‘Elephant’ wins top prize

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Zhang best director at Chinese ‘Oscars’

LOS ANGELES, Nov 18, (Agencies): The atmosphere on stage at the Golden Horse film awards ceremony in Taiwan on Saturday was politically-tinged. But the destination of the top prizes, at the event usually considered as the most prestigious for Chinese-language cinema, was largely predictable.

Powerful period drama, “Shadow” was the numerical winner, taking home four prizes, including best director for Zhang Yimou. “Shadow” had been the clear favorite, going in to the ceremony 12 nominations.

“An Elephant Sitting Still”, was named as best film and the audience award winner. The prize for best adapted screenplay was posthumously awarded to its mainland Chinese writer-director Hu Bo, who committed suicide in October last year, shortly after completing the movie. “Elephant” will now be entitled to a release in Taiwan, bypassing the island’s annual quota on mainland Chinese films.

Three other films won three prizes each: Taiwan’s “Dear Ex” won best actress (Hsieh Yin Xuan), best song and best film editing; mainland director Bi Gan’s “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, which is notable for an unbroken 40-minute 3D shot, won for cinematography, score and sound effects; while mainland China’s “Dying to Survive” picked up awards for best actor (Xu Zheng,) best new director (Wen Muye) and best screenplay. The only major prize for a film originating from Hong Kong, the Cantonese speaking territory which for decades was the leading center of Chinese commercial cinema, was Ben Yuen’s supporting actor award for “Tracey”.

While the “Dying to Survive” brand of politics – a comedy drama about a man on a crusade to import cheaper pharmaceuticals, it had an almost immediate impact on mainland Chinese government policy – is seen as just about politically correct, the more awkward kind was also on display during the five-hour ceremony.

The best documentary award went to “Our Youth in Taiwan”, a film about social activism and civil society. On stage, director Fu Yue used her platform not only to call for more theatrical releases for factual films, but also for Taiwan to be seen as an independent nation. That stance is vehemently opposed by China, which regards self-ruled Taiwan as a rebel province, with which it will inevitably be reunited, by force if necessary.

Fu said she would continue her acceptance speech on Facebook, a social media platform which is banned in China. By the next morning, her comments had received nearly 10,000 likes and 8,500 comments.

Winners: 

* Best Feature Film:  “An Elephant Sitting Still”

* Best Director: Zhang Yimou, “Shadow”

* Best Leading Actor: Xu Zheng, “Dying to Survive”

* Best Leading Actress Hsieh Ying-xuan, “Dear Ex”

* Best Supporting Actor:  Ben Yuen, “Tracey”

* Best Supporting Actress: Ding Ning, “Cities of Last Things”

* Best New Director:  Wen Muye, “Dying to Survive”

*  Best New Performer: Si Pangoyod, “Long Time No Sea”

*  Best Documentary: “Our Youth in Taiwan”

* Outstanding Taiwanese Filmmaker of the Year:  Saburo Liu

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