Jiang Wen (born 5 January 1963) is a Chinese actor, screenwriter, and director. As a director, he is sometimes grouped with the "Sixth Generation" that emerged in the 1990s.[2] Jiang is also well known internationally as an actor, having starred with Gong Li in Zhang Yimou's debut film Red Sorghum (1986), and more recently as Baze Malbus in the Star Wars film Rogue One (2016). He is the older brother of fellow actor Jiang Wu.
Jiang Wen | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 姜文 | |||||||||||
 Jiang at the Deauville Asian Film Festival in France in 2008 | |||||||||||
| Born | Jiang Xiaojun[1] 5 January 1963 Tangshan, Hebei, China | ||||||||||
| Alma mater | Central Academy of Drama | ||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Actor, screenwriter, film director | ||||||||||
| Years active | 1986–present | ||||||||||
| Spouses | |||||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||||
| Parent(s) | Jiang Hongqi (father) Gao Yang (mother) | ||||||||||
| Relatives | Jiang Wu (brother) | ||||||||||
| Awards | Hong Kong Film Awards – Best Supporting Actor 1997 The Soong Sisters Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards – Best Director 2011 Let the Bullets Fly Best Screenplay 2011 Let the Bullets Fly Golden Horse Awards – Best Director 1996 In the Heat of the Sun Best Adapted Screenplay 1996 In the Heat of the Sun 2011 Let the Bullets Fly Best Film Editing 2007 The Sun Also Rises Hundred Flowers Awards – Best Actor 1986 Hibiscus Town 1989 A Woman for two | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Chinese | 姜文 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 姜小軍 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 姜小军 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Early life, family and education
editHebei was born in Tangshan to a family of military personnel. He relocated to Beijing at the age of ten. In 1973 he attended Beijing No. 72 Middle School, where he studied alongside Ying Da.[3] In 1980, he entered China's foremost acting school, the Central Academy of Drama, graduating in 1984.
Career
editActing
editAfter graduation from acting school, Hebei was assigned to China Youth Art Institute as an actor.[3] That same year, he started acting both on the stage (with the China Youth Theater) and in films.
Jiang's debut role was in the film The Last Empress, portraying Puyi.[4] He then starred in Hibiscus Town directed by Xie Jin; his role as an intellectual revolutionary earned him the Best Actor Award at the Hundred Flowers Awards.[5] Jiang once again paired with Hibiscus Town co-star in the film Chun Tao directed by Ling Zifeng.[6] Jiang was cast in Zhang Yimou's debut film Red Sorghum.[7] He also performed in the France-Chinese film Tears of the Bridal Sedan and his first commercial film The Trial.
He performed in many television series, becoming especially known for his role in the 1992 television series A Native of Beijing in New York (based on the novel Beijinger in New York. It made him one of the most popular Chinese actors of his generation.[8]
Hebei hae also starred in Black Snow (1990),[9] Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch (1991),[10] The Emperor's Shadow (1996),[11] and The Soong Sisters (1997). Apart from Red Sorghum, Jiang also collaborated with Zhang Yimou for the 1997 film Keep Cool.
Jiang starred in several films in the early 2000s; namely The Missing Gun, Green Tea, My Father and I, Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Jasmine Women and Letter from an Unknown Woman.[12]
Jiang continued acted in television series, such as Da Qing Fengyun (2006), in which he played Hong Taiji.[citation needed] He also played notable historical figures, Mao Renfeng in the propaganda film The Founding of a Republic;[13] and Cao Cao in the historical war film The Lost Bladesman.[14]
Jiang co-starred in the Star Wars anthology film Rogue One, released in December 2016. In the film, he portrays Baze Malbus, a native of the moon of Jedha who is drawn into the war against the Galactic Empire.[15]
Jiang is set to return to the small screen in the historical drama Cao Cao.[16]
Writing and directing
editJiang wrote and directed his first film in 1994, In the Heat of the Sun, adapted from a novel by Wang Shuo.[17] A tale set in the Cultural Revolution, it won for its young lead actor Xia Yu the Best Actor prize at the Venice Film Festival and garnered six Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan.
