"When did you like to speculate like some tabloids?" Angela said half-jokingly.
"It's not fair to say that, you must know that I remained neutral during last year's turmoil," Luc Besson said with some dissatisfaction, "It's just, I didn't expect that the movie you made would be... me and several others. The judges have exchanged opinions, and we all agreed that such a sophisticated and grim film is really not something a 19-year-old woman could make."
"Then what's your conclusion?" Angela lowered her eyelids and sipped the cup lightly.
"There is no conclusion. After all, it is indeed your work." Besson spread his hands, with a dazed expression on his face. "Only a fool would believe that it was directed by someone else, and it was just under your name."
In a sense it does, even if it has something of its own in it. There was no interface Angela said in her heart, and then she heard Besson change the subject: "Let's get back to the topic, even if you are pressed for time, you don't need to stay in the hotel all day long, don't you go anywhere? I heard that you rejected everything. Access."
"That's because of the jet lag." Angela yawned as soon as she finished speaking, "You also know that I have flown several time zones and come from the southern hemisphere, so I can't be allowed to attend the awards ceremony with dark circles under my eyes the day after tomorrow. Right? Besides, I don't care about the film business transactions, so it's better to avoid the reception."
"But it's no big deal to go out even if it's just for a walk on the Croisette." Besson was obviously a little depressed, "As the most watched young female director with a long list of titles, she finally arrived in Cannes and stayed in the hotel all day. This is the favorite subject of gossip tabloids.”
"What? Could it be that some people really think that there is any conflict between me and the jury?" Angela raised her eyebrows thoughtfully, and then waved her hand: "Okay, I know, I will act according to the opportunity."
"The bargaining is finally over," Luc Besson exaggeratedly relieved, "It is indeed more difficult to be a businessman than a director."
Angela couldn't help shaking her head and chuckling, and turned the topic to other aspects. After the two chatted for a long time in the room about the movie and the film festival and related content, Besson said goodbye and left.
"Although Hollywood is now the dominant family, the French film industry is not vegetarian, and we are catching up." Besson said with a fist when he left.
"I have to regret to tell you that it is impossible at present," Angela retorted with a smile, "because there seems to be only one Luc Besson in the whole of Europe."
Besson, who walked to the door, blinked: "It really surprised me. It turns out that in your heart, I am the best director."
"Don't be self-righteous, Luc," Angela gave him a roll of eyes, "you're still a long way from being the best director, and I say this because... you're probably the only one in Europe who knows 99% of the audience wants to What are you looking at?"
"You mean commercial movies?" Besson said after thinking.
"It can be said that some directors in Europe give me the feeling that they are just shooting for themselves, without considering the feelings of the audience at all," Angela shrugged, "All art evolves from entertainment. If the film that comes out is too far from this category, the audience will inevitably be very small, and as a result, it will not be able to occupy the market, and development will naturally be impossible.”
"So you must hate the Ten Commandments of Movies proposed by von Trier and the others?" Besson rubbed his chin and said suddenly, while Angela was slightly taken aback: "The Ten Commandments of Movies? What are those?"
"You don't know?" Besson was stunned this time. "Von Trier's "Dancer in the Darkness" is your strongest opponent at this film festival. At that time, they jointly issued the DOG MA 95 manifesto, declaring that in the filming of the film, it must be shot in real location, must be hand-held, and must not have additional effects…”
Besson explained this so-called declaration in detail, Angela couldn't help frowning, and finally sneered: "Simply put, not using any modern technology, this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, maybe They should take off their clothes and live in caves and paint continuous murals with the blood of animals."
Although there was a bit of contempt in her tone, Luc Besson didn't say anything more but shrugged noncommittally, then said goodbye again and left. Angela, who returned to the room, was thinking about something else. Although Besson was vague when he mentioned "The Pianist" before, she vaguely noticed something.
Of course, Cannes is the most famous film festival in Europe. The judges are basically made up of famous actors, directors, composers, etc. from various countries, so there can be no shady scenes, just…
I don't know what role Ed and the others played in it. Angela thought so, and quickly put it aside. Since they said to wait until it's over, then wait until it's over, it's only a few days anyway.
Since Luc Besson, the chairman of the jury, came to visit in person, Angela still had to give some face. So the next day, when her mental state was basically recovered, she strolled along the seaside avenue accompanied by bodyguards, overlooking the beach that was claimed to be the whitest and most beautiful in the world, but did not dare to swim in the sea, because flies-especially from Flies from England - all the time.
It's so boring. Angela thought in her heart as she walked. She was wearing casual clothes provided by ELLE, holding a LV handbag, wearing a beige sun hat and short jeans, showing half of her calves, a youthful and beautiful dress.
