Trinity to Release Feng Xiaogang’s Youth in UK Cinemas Day-and-Date with China
馮小剛新片《芳華》英國院線同步上映
Youth, the latest work from the award-winning Feng Xiaogang, one of China’s most popular and internationally acclaimed directors, has recently been the most talked about film in China following the pulling of its original September release date, allegedly due to its sensitive themes and Cultural Revolution setting.
The coming-of-age drama tracks the tempestuous fate of a People’s Liberation Army dance troupe from the Cultural Revolution of 1966 to 1976 through to the 1990s, and had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, before going on to open the first edition of Jia Zhangke’s Pingyao International Film Festival. Youth has been winning praise and strong word of mouth from both critics and audiences, with interest and excitement levels building ahead of its rescheduled Chinese release on December 15th, which director Feng Xiaogang took to social media platform Weibo to announce.
UK-based distributor Trinity Filmed Entertainment acquired Youth at AFM in November, with a release being set to coincide with the film’s Chinese and North American opening, covering key cities including London and Manchester, with more to be added. From Trinity:’ We’re grateful to be able to be able to bring such a timely and important film about China’s recent history, from one of the greatest directors working in China, to UK audiences at the same time as it is released in its home country.’
The day-and-date release with China gives UK film-goers the chance to see this important and very timely film on the big screen at the same time as domestic audiences, and is set to be one of the biggest Chinese movie events of the year.
屢獲各類國際獎項的中國著名導演馮小剛新作《芳華》，由於不可控原因，在經歷九月退檔風波之後，官方一直未發布重新上映時間，兩個月以來話題熱度不減。
《芳華》講述了上世紀七十到八十年代，一群文工團年輕男女經歷成長中的愛情萌發與充斥變數的人生。本片於今年多倫多國際電影節特別呈現單元首映，並作為第一屆平遙國際電影節的開幕影片，獲得大量影評人和電影迷們的好評。日前，導演馮小剛通過自己的微博賬號宣布影片重新定檔2017年12月15日的消息，被推後的北美上映也將同期進行。
英國電影發行公司Trinity在十一月初的美國電影市場獲得《芳華》英國區域的版權，迅速決定將於中國和北美同一時間院線發行。此次《芳華》在英上映將覆蓋主要城市的連鎖影院Odeon，從首都倫敦和第二大城市曼切斯特開始。Trinity的負責人表示，《芳華》是一部展現中國近現代歷史同時又不失細膩精致的作品，對於對中國越來越感興趣的英國觀眾有著相當大的吸引力。
《芳華》在英國院線的同步上映讓英國觀眾和本地華人有機會在大銀幕上一睹這部優秀的作品，且勢必將成為英國年度最熱華語電影活動。
From the ‘Chinese Spielberg’ Feng Xiaogang (I Am Not Madame Bovary) comes one of the most anticipated and controversial films of the year. Set against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution and Sino-Vietnam War, Youth was controversially denied by China’s censors. With autobiographical origins, Youth is an epic spanning a decade of fear and tension, and tackles a topic that few filmmakers could mount.
有“中國斯皮爾伯格”之稱的導演馮小剛（最近作品《我不是潘金蓮》）最新作品《芳華》，無疑是今年最受期待也最具爭議的電影。故事背景設定於上世紀七十年代至九十年代，影片對於敏感歷史事件的描寫讓《芳華》在中國的上映之路充滿坎坷。源於知名作家嚴歌苓的自傳小說，《芳華》穿越時空為觀眾呈獻出那個年代的痛楚和迷茫，而馮小剛導演用此片再一次證明了他對特殊題材的獨到處理能力。
Synopsis
Youth is a blood-soaked coming-of-age story spanning the decade of 1970. It follows Xiaoping (Miao Miao), a naïve recent military recruit whose eagerness to impress is quashed when Mao’s death galvanises tensions that culminated in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese war. Denied by the censors in China, Youth is a timely epic drenched in political commentary from one of the greatest directors working in China today.
劇情簡介
本片講述了上世紀七十到八十年代，充滿理想和激情的軍隊文工團，一群正值芳華的青春少年，經歷著成長中的愛情萌發與充斥變數的人生。年輕的何小萍（苗苗 飾）充滿夢想來到軍隊，而後又“意外”離開文工團，卷入殘酷的戰爭。在時代的變遷下，她和當年並肩的戰友們，各自走向大相徑庭的命運歸宿。
Feng Xiaogang Talks about Youth
Motivation for the shooting of Youth 拍攝《芳華》的動力
Probably every male soldier has a female soldier in his mind. I entered a propaganda team at the age of 19 and then the Art Troupe at the age of 20. And the life in the Art Troupe in the army was unforgettable for me for many years. Many things have been erased from my memory, but this period of time will be kept in my mind forever. When recalling the past difficult days, I can only describe this period of time as a colorful experience.
It was in 2002 when I began to write I Devote My Youth to You, and it occurred to me at that time that I can weave such memories into a movie. So many years have passed, as a movie director reaching the age of 60, I began to shoot this movie. I’m quite eager to dig out my memory, and I certainly want to find some factors different from my real life at the Cultural Troupe. That is to say, I will amplify some wonderful moments in my past life.
