Chapter 208: Golden Lion, Silver Lion (Thanks to Wandering Memory for the time reward)
Although Tang Wei delivered an exceptionally passionate performance,
the fact that her acting was still green could not be ignored.
Domestic media hyped Tang Wei, claiming she was a contender for Best Actress at Venice.
However, industry professionals knew better.
Even Tang Wei herself probably knew her own limitations.
She might have a chance at competing for the Best Newcomer award with Hafsia Herzi, the female lead in the film 'The Secret of the Grain and the Mullet'.
But to contend for Best Actress with Maggie Cheung and Cate Blanchett was a pipe dream.
The competition for Best Actor, on the other hand, was quite fierce.
Besides Tony Leung, there were also Brad Pitt and Carroll Frank.
However, among these three, only Tony Leung was present.
Zhang Yimou led several jury members onto the stage to give their speeches.
Dressed in a black Zhongshan suit, Zhang Yimou exuded an air of commanding the world.
His praise for the Venice Film Festival made Markel, the re-elected chairman, beam with joy.
The awards for the Short Film and Horizons sections got Chinese cinema off to a good start.
Jia Zhangke's 'Useless' won the Documentary Award in the Horizons section.
His intimate posture, laughing off past grievances with Zhang Yimou, almost made people forget the verbal sparring between Jia Zhangke and Zhang Weiping.
Finally, it was time for the Main Competition section.
'lust, caution' made an early impression, winning the Best Technical Contribution for Cinematography Award!
It was well-deserved; only Ang Lee could make such intense love scenes look like art that was indistinguishable from reality.
The awards ceremony gradually reached its climax.
The first award that would stir the hearts of Chinese people was about to be announced.
“The winner of Best Actress is — Maggie Cheung!”
As soon as the words fell, Chinese media and filmmakers present at the scene stood up to applaud and cheer for Maggie Cheung.
Andy Lau and Tony Leung, the two heroes of infernal affairs, were the first to stand up, embracing and cheek-kissing Maggie Cheung.
“Congratulations, Maggie!” Andy Lau’s voice was filled with joy and envy.
“Thank you.” Maggie Cheung adjusted her dress, her heart also surging with emotion.
The atmosphere on site was like a catalyst, making her, who had long been indifferent to awards, also feel a surge of emotion.
Tony Leung stood to Maggie Cheung's left, silently opening his arms and smiling, waiting for Maggie Cheung.
Man Shen achieved sainthood, crowned with the triple crown of Europe's top film awards.
Outside the Cinema Palace, Chinese film fans and media watching the live broadcast on the big screen erupted in excitement.
At this moment, the thieves had already begun its public release in China, and due to time differences, it would be released successively across Asia.
The news of Maggie Cheung winning Best Actress at Venice was immediately transmitted back to China.
It's a pity there's no Sina Weibo now, otherwise, it would definitely explode.
Maggie Cheung gracefully ascended the stage.
Her acceptance speech, however, had a unique flavor.
“Having received this lion, I have no regrets. Thank you to the director; he is not only a very talented person but also a very special person.”
Li Chen also received a text message from Andy Lau immediately.
Maggie Cheung slowly descended the stage.
Next, her biggest concern was whether pieta could dominate and win the Golden Lion.
For Best Actor, Tony Leung lost to the absent Pitt.
But there was no trace of disappointment on the face of Actor Tony Leung.
Media and reporters speculated that 'lust, caution' would either win the Jury Grand Prize or the Golden Lion or Silver Lion.
Surely it wouldn't just win a Best Technical Award.
If so, tomorrow, Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou would definitely make headlines.
Ang Lee sat calmly in the audience.
The camera panned to Tony Leung and Tang Wei, and neither of them showed any unusual expressions.
“The winners of the Jury Grand Prize are — 'I Am Not There' and 'The Secret of the Grain and the Mullet'”
As the awards presenter's words fell.
The guests and media present all applauded, each with their own thoughts.
The Jury Grand Prize had two winners, and neither 'lust, caution' nor 'pieta' was among them. So, for the remaining two awards, Best Director and Best Picture,
there should at least be one for 'lust, caution'.
This was the consensus of everyone present.
The two winning films came up to accept their awards and deliver their acceptance speeches as usual.
It was time for the second to last award, Best Director.
The camera on site focused on Ang Lee, whose expression remained unchanged.
He had won the Golden Lion before, and he felt some regret that Tony Leung didn't win an award.
This Best Director award, in contrast, felt like a consolation prize.
“The winner of the Silver Lion for Best Director is — 'lust, caution', Ang Lee!”
At this, the domestic media breathed a sigh of relief.
Ang Lee won the Silver Lion for Director, and Maggie Cheung won the Silver Lion for Best Actress.
The Jury Grand Prize went elsewhere.
Only one Golden Lion remained.
However, the current situation was even more perplexing.
The Golden Lion could go to either pieta or 'lust, caution'.
Because neither of these two films won the Jury Grand Prize.
If either pieta or 'lust, caution' had won the Jury Grand Prize, then it would definitely be out of the running for the Golden Lion.
Never has a single film won both the Golden Lion and the Jury Grand Prize.
“Hua Ge, I'm a little nervous.” Deng Chao whispered beside him.
Andy Lau chuckled: “Don't talk about yourself, even I, as the producer, am nervous.”
“Yifei told me to keep the phone on speaker, she and Li Chen must also be nervous right now.”
Liu Yifei's clear voice came from the phone: “Hua Ge, someone doesn't look nervous at all.”
“He's holding the phone and talking to Richard, but it seems to have gone silent now.”
Liu Yifei put the phone on speaker and leaned next to Li Chen: “The Golden Lion is about to be awarded, why are you acting like nothing's happening?”
Li Chen put his arm around Miss Liu and entered the living room, laughing: “The Golden Lion is most likely Ang Lee's.”
Miss Liu was puzzled: “Why?”
Li Chen playfully tapped her nose: “You also watched 'lust, caution', even if you didn't like it.”
“But 'lust, caution' perfectly aligns with the aesthetic tastes of the 'perverted' jury panel.”
“Among these judges, there are several directors who are determined to push the boundaries of erotic cinema!”
“Ang Lee can be said to have played to their preferences.”
Miss Liu was stunned: “Really?”
Li Chen smiled: “It's as real as it gets, but it's not without any chance.”
“To quote Jiang Wen: 'I plan the deed, but the deed is done by strategy.'”
“It's up to Zhang Yimou!”
Liu Yifei understood and murmured: “People from Director Zhang’s generation should be quite conservative, right?”
Li Chen burst out laughing and pinched Miss Liu’s cheek: “Hmm, good point, I'll take your auspicious words.”
Lido Island Cinema Palace, the moment that tugged at everyone's hearts was finally approaching.
Zhang Yimou, with a slight hunch in his back, walked onto the stage step by step.
Zhang Yimou first spoke a few words: “This lion has kept me restless recently. Now that I’m finally giving it away, I can get a good night's sleep.”
The Chinese audience below the stage didn't expect Zhang Yimou to be humorous.
“The winner of this year's Best Film is — pieta!”
Deng Chao froze, dumbfounded: “We, we actually won it.”
Inside the Cinema Palace, applause and boos erupted simultaneously.
But outside the Cinema Palace, there was widespread jubilation.
Compared to Ang Lee, Li Chen, backed by the vast market of mainland China, was the true darling of countless film fans and media.
Los Angeles, Crystal Dock.
An excited Liu Yifei immediately hung onto Li Chen, giving her boyfriend several fierce kisses.
It was as if she had won an Oscar statuette.