There are also many stars and directors from various countries strolling on the seaside avenue. Angela even saw the two leading actors of "In the Mood for Love" dazzlingly. Although many people greeted her, they basically didn't know her very well. In addition, she lacked interest in sweeping goods, and it was inevitable to feel a little lonely.
If a guy is still around, it's better to talk to him than to wander around aimlessly. Angela glanced at her two bodyguards, who had never spoken much. Of course, this thought was fleeting, but she couldn't help but miss her parents, friends and lovers across the Atlantic.
At this moment, a heavy voice in Chinese came into my ears: "Sandy, just tell them that I can't handle this for the time being. I'll go back to the hotel and call Dong Ping to discuss it later."
This voice made Angela startled slightly, and immediately stopped her lazy footsteps and followed the sound. Not far away, under a palm tree, stood a couple in casual clothes, chatting with two white men who appeared to be publishers. The women should look French and the men Chinese, because that's what he said in Chinese just now.
Angela suddenly chuckled and shook her head slightly. Behind the disc glasses were a pair of small eyes, the hairstyle was as simple as covering her head, and she had distinctive ears, so she knew who it was.
The other party finally ended the conversation, and the two publishers left in a hurry after saying goodbye to each other. The Chinese man turned his head to look at Angela suspiciously, and he had long noticed the gaze watching him.
After looking at his wife, he took a few steps towards this side and asked in broken English, "Miss, do we... know each other?"
"I know you, Mr. Jiang." Angela, who didn't expect the other party to be so active, was stunned for a while, but then she replied in Chinese with a smile.
The other party suddenly looked surprised. After all, it would be surprising for anyone to hear a foreigner speak such pure Chinese in a place so far away from his own country.
"Are you... Miss Angela Mason?" The wife who came with him asked tentatively in French after scanning the bodyguard and the reporter in the distance. Angela immediately raised the sun hat and replied in French: "Yes, are you Madam Jiang?"
"Yes, Jiang is my husband. It's nice to meet you. You can call me Sandrine." The other party smiled and reached out and shook her hand, "I didn't expect you to know my husband."
"I have a certain understanding of Chinese culture, and I know that Mr. Jiang is not only a very powerful actor but also a very good director." Angela looked at the man and said in Chinese, and at the same time smiled slyly and said: " And I also know that Mr. Jiang was originally called Jiang Xiaojun, and he has a brother named Jiang Wu."
With his wife's explanation, Jiang Wen, who finally knew who the woman in front of him was, couldn't help scratching the back of his head after hearing this, and asked in confusion, "Has my reputation reached this point?"
Angela shrugged and smiled without saying a word.
"Yes, Miss Angela's fluent Chinese and her youth have already surprised me, and it doesn't matter if there are any more surprises." The other party suddenly laughed, "Although I heard your name a long time ago, I really didn't expect it. That's what the talented young female director of The Pianist looks like... To be honest, you don't look like someone who can direct that kind of movie, or at all, more like a director. Models, actors, singers or whatever."
"I already have the identity of an actor and a singer, Mr. Jiang." Angela reminded with a smile, she was very fond of this straightforward guy.
"Really?" The other party showed a blank look and patted his head: "Yes, you do sing, as mentioned in the introduction. And I have heard those Chinese songs. Good guy, I was still wondering which one. Foreign singers can write such Chinese-style songs. But again, you really don’t look like a director.”
"This is indeed a problem. Someone said that to me more than once." Angela looked at Sandrine who was pulling her husband, and couldn't help laughing a few times, "The truth always hurts."
At his wife's prompt, Jiang Wen finally put away the careless suit, and muttered after hearing Angela's words: "Yes, the truth is indeed hurtful, so no one likes to hear it."
Angela, who heard the desolation in his tone, couldn't help raising her eyebrows. Thinking of the movie he participated in, she couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Jiang, do you think the Chinese people at that time were all Is that so? If you think I've offended you, you don't have to answer."
Jiang Wen was stunned and shook his head: "Of course it doesn't represent all Chinese people, but it is a microcosm of China's low-level civilians for thousands of years, and it contains a lot of things... I'm sorry, Miss Angela, you have a certain understanding of China. I understand, but I don't think you can fully understand that America was too young to appreciate the weight of its long history."
I know. Angela wanted to say this very much, she wanted to continue the discussion, and wanted to hear what Chinese filmmakers had to say about that period of history, maybe it would be helpful to herself. But the words couldn't come out of his mouth. After a long silence, he had to shrug his shoulders: "It sounds very profound."