大概每個男兵心裏都有一位女兵。我在19歲的時候加入宣傳隊，20歲的時候進入文工團。在文工團的日子是我後來許多年都難以忘懷的。許多事情都被從記憶中抹去了，但這段時光卻會永遠留在我的腦海裏面。每每回想起從前困難的日子，我只會將它形容成一段多彩的經歷。
我在2002年的時候開始寫《我把青春獻給你》，那個時候開始意識到我可以把記憶編織進電影裏。這麽多年過去了，作為一位將要60歲的電影導演，我終於開始拍這部電影。我非常渴望將記憶挖掘出來，當然我也非常想找到一些與我在文工團真實的生活不同的因素。也就是說，我會放大一些從前生活中美好的瞬間。
Memories of the female soldiers of the Cultural Troupe 文工團的女兵記憶
The members of the Dance Team of the Cultural Troupe would take a shower at noon every day. When going past me, those female soldiers chatted and laughed, with a washing basin in their hands, and the fragrance of shampoo from their bodies lingered in the air. At that time, I would take my lunch box to the canteen on time just to meet them. If I didn’t meet them, I would not give up. I would return and move backwards and forwards three times.
文工團的舞隊成員每天中午都會洗澡。每當那些手拿臉盆，邊聊邊笑的女兵們經過我的時候，她們頭發上殘留的洗發水香味都會留在空氣裏。那段時間，我會故意在能遇到她們的時候去餐廳吃午飯。如果我沒遇到她們也不會放棄，我會來來回回走上三遍。
Youth is the last movie on my wishlist 《芳華》是我願望清單上的最後一部電影
For many directors, the first movie they shoot would be about their youth. But for me, I have waited for several decades. The reason is that I have a though in mind that, this would amplify the favorable impression of the Cultural Troupe, including the actual appearance of the Cultural Troupe. It would not be that perfect if we take a close look at it. So better keep some distance. And the insignificant things were omitted, only those most important ones were kept. When looking back with the sedimentation of the time, it would be more sentimental. I faced many setbacks when I shot A World Without Thieves, 1942, I Am Not Madame Bovary, and so as the movie Youth. We spent RMB 35 million to reproduce the scene for the Cultural Troupe. After the sign of the Cultural Troupe was put up, I stepped into the Rehearsal Hall. Listening to the playing of the band and seeing the scene of the rehearsal of the actors/actresses, I felt that I returned to the Cultural Troupe in my memory. What a satisfying experience! It’s great to be a director!Interpretation
對很多導演來說，第一部電影通常都是關於自己的青春。但對我來說，我等了幾十年。原因是我腦海中有一個想法，那就是這樣做可以放大我對文工團的美好記憶，包括文工團真實的樣子。靠太近看它是不會完美的，所以最好還是保持距離，這樣那些不重要的事情會被忽略，只有最重要的會留下來。經過時間的沈澱再回頭看，不會太傷感。拍《天下無賊》，《1942》，和《我不是潘金蓮》的時候我遇到了很多困難，《芳華》也是。我們花了大概三千五百萬人民幣去重現文工團的場景。當文工團的標示被掛好，我走進排練廳，聽著樂隊的演奏，看著演員們的排練，我我覺得我回到了記憶中的文工團。太滿足了，當導演真好。
Interpretation on the movie title of Youth 對電影標題《芳華》的解讀
Youth means fragrant and colorful things and carries the charms of youthfulness and prettiness. It perfectly match the impression of beauty in the memory.
芳華意味著那些帶著年輕的之魅，之美的，芬芳彩色的事物。這與我記憶中的美完全吻合。
Description of the memory of youth 對青春的記憶
Pretty good. I was envied by everyone when I was enrolled in the Cultural Troupe of the army. I entered and left the Cultural Troupe at the age of 19 and 27 respectively. It had satisfied all my wishes at that time. I was fond of painting and wished to be a professional artist. Meanwhile, I’d like to be a member of the Cultural Troupe in the army. And both wishes had come true. Therefore, when I was about to leave the Cultural Troupe in 1984, I was quite reluctant. I spent my precious youth on publicity work at the Cultural Troupe.
特別好。我進入部隊文工團的時候所有人都很羨慕我。我19歲進，27歲離開。這滿足了我那段時期所有的願望。我當時喜歡畫畫，想成為一位專業的藝術家。與此同時，我想成為部隊文工團的一員，兩個願望都實現了。因此，當我在1984年要離開文工團的時候，我非常不情願。我把自己最寶貴的青春都獻給了文工團的公共事業。
Remarks about the episode of war in the movie 關於電影中的戰爭片段
The episode of war cost RMB 7 million. And a 6-minute footage was accomplished just in one shot. Every detail was real without any computer generated imageries. The creativity and technical contents were comprehensively upgraded compared with the Assembly. There should be no problems for each tiny detail. And the explosion points, performance of the actors/actresses, positions, motions of the cameramen, aerial and underground work, everything must be quite precise. In Youth, there’re not only dancing and singing, there’re also the cruel wars and brave sacrifices.