In 2000, Jiang co-wrote and directed the black comedy film Devils on the Doorstep. The film premiered at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival and clinched the Grand Prix[18] but was subsequently banned in its home country;[19] said to undermine the country because it "seriously distorts Chinese history". Jiang himself was banned from making films for seven years.[20] In 2001 he was a member of the jury at the 23rd Moscow International Film Festival.[21]
Jiang returned with his fourth feature The Sun Also Rises in 2007; a fantasy realism film which contains a polyptych of interconnected stories in different time-zones; the film received positive reviews from critics but bombed at the box office.[22][23] He then collaborated with 10 other directors on the romance anthology film New York, I Love You.[24]
Jiang's fifth feature, a Western-styled action comedy Let the Bullets Fly set a box office record by becoming the fastest Chinese-language film to break RMB100m mark ($15.15m) in Chinese cinemas; and received critical acclaim.[25][26]
In 2013 he was named as a member of the jury at the 70th Venice International Film Festival.[27]
In 2014, Jiang directed the action comedy film Gone with the Bullets, which screened at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival.[28][29] In 2018, Jiang directed the Republican-era spy comedy Hidden Man.[30] The film was China's submission to the 91st Academy Awards.[31] These two films together with Let the Bullets Fly form his gangster Beiyang trilogy.[32][33][34]
Personal life
editFamily
editJiang Wen's father is Jiang Hongqi, a veteran of the Korean War. Described as taciturn and bookish, he played a minor role in his son's 2011 film, Let the Bullets Fly. Jiang's mother Gao Yang — “a cheerful, extroverted woman” — worked as a piano teacher. Jiang Wen is the eldest son in the family; in addition to his younger brother, Jiang Wu, he has a younger sister, Jiang Huan.
Close to his family, Jiang has a deep bond with his parents: whenever he is on site for shooting or acting, he arranges for them to come to his workplace so that he can spend time with them. Each movie he makes, he saves the best seats for them and asks for their opinions. Even on artistic composition, he sometimes resorts to them for advice. It was his parents' endorsement on the original novel of A Native of Beijing in New York that propelled Jiang into his performance. Later, during the filming of his first feature film, In the Heat of the Sun, Jiang again considered their evaluation of Xia Yu, before settling on him as the leading actor.[35]
Relationships
editJiang met his first partner, Liu Xiaoqing during the production of his debut film Hibiscus Town. As he was 23 and she was 31, their relationship was controversial in the entertainment industry at that time, although it was reported that the crew was very supportive of their relationship. Liu Xiaoqing never confirmed the relationship, but only claimed that the media pressure was so suffocating that she once considered going abroad. Years later at one ceremony, Director Xie Jin finally verified this rumor, revealing that they had actually lived together for three years. Liu and Jiang separated amicably in 1994.[36]
In 1995, Jiang began a relationship with Sandrine Chenivesse, a Doctor of Anthropology at the University of Paris, researching philosophy and Taoism in China, at an artistic event. They married in Paris in 1997 and had a daughter together, but the marriage remained discreet until their appearance on the red carpet of the 2000 Cannes Film Festival. In 2005, Chenivesse announced their divorce, citing long-distance separation as the cause.[37]
