ON GOLDEN LOTUS 谈《中国金莲》2006
ON RETRIVING LOST IDENTIDY
I felt Chinese women’s story was hidden.
Chinese women’s identities were not clear,
or Chinese women’s voice were not heard by the world.
I felt I need to establish the dignity that they had but lost over the long period of time.
I felt this issue was understudied.
So that’s why I took like three or four years to do visual research,
almost from the anthropology’s point of view.
And then as a filmmaker,
I need to find beauty in ugliness,
and find truth in reality.
So for me its a journey of discovery.
And I am so glad that audience from around the world seems to embrace the story.
It is a story that really brings back memories of a lot of my audience who still have grandmas of their own
Some audience even embrace me in tears to really thank me for preserving this part of history.
This film has haunting effect. People will not forget about this film.
ON BONDAGE FREEDOM CREATIVITY
Golden Lotus is not just a story about foot-binding,
It’s a story on women’s creativity, women’s freedom,
actually it’s about art.
When you see our protagonist Yang Hui Xiu’s paper-cuts,
You will understand how free she was when she was doing her art.
This is why it is an enigma.
Women with bound feet, they were very good with their hands.
Since they were confined within a physical space,
they had to do something, so they were very good with embroidery.
That’s why each pair of shoes is the living testimony of the owner of the shoes.
Shoes are huge icon for that period of time.
ON SEEKING TRUE SELF
That was quite surprise that she gave me her shoes,
She left me with paper cuts,
I am obligated to tell her story to the world.
It is a story about Chinese women.
Perhaps women of all ages of all nationalities should look at the story
from the perspective of seeking freedom, seeking personal voice.
Because each of us has this true self in us.
ON WOMEN TODAY AND YESTERDAY
Today’s women are probably living too comfortably
They are not used to seeking something.
They didn’t have the need to really search for themselves.
That’s a dilemma of living today.
So, I am reminiscent about the past
Nostalgic in many ways
重建女性尊严
我觉得中国妇女的故事被岁月埋没
中国妇女的价值形象模糊
世界听不到中国妇女的声音
我想重新树立中国妇女的尊严
被岁月埋没的尊严
我觉得“缠足”这个主题研究不够
所以我用三四年时间做视觉调研
用近乎人类学研究的视角观察
但做为电影人 我必须从丑中发现美
在纷繁现实的表象下发现真实
拍《中国金莲》是又一个发现之旅
我非常欣慰世界各地观众都很珍视此片
这个故事的确唤起很多观众回忆
他们对自己奶奶的记忆
有些人含泪拥抱我
感谢我保存这段历史
这个故事好像有种摄魂效果
让人久久回味
禁锢 自由 创造力
《中国金莲》不止是缠足的故事
《中国金莲》是女性创造力女性自由的故事
它更是女性艺术的故事
当你看到主角杨会修的剪纸内容
你就会感受她创作时灵魂的自由
缠足的女性手很巧
当身体局限在特定空间
她们就需要表达的渲泄
他们很会刺绣
每一双绣鞋都是一个女性的生命见证
绣鞋变成这一传统的时代代言和象征
发现自我价值
我很惊喜杨奶奶送我绣鞋和剪纸
我有责任向世界陈述这个中国妇女的故事
其实世界不同年龄和文化的女性都能找到共鸣
每个人都在寻找生命自由和个人价值
今天女性与怀旧
今天的女性生活在舒适年代
一些人好像觉得无需寻找自我
也许不必寻找自我
这就是今天生存的困境
我倒有点感动于过去女性的奋争
有种怀旧情怀