Flower like years
Cinematic flapper
Anna Nguyen
Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: Lifestyles
As much as I declare myself an absolute Wong Kar-wai fan, it is Kwan's "Centre Stage" that left me in awe. La Cheung stars as one of China's first silent actresses, Ruan Lingyu, and the film chronicles her fame as an actress in Shanghai during the 1930s, and her tragic death at the age of 24. The film cleverly alternates between Kwan's production talks with his actors and his research discussions and the recreation of Ruan's films. The film also shows actual footage of Ruan's films, including her last two films "The Goddess" and "New Women."
If Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" shows the decadent, sensational lifestyle of movie stars, then Kwan's "Centre Stage" examines the role of the reporters and their impact on movie stars. The film suggests that Ruan's "New Women" depicted an unflattering image of reporters, and the studio was forced to make many cuts to the film. Ruan, already troubled with increasingly private matters, began to experience constant harassment by street tabloids that continuously reported scathing articles about her unending lawsuit with her first husband and affairs with married men. She committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates, leaving a note that criticized the reporters and malicious gossip.
It is this film that truly showcased Cheung's engaging skills as an actress. Her seemingly effortless ability to channel Ruan through little mannerisms and gestures would be revisited again as Miss Su Li-zhen and other future films.
After the final scene of Cheung filming her last take as Ruan at her funeral, my mind wandered a bit, and I went outside in the cold night early in the morning before returning to watch "As Tears Go By." Thank goodness for an entertaining gangster film to lighten a mood.
Cheung as Ruan Lingyu, another portrait of wonder.
Anna Nguyen is the Lifestyles Editor for The Arkansas Traveler. Her column appears every other Monday.
If Federico Fellini's "La Dolce Vita" shows the decadent, sensational lifestyle of movie stars, then Kwan's "Centre Stage" examines the role of the reporters and their impact on movie stars. The film suggests that Ruan's "New Women" depicted an unflattering image of reporters, and the studio was forced to make many cuts to the film. Ruan, already troubled with increasingly private matters, began to experience constant harassment by street tabloids that continuously reported scathing articles about her unending lawsuit with her first husband and affairs with married men. She committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates, leaving a note that criticized the reporters and malicious gossip.
It is this film that truly showcased Cheung's engaging skills as an actress. Her seemingly effortless ability to channel Ruan through little mannerisms and gestures would be revisited again as Miss Su Li-zhen and other future films.
After the final scene of Cheung filming her last take as Ruan at her funeral, my mind wandered a bit, and I went outside in the cold night early in the morning before returning to watch "As Tears Go By." Thank goodness for an entertaining gangster film to lighten a mood.
Cheung as Ruan Lingyu, another portrait of wonder.
Anna Nguyen is the Lifestyles Editor for The Arkansas Traveler. Her column appears every other Monday.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
stillsingle
posted 10/20/08 @ 1:56 AM CST
If you want to know more about Maggie Cheung, let me recommend you some of her classics: Comrades, Almost a Love Story (1996), Green Snake (1993), Dragon Inn (1992), Irma Vep (1996), Ashes of Time (1994, Redux, 2008), while In the Mood for Love (2000)and Centre Stage (aka Actress, 1991) are two gems of the classics as you've mentioned. (Continued…)
Post a Comment