1980 My literary era

In the 1980s, it was not just the cultural sector that was opening up in China, but the entire country.

Discussions and struggles about routes have never stopped.

Lin Weimin is in the literary world and naturally knows something about these.

However, he is not interested in politics and has always avoided various activities, so he basically does not get involved with the disturbances from the outside world.

The publication of "Burning" in China angered some pro-Western literati and intellectuals. Lin Weimin was not surprised at all. What surprised him was that Cheng Wuchun and the Border Agency came to talk to him one by one.

The storm is coming!

The leader didn't say anything, and Lin Weimin didn't ask any more questions. He just waited for the results. He just hoped that if there were any problems, he wouldn't be touched.

Before November came, Lin Weimin moved from Shichahai Courtyard to Tuanjiehu Apartment.

That night, as he was cleaning up, the phone rang.

When he picked up the phone, it was Teng Jinxian.

"Teng Ju, why did you call me when you had time?" Lin Weimin asked.

"I have something important to ask you. Come to our bureau tomorrow."

Less words mean bigger things.

Lin Weimin had a good relationship with Teng Jinxian. When they were on the phone, he didn't even bother to joke around, so this must be something serious.

The next morning, Lin Weimin took a leave of absence and ran to the film bureau.

"You can't talk about anything on the phone. You're acting like the sky is about to fall." Lin Weimin said.

"If it's not a big deal, I definitely can't trouble you to make a trip. It's really not convenient to talk over the phone."

Teng Jinxian explained to him before talking about the purpose of calling Lin Weimin this time.

The chairman of the Venice Film Festival jury and the famous Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci recently came to China.

Bernardo Bertolucci became famous in the 1960s, but by the time he reached middle age in the 1980s, Bertolucci fell into a creative low period. Between 1982 and 1986, his works were not popular in Italy. There is still almost no splash in the European market.

So Bernardo Bertolucci set his sights on foreign countries, intending to find new inspiration from the blending of different cultures.

This time Bertolucci came to China, and by virtue of his status as the chairman of the Venice Film Festival jury and a member of the Communist Party, he successfully contacted people in the government departments and proposed his idea of ​​making a movie about China.

Bertolucci, a well-known Western director, wanted to shoot movies in China. Naturally, the government was not happy before it was too late. Teng Jinxian, as the director of the Film Bureau, naturally came into contact with Bertolucci.

At first, Bertolucci originally planned to shoot the novel "The Destiny of Man" by the French writer Malraux. Malraux was not only a writer, but also a former French Minister of Culture. He had a special liking for China, and many of his works were based on it. With the Chinese revolution as its background and theme, it has made great contributions to promoting cultural exchanges between France and China.

The work "Destiny of Man" is a relatively famous work in Europe, which is why Bertolucci chose this novel to adapt into a movie.

But during his contact with Teng Jinxian, Bertolucci heard about a script he wrote about the last emperor of China, and became interested.

After reading the script, he was even more excited and proposed to Teng Jinxian the idea of ​​making a movie based on this script.

Teng Jinxian is naturally happy. Bertolucci's coming to China to make movies will play a publicity role in the country.

Although "The Destiny of Man" is also about China, it is a novel written by a French person after all. It would be great if Bertolucci could film a script written by a Chinese person.

But Teng Jinxian also knew that Lin Weimin had made a lot of contributions to the script "The Last Emperor". If Bertolucci was going to film "The Last Emperor", Teng Jinxian would definitely communicate with Lin Weimin.

After Lin Weimin heard Teng Jinxian explain the situation, he felt a little surprised. He calculated the time and found that the movie "The Last Emperor" seemed to have been released in 1988. This time is really right.

"If a great Western director like Bertolucci is willing to make a movie about China, I naturally welcome it."

Lin Weimin knew that Teng Jinxian called him here today just to make a statement, and besides, it was indeed a good thing, so he naturally agreed.

With Lin Weimin's statement, Teng Jinxian was very happy, "This is really great."

"But..." Lin Weimin said again at this time.

"But what?" Teng Jinxian looked at Lin Weimin.

"Will our publicity and censorship departments have control over the content of the film?"

Teng Jinxian was surprised that Lin Weimin would mention this issue and said, "Why would you ask that?"

Lin Weimin nodded and said, "I went to the United States some time ago."

"I've heard others talk about this."

"When I was in New York, I met a Hollywood producer named Laurentiis. He was preparing to make a movie called "Taipan."

Teng Jinxian clapped his hands and said: "I was in charge of this movie at the time. They approached the government and hoped that the government would allow them to shoot in China and provide assistance. In the end, the matter was handed over to Pearl Film Studio."

He sighed again: "I didn't expect that Mr. Lin, you have such a wide network of contacts abroad. You even know the producers in Hollywood."

