Berlin Film Festival: Chinese Thriller Bai Ri Yan Huo Bags the Gold Bear

Asian films featured in the major awards in the just concluded Berlin Film Festival. The top prize, the Gold Bear went to the Chinese thriller film, Bai Ri Yan Huo, which translates to Black Coal, Thin Ice. The Silver Bear for the Best Actor was given to its lead actor, Liao Fan while the film’s cinematographer Zeng Jian got the Silver Bear for Outstanding Contribution for Blind Massage, a film by Lou Ye. Japanese actress Haru Kuroki was even surprised when she was named the Best Actress for her role in The Little House, a drama by multi-awarded Japanese director Yoji Yamada.

Chinese noir film

Black Coal, Thin Ice is a story of an overweight detective (Liao Fan) who was investigating a series of crimes. The actor said he had to eat a lot to put on 44 pounds or 20 kilos for the film. He even had to drink more alcohol to fit the role of detective Zhang Zili. The director of the winning film, Diao Yinan stated that Chinese films are getting a lot appreciation and wider acceptance today. He observed that Chinese films are enthusiastically awaited when they bring them abroad. He added that the acceptance by the international audience is not expected, but he said that films are indeed global.

Censorship in China

Reporters asked him about Chinese censorship and admitted that there is censorship in his country just like in other parts of the world. He said that the fact that they were in Berlin means that the censors in China are now more open, but he also admitted that it can still be quite difficult to deal with it.

The Little House

Well-respected and multi-awarded Japanese director Yôji Yamada, who is already 85 years of age, directed the film Chiisai Ouchi, or The Little House in English. The Best Actress winner, Haru Kuroki plays the role of a housemaid employed in Tokyo before and during WWII. The kimono-clad actress said that she wanted to jump for joy but cannot do so because of her traditional costume.

Other winners

The coming-of-age movie, Boyhood was filmed by Richard Linkletter for 12 years, following the lives of the same actors during that time. His effort earned him the award for Best Director. The Silver Bear for the Grand Jury Prize went to the Grand Budapest Hotel, a film by Wes Anderson. The Audience Award was presented to Difret, a film from Ethiopia, which dealt with the true story of bride abduction in the country. It was backed by American film star, Angelina Jolie. Hollywood Reporter’s Berlin Bureau chief said that had expected that the Chinese films will really do well this year.

In 1988, Red Sorghum, another Chinese film, also got the Golden Bear and with Black Coal, Thin Ice created in the style of the Quentin Tarantino film. It is more like a Hollywood film than a traditional Chinese film that are usually period dramas or centered on kung fu. Berlinale is the official name of the Berlin Festival. It one of the world’s most prestigious and oldest film festivals.

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