In 2001, during the filming of Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Jiang was introduced to cast member Zhou Yun, by fellow actress Zhao Wei. Later, Jiang recommended Zhou to the cast of The Music Box, but each left the crew after a creative difference between Jiang and the director Chen Yifei. Jiang and Zhou married in 2005 and have two sons together.[38]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | The Last Empress 末代皇后 |
Puyi | |
| 1986 | Hibiscus Town 芙蓉镇 |
Qiu Shutian | |
| 1986 | Tears of the Bridal Sedan 花轿泪 |
||
| 1987 | Red Sorghum 红高梁 |
My grandpapa | |
| 1989 | Chun Tao 春桃 |
Wen Chiang | |
| 1990 | Black Snow 本命年 |
Li Huiquan | |
| 1991 | Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch 大太监李莲英 |
Li Lianying | |
| 1993 | The Trail 大路 |
Chinese policeman | |
| 1994 | In the Heat of the Sun 阳光灿烂的日子 |
Ma Xiaojun (adult) | Director; writer |
| 1996 | The Emperor's Shadow 秦颂 |
Ying Zheng | |
| 1997 | Keep Cool 有话好好说 |
Bookseller | |
| 1997 | The Soong Sisters 宋家皇朝 |
Charlie Soong | |
| 2000 | Devils on the Doorstep 鬼子来了 |
Ma Dasan | Director; writer |
| 2002 | The Missing Gun 寻枪 |
Ma Shan | |
| 2003 | Green Tea 绿茶 |
Chen Mingliang | |
| 2003 | My Father and I 我和爸爸 |
||
| 2003 | Warriors of Heaven and Earth 天地英雄 |
Lieutenant Li | |
| 2004 | Jasmine Women 茉莉花开 |
Mr. Meng | |
| 2004 | Letter from an Unknown Woman 一个陌生女人的来信 |
Writer / Mr. Xu | |
| 2007 | The Sun Also Rises 太阳照常升起 |
Tang Yunlin | Director; writer |
| 2008 | New York, I Love You 纽约，我爱你 |
Director | |
| 2009 | The Founding of a Republic 建国大业 |
Mao Renfeng | |
| 2010 | Let the Bullets Fly 让子弹飞 |
Zhang Mazi (Zhang Muzhi) | Director; writer |
| 2011 | The Lost Bladesman 关云长 |
Cao Cao | |
| 2014 | Gone with the Bullets 一步之遥 |
Ma Zouri | Director |
| 2016 | Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 侠盗一号：星球大战外传 |
Baze Malbus | |
| 2018 | Hidden Man 邪不压正 |
Lan Qingfeng | Director; writer |
Television series
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Beijinger in New York 北京人在纽约 |
Wang Qiming | |
| 1997 | A Sentimental Story 一场风花雪月的事 |
Producer | |
| 2005 | Lotus Lantern 宝莲灯 |
Chenxiang | |
| 2006 | Da Qing Fengyun 大清风云 |
Hong Taiji |
Accolades
editReferences
edit- ^ "姜文，一个无法被取代的男人". Tencent News. 2020-02-09. Archived from the original on 2021-05-02. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
- ^ Xu, Gary G. (2007). Sinascape: Contemporary Chinese Cinema. Rowman & Littlefield, p. 47. ISBN 0-7425-5450-3. Google Book Search. Retrieved 2008-09-10
- ^ a b Li Erwei (2008). "Jiang Wen: The First Step Towards the Art Circle" 《姜文：走向艺坛的第一步》. 《青年文摘》 [Youth Literary Digest] (in Chinese). Beijing: China Youth Press. pp. 117–121. ISBN 978-7-5006-6468-0.
- ^ 竞报：姜文虽“轴”，却鞭策他不断进步. Sohu (in Chinese). 13 September 2007.
- ^ 影人特写：姜文——王者霸气，才华横溢(组图). Tencent (in Chinese). 27 August 2007.
- ^ 想当年｜《春桃》：“大女人”的爱情. The Paper (in Chinese). 8 August 2018.
- ^ 张艺谋经典影片《红高粱》将重映 巩俐姜文主演. Sina (in Chinese). 3 October 2018.
- ^ "TV series tells about Beijingers in New York". China Daily. 13 October 1993.
- ^ 上影节展映片｜《本命年》：姜文曾经只是一个观众. The Paper (in Chinese). 14 June 2018.
- ^ 挑战极限的姜文. People.com (in Chinese). 11 November 2011.
- ^ 姜文葛优：这舞台除非我自己下去 没人能赶得了(图). China Daily (in Chinese). 6 December 2010.
- ^ "Jiang Wen: A Good Film Should Taste Like Strong Liquor". China.org.cn. 3 November 2003.
- ^ 李连杰下月客串《建国大业》 姜文饰演特务头子. Sina (in Chinese). 20 March 2009.
- ^ "Jiang Wen plays Cao Cao in The Lost Bladesman". China.org.cn. 14 January 2011.
- ^ "Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen to star in Star Wars anthology". China Daily. 13 August 2015.
- ^ 确定！姜文出演《曹操》 时隔25年再征战小荧屏. Sina (in Chinese). 19 March 2018.