"It's just a coincidence." Lin Weimin explained, and then said: "The reason why I mentioned the movie "Taipan" is to remind you. I don't know Bertolucci's acting style, but Hollywood people When people make movies about our country, they still follow their own inherent thinking patterns and values, which may sometimes cause unnecessary trouble."

Lin Weimin's words were cryptic, but Teng Jinxian had already understood what he meant.

His face became serious, and after pondering for a moment, he said: "You are right to raise this question. We should really pay attention to this aspect of review."

Lin Weimin nodded. He just fulfilled his duty of reminding him, and he couldn't control any more things.

"Laurentis also talked to me about the adaptation of Farewell My Concubine, and I rejected it."

Teng Jinxian asked in confusion: "Why? Even if the way of thinking is different, it is still a good thing if the work is adapted and made influential."

"If it were anyone else, I might consider it. But I'm afraid Laurentiis is not good at this subject. You will know when "Taipan" is released."

Hearing what Lin Weimin said, Teng Jinxian felt a little worried.

At that time, they agreed that "Taipan" should be shot in China in the hope that the film would have a publicity effect abroad. However, according to Lin Weimin, not only would it not have a publicity effect in the end, but it would also have negative effects.

"The filming of "Big Class" is almost finished now!" Teng Jinxian said with a bit of melancholy.

"It's okay. It's just a movie. No matter how great the impact is, it will be limited after all. You will gain wisdom after every experience you take!" Lin Weimin said with a smile.

Teng Jinxian glanced at Lin Weimin helplessly, "You guys should have told me earlier!"

"In a few days, the bureau is going to hold a symposium on "The Last Emperor". You might want to come."

"Isn't it right? Do you also hold symposiums with foreigners?"

Teng Jinxian's expression was slightly embarrassed, "Of course the name cannot be called a symposium. To the outside world, it is called a literary salon. Find a conference room in the Yanjing Hotel to get some food. The actual nature is still the same."

"Teng Ju, are you suspected of flattering the great director?" Lin Weimin teased.

Teng Jinxian glared at Lin Weimin, "You know nothing! Mr. Bertolucci is a revolutionary comrade and has standing value."

"Yes, yes, you are right!"

This guy gets angry from shame, but you must not fight him.

A few days later, Yanjing Hotel.

The small conference room had been temporarily packaged, and it lacked some administrative atmosphere, so it looked quite acceptable.

Those who came today are all important figures in the domestic film industry and cultural circles.

There are "double thank yous" Xie Jin and Xie Tieli in the film industry. Cheng's father, the famous film critic Zhong Dianre, also came, and even Mr. Wan was invited.

Lin Weimin was a little surprised to see Mr. Wan. He had not visited Mr. Wan recently and stepped forward to say hello to the old man.

Mr. Wan asked: "Why are you here?"

"Teng Ju asked me to come. Bertolucci was going to film "The Last Emperor", and I polished the script for Teng Ju."

Mr. Wan looked surprised. He had never heard Lin Weimin mention this before. He chatted with Lin Weimin for a few words about the specific content of the script. Before the conversation could go on in depth, he saw Teng Jinxian pulling a big-nosed foreigner wearing a beret away. Come over.

"Mr. Bertolucci, this is our country's famous playwright Comrade Wan Jiabao, and this is his student Comrade Lin Weimin, who is also one of the screenwriters of "The Last Emperor".

Although I wrote the first draft of "The Last Emperor", it was Comrade Lin Weimin who really made the script sublime. Many of the scenes you mentioned in the script before were handled by him.

Lin Weimin, like his teacher, is also an outstanding playwright. Not only has he written many popular plays in our country, but his works have also appeared on Broadway in the United States.

At the same time, in terms of film script creation, this year the film "Lover" adapted from his work and written by him won the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival. "

Teng Jinxian praised Lin Weimin generously, and the translator on the side repeated Teng Jinxian's words sentence by sentence, which made Bertolucci's eyes light up.

He fell in love with the story the first time he saw the script of "The Last Emperor", otherwise he would not have given up on the original plan and prepared to film this script instead.

Therefore, he naturally admired Lin Weimin as a screenwriter. He did not expect that Lin Weimin's resume would be so rich, and his creative tentacles would even extend into the American drama world.

After the pleasantries, Bertolucci couldn't wait to talk to Lin Weimin about the script of "The Last Emperor".

Teng Jinxian accompanied Mr. Wan and chatted with others. Mr. Wan did not feel ignored at all because of Teng Jinxian's lengthy introduction to Lin Weimin.

On the contrary, when Teng Jinxian introduced Lin Weimin, he always had a proud smile on his face.

"You have always accepted a good student!" Teng Jinxian said flatteringly.

Mr. Wan smiled kindly and said, "People often say that!"