Huo Jianqi (Chinese: éœ å»ºèµ·; born January 20, 1958) is a Chinese
film director. Like the cinematographer turned director Gu Changwei,
Huo Jianqi began his cinematic career in the art department. Nearly
all of Huo's films have been written by his wife and collaborator, Qiu
Shi, who works under the name "Si Wu." Unlike many of his
contemporaries (and predecessors), Huo rarely has had issues with the
Chinese government regarding his films, leading some western critics
to label him the "darling director of China's film bureaucracy."Huo
attended the Beijing Film Academy in the early 1980s as part of the
"Fifth Generation" (which also included directors like Zhang Yimou and
Chen Kaige). After graduation, he worked as an art director, including
on films such as Tian Zhuangzhuang's The Horse Thief (1986). Huo's own
career as a director did not begin, however, until 1995 with The
Winner and would not achieve true international success until his 1999
film, Postmen in the Mountains. The simple tale of a father and son
traveling through the mountains of Hunan delivering mail proved a
success in both China, where it eventually won the Golden Rooster for
best film, best director, and best actor Teng Rujun, and abroad in
foreign festivals. Upon its release in the United States, the film was
praised by critics for its sincerity, critic Roger Ebert noted that
the film was "so simple and straightforward that its buried emotions
catch us a little by surprise." Huo repeated that film's success with
his subsequent project, including 2000's A Love of Blueness and 2002's
Life Show (which won the Golden Goblet for best film at the Shanghai
International Film Festival).Huo scored another success with his
adaptation of author Mo Yan's The White Dog and the Swing, entitled
Nuan. The film, starring Guo Xiaodong and Li Jia in the titular role,
won the Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival, as well
as another best picture Golden Rooster.
film director. Like the cinematographer turned director Gu Changwei,
Huo Jianqi began his cinematic career in the art department. Nearly
all of Huo's films have been written by his wife and collaborator, Qiu
Shi, who works under the name "Si Wu." Unlike many of his
contemporaries (and predecessors), Huo rarely has had issues with the
Chinese government regarding his films, leading some western critics
to label him the "darling director of China's film bureaucracy."Huo
attended the Beijing Film Academy in the early 1980s as part of the
"Fifth Generation" (which also included directors like Zhang Yimou and
Chen Kaige). After graduation, he worked as an art director, including
on films such as Tian Zhuangzhuang's The Horse Thief (1986). Huo's own
career as a director did not begin, however, until 1995 with The
Winner and would not achieve true international success until his 1999
film, Postmen in the Mountains. The simple tale of a father and son
traveling through the mountains of Hunan delivering mail proved a
success in both China, where it eventually won the Golden Rooster for
best film, best director, and best actor Teng Rujun, and abroad in
foreign festivals. Upon its release in the United States, the film was
praised by critics for its sincerity, critic Roger Ebert noted that
the film was "so simple and straightforward that its buried emotions
catch us a little by surprise." Huo repeated that film's success with
his subsequent project, including 2000's A Love of Blueness and 2002's
Life Show (which won the Golden Goblet for best film at the Shanghai
International Film Festival).Huo scored another success with his
adaptation of author Mo Yan's The White Dog and the Swing, entitled
Nuan. The film, starring Guo Xiaodong and Li Jia in the titular role,
won the Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival, as well
as another best picture Golden Rooster.
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