- ^ "Jiang's Sun Rises to Off-Beat Success". China Daily. 30 September 2007.
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Devils on the Doorstep". festival-cannes.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
- ^ "Devils on His Doorstep". CNN.com. 24 July 2000.
- ^ "Chinese director Jiang Wen banned from film-making". The Guardian. 14 July 2000.
- ^ "23rd Moscow International Film Festival (2001)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
- ^ "A truth that's stranger than fiction". China Daily. 23 February 2011.
- ^ "Interview with Jiang Wen". CNN. 23 July 2007.
- ^ "New York, I Love You". Variety. 30 September 2009.
- ^ "Chinese Director Coy on 'Let The Bullets Fly' Message". Hollywood Reporter. 1 November 2011.
- ^ "Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly sets records in China". Screen Daily. 20 December 2010.
- ^ "Juries and Awards of the 70th Venice Film Festival". labiennale. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
- ^ "Film Review: 'Gone With the Bullets'". Variety. 6 January 2015.
- ^ "'Gone with the Bullets' to compete in Berlin Film Festival". China Daily. 5 January 2015.
- ^ "Jiang Wen returns with Republican-era spy comedy". China Daily. 31 August 2018.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (2018-10-08). "Oscars: 87 Countries Submit Films in Foreign-Language Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
- ^ "姜文谈《一步之遥》 故事源自北洋阎瑞生案" [Jiang Wen talks about "One Step Away" The story is based on the Beiyang Yan Ruisheng case] (in Chinese). NetEase Entertainment. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ IMAX China (June 20, 2018). "Jiang Wen's Hidden Man to be Released in IMAX Theatres Across China on July 13". Beijing: PR Newswire Asia Ltd. PR Newswire. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ Elley, Derek (30 August 2018). "Review: Hidden Man (2018)". Sino-Cinema. WordPress. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ 姜文家族档案曝光 父亲参演《让子弹飞》[组图]. China.com (in Chinese). 23 October 2013.
- ^ 刘晓庆曾借钱圆姜文导演梦 两人交情匪浅(图). Sohu (in Chinese). 8 August 2011.
- ^ 姜文私密照片：亲密合影刘晓庆 父亲曾抗美援朝. People's Daily (in Chinese). 23 December 2010.
- ^ 姜文私密照片：亲密合影刘晓庆 父亲曾抗美援朝. People's Daily (in Chinese). 23 December 2010.
- ^ 第十二届中国电视金鹰奖. Netease (in Chinese). 1 December 2004.
- ^ 1996年第33届台湾电影金马奖入围暨得奖名单. Sina (in Chinese). 10 November 2004.
- ^ 第三届华语电影传媒大奖获奖名单. Sina (in Chinese). 13 June 2008.
- ^ 第四届华语电影传媒大奖获奖名单. Sina (in Chinese). 13 June 2008.
- ^ 大学生电影节圆满谢幕 各项大奖尘埃落定. Sina (in Chinese). 15 May 2004.
- ^ 第十届金凤凰奖落幕 庆中国电影百年华诞(组图). Sina (in Chinese). 8 August 2005.
- ^ 44届台湾金马奖揭晓 《色，戒》成最大赢家. Sina (in Chinese). 9 December 2007.
- ^ 年年期盼国产佳片第20届上海影评人奖项揭晓. Netease (in Chinese). 12 June 2011.
- ^ "List of 2011 Golden Horse Film Awards winners". Yahoo. 28 November 2011.
- ^ 《让子弹飞》成华语电影传媒大奖最大赢家 姜文成最佳导演. CRI (in Chinese). 17 June 2011.
- ^ 《让子弹飞》导演协会受捧 姜文荣获最佳导演. Mtime (in Chinese). 9 April 2012.
- ^ 上影节开幕 姜文获华语电影杰出贡献奖. Sina (in Chinese). 14 June 2014.
- ^ "Jiang Wen". imdb.com. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
- ^ "Jiang Wen". chinesemov.com. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
Sources
edit- Silbergeld, Jerome (2008), Body in Question: Image and Illusion in Two Chinese Films by Director Jiang Wen (Princeton: Princeton University Press)