Happy 68th Birthday, Tian Zhuangzhuang! Born today in 1952, this Chinese actor, producer and film director is one of the most prominent filmmakers of China's Fifth Generation.
This was along with along with Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer Zhang Yimou ('Red Sorghum', 'Raise the Red Lantern' 'Hero') and Chinese film director and a leading figure of the fifth generation of Chinese cinema Chen Kaige ('Farewell My Concubine').
Zhuangzhuang is also a former cameraman and graduate of the Beijing Film Academy.
Zhuangzhuang is also a former cameraman and graduate of the Beijing Film Academy.
Among his credits, Zhuangzhuang is best known for directing the 1986 Chinese drama film 'Dao ma zei' ('The Horse Thief').
The film follows one of Zhuangzhuang's favorite topics, being Chinese minorities. This was a topic that he touched upon in his 1984 Chinese drama film 'Lie chang zha sha' ('On the Hunting Ground').
The film follows the titular horse thief, Norbu (Rigzin Tseshang), as he struggles to support his family in Tibet.
Martin Scorsese listed 'The Horse Thief' (which was not widely released in foreign countries until the 1990s) as the number one film in the 1990s on the American movie review television program Roger Ebert & the Movies (1986–2007).
The film follows the titular horse thief, Norbu (Rigzin Tseshang), as he struggles to support his family in Tibet.
After his son dies, however, Norbu strives to change his ways. Mirroring the starkness of the landscape, the film is nearly free of dialogue, with only the occasional terse exchange between characters.
Martin Scorsese listed 'The Horse Thief' (which was not widely released in foreign countries until the 1990s) as the number one film in the 1990s on the American movie review television program Roger Ebert & the Movies (1986–2007).
Zhuangzhuang is also best known for directing the 1993 Chinese drama/political drama film 'Lán fēngzheng' ('The Blue Kite').
Set in 1950s China, just after Chen Shujuan (Lu Liping) and and her librarian husband, Lin Shaolong (Quanxin Pu), have their first child, Shaolong is unjustly forced into a labor camp as a result of Mao's purges.
Shaolong dies during his imprisonment, and Shujuan marries Li Guodong (Li Xuejian). However, the family faces dire poverty under the Communist regime, and the malnourished Guodong dies. Shujuan and her now adolescent son, Tietou (Chen Xiaoman), must then stick together to survive.
The film won the Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival, and Best Film at the Hawaii International Film Festival, both in 1993.
However, since his banning after the release of 'The Blue Kite', Zhuangzhuang had also emerged as a mentor for some of China's newest film talents. He has also helped produce several important films for these new generations of directors.
However, due to controversy caused by some of his films, post-production on 'The Blue Kite' had to be completed outside of his homeland China.
This would eventually result in Zhuangzhuang's nearly decade long exile from the film industry, an exile he returned from with the 2002 Chinese romance/drama film 'Xiǎochéng zhī chūn' ('Springtime in a Small Town').
The film was a remake of the Chinese film director of the pre-Communist era Fei Mu (also romanized as Fey Mou) and his eponymous 1948 Chinese black and white romance/drama film.
Two years later, Zhuangzhuang directed his award-winning 2004 Chinese documentary film 'Delamu' (Tibetan for 'Peace Angel'). This was for the Tea Horse Road Series.
Two years later, Zhuangzhuang directed his award-winning 2004 Chinese documentary film 'Delamu' (Tibetan for 'Peace Angel'). This was for the Tea Horse Road Series.
Zhuangzhuang has been active from 1980-present.
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