Zhang Yimou withdraws from Cannes
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- This text is a translation of the original letter as posted in the Internet Edition of the Beijing Youth Daily, April 20, 1999. The author of the translation is unidentified. Editorial comments are enclosed in square brackets.
Zhang Yimou withdraws from Cannes
Respected President XXX:
I have decided to withdraw my films Not One Less and My Father, My Mother [later released in English as The Road Home] from you and will not be taking part in this year's [1999] Cannes Film Festival. The reason is I feel you have seriously misunderstood these two films and it is a misunderstanding I cannot accept.
My two films both concern beloved themes. Not One Less expresses our deep love for children and this whole national cultural situation for us today and our concerns for the future. My Father, My Mother sings the praises of the truth and purity of love between a man and a woman. These are feelings common to all mankind. Therefore it is surprising that you critique my films on "political" grounds. This is nothing but political or cultural prejudice.
For many years, I have been an enthusiastic and active participant of the Cannes Film Festival. Cannes has an important place in my heart, just as it does for every other director around the world. To be selected to take part in Cannes is a great honour for us. But today, I have decided to withdraw because my faith in the cherished artistic motives of the festival has been shaken. I am very sorry that this has happened.
Whether a film is good or bad, each person can have his or her own way of looking at it, this is only natural. But I cannot accept that when it comes to Chinese films, the West seems for a long time to have had just the one 'political' reading: if it's not "against the government" then it's "for the government". The naivete and lack of perspective [lit. "one-sidedness"] of using so simple a concept to judge a film is obvious. With respect to the works of directors from America, France and Italy for example, I doubt you have the same point of view.
I hope this discrimination against Chinese films can be overcome in time. Otherwise it will not only be an injustice to me, but also to other Chinese directors, including the next generation of young directors and their works.
Yours Sincerely,
Zhang Yimou