戰爭片段花了七百萬，整個六分鐘片段在一個鏡頭內完成。每個細節都是真實的沒有任何電腦特效。創意和技術內容相比《集結號》都上了一個等級。每一個小細節應該都是經得過審視的。還有爆炸場景的，演員的表演，位置，攝像的移動，空中和地下工作，每一個都必須非常精確。《芳華》中不但有歌舞，還有戰爭的殘酷和英勇的犧牲。
Remarks about the dissolution of the Cultural Troupe 關於文工團的解體
That was also the last shot of the Cultural Troupe. The last meal, the last performance, the last get-together… When the trumpet sounded, everyone burst into tears. To shoot a movie, only if you believe and love the role and the team, you can influence others.
那也是文工團的最後一個鏡頭。最後那頓飯，最後的表演，和集會…當號角吹響，每個人都哭了起來。拍電影的時候，只有你真相信和熱愛這個角色和團隊，你才可以影響到別人。
About Preliminary Preparation 關於前期準備
I had been waiting for a female screenwriter, as the girls in the Cultural Troupe had left the deepest impressions to me. I sincerely invited Yan Geling to be screenwriter of Youth. A major reason was that she happened to share the same experience with me. She once worked for Hubei Cultural Troupe. When talking about the life in the Cultural Troupe, we were quite agreeable with each other. I’d like to specifically express my appreciation to Yan Geling. Without her, Youth would have come to a standstill.
The Movie Commune has been there for three years and it was built just for movies. Another important reason was that it was impossible to find perfect scenes for the 1970s nowadays. So we just established one.
我一直在等一位女劇本作家，就像文工團裏那些給我留下印象最深的女兵們一樣。我真誠地邀請了嚴歌苓女士成為《芳華》的劇本作者，一個主要原因是她剛好跟我有同樣的經歷。她曾在湖北文工團工作。我們聊起文工團的生活有很多共鳴。我要對於嚴歌苓女士表達我的特別感謝，沒有她，《芳華》難以進展。
專為電影拍攝建造的電影公社在那兒三年有余。另外一個重要的原因是現在難以找到完美的七十年代場景，所以我們建了一個。
Preliminary preparation and intensified training of the Cultural Troupe
前期準備和文工團的密集訓練
We had the actors/actresses put on military uniforms and observe their rehearsal. In addition, we organized the band to work with the Dance Team. After the signboard of the Cultural Troupe was put up on the finished gate, I stepped into the Rehearsal Hall. I heard the playing of the band and saw the girls wearing the dancing dresses. Their dresses were wet through by the sweat and their hair was adjoined to the skin also by the sweat. I felt quite contented. I felt I returned to the exact age and the exact life of the Cultural Troupe.
The preparation of Youth was started in last August. All actors/actresses, including Huang Xuan, received collective intensified trainings in advance. The contents of the intensified trainings included military items such as military appearance and bearing, backpack packing, alignment and shooting, professional items such as vocal music, musical instrument and dancing as well as special items such as allegro and medical treatment. The reason of doing so was that this was a collective. When the shooting started, they really cooperated as if they were comrade-in-arms within the same Cultural Troupe for several years.
我們讓演員們穿上軍裝並觀察了他們的排練。另外，我組織了一個樂隊與舞隊一起合作。在文工團的牌子在大門完工後掛上的時候，我走進排練廳，聽到樂隊排練，看到姑娘們穿跳舞的裙子。她們的裙子被汗水浸透，頭發被汗水貼在皮膚上。我感覺十分滿足，感覺我回到了當年的文工團一模一樣的時代和生活。
《芳華》的拍攝準備開始於八月底。所有的演員們，包括黃軒都提前接受了密集的集體訓練。訓練的內容包括軍事項目，比如軍姿，負重，打包，集合和射擊等等，專業項目包括聲樂，器樂，舞蹈和特別項目包括快板和醫療救援。這樣做的原因是因為這些都是一體的。當拍攝開始，他們真的像在文工團共事多年的戰友一樣。
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bzKjW77r3E
Behind the Scene of Youth《芳華》幕後紀錄片
Book Tickets from
Selected ODEON cinemas from 15 December 2017
London Haymarket Panton Street
Birmingham Broadway Plaza
Cardiff
Edinburgh Lothain Road
Glasgow Quay
Liverpool One
Manchester Great Northern
Sheffield
Southhampton
About Trinity Cine Asia
Trinity Filmed Entertainment has been dedicated to bringing outstanding feature films from all over the world to film lovers in the UK since its founding in 2006. Trinity owns the Cine Asia label, the leading distributor of premium Asian film. Learn more at http://www.trinityfilm.co.uk/
關於 Trinity Cine Asia
Trinity電影娛樂公司自2006成立以來，一直致力於為英國電影愛好者帶來世界各地的優秀影片。Trinity同時擁有亞洲頂級電影的主要經銷品牌Cine Asia，更多信息請見：http://www.trinityfilm.co.uk/
