Why didn't Chen Kaige make a film with such high evaluation and good quality as Farewell My Concubine?

When filming Farewell My Concubine, Chen Kaige didn't have too many ideas at that time, and entered into pure creative passion. He and Xu Feng discussed how to make a good film. Bai Yu said, "I will coordinate the major issues of the production team. The communication between the director and the investors will be handled by the Northern Film Studio and the Film Bureau, and will be responsible for the film publicity.

Chen Kaige particularly emphasized the need to revise the script according to his own requirements, so the revision of the script became a very important part in Farewell My Concubine. At that time, Chen Kaige asked the characters in the play to live more and set the tone of the story as the relationship between the two in the past 5 years. " It can be a modern history spanning 5 years in China, and it can also describe the emotional relationship among these three people very deeply. So it is not only about China culture, but also about China people and China society. In 1991, Chen Kaige had a clear idea of influencing the international film industry. Therefore, when choosing the leading actor, his first thought was "inviting foreign stars" John Lone. Zunlong performed well in The Last Emperor and the Year of the Loong. Zhang Jincan, the executive director of the film, said that Chen Kaige thought John Lone was "more exotic and better dressed".

However, the conditions provided by John Lone brokerage company surprised the crew. For such a long time today, Zhang Jincan can list the requirements that surprised them at that time. First of all, because we don't know which country Zulong's movie will be released after it is turned on, the crew must book tickets for him in several countries at the same time. Secondly, John Lone's two dogs go in and out with him, so the general hotel can't stay. Thirdly, John Lone must be equipped with two bodyguards, two servants, a language teacher, a Putonghua teacher and a physical teacher. Fourthly, Zulong has to use mineral water from foreign countries or Hong Kong to wash his face and brush his teeth every day, not to mention food and drinks. That kind of feeling is that Chinese mainland's things can't make people live. Fifth, in order to equip campers, there must be requirements put forward by specialized tennis courts and swimming pool brokerage companies. In today's star system development, it may not be out of line, but for the "Farewell My Concubine" crew who first established contact with foreign stars, "I feel insulted, everyone is very excited about artistic creation, but someone has played such a big card". Finally, Chen Kaige, his father Chen Huaiai, photographer Gu Changwei, editor Reed and Zhang Jinzhen formed a five-person group to vote. Chen Kaige abstained and four others voted against it. Chen Kaige gave up the idea of choosing John Lone. Later, Farewell My Concubine became famous. After The Butterfly King, he went to China and met Zhang Jincan through Pierre Cardin's agent Song Huaigui in China. Zhang Jincan still "remembers his revenge". Upon hearing this, Zong Long said that he was wronged and explained that he didn't know the conditions offered by the brokerage company at first. "Goodbye, my concubine is great. I'm sorry I didn't attend.

Leslie Cheung, because of his dedication and sincerity, gave the cast a great surprise, and such strong confidence ran through the whole process of my farewell to my concubine. Chengdu actor Lei Han plays Cheng Dieyi's apprentice. He recalls that at that time, there was no concept of actor star system in the mainland, and the film rarely considered the market, so there was little pressure on actors and there was no fierce competition. Leslie Cheung brought the actor style in the mature market in Hong Kong. He is very serious. Some people think that the success of the play lies in Leslie Cheung's understanding of the role, which changed Chen Kaige's trajectory and promoted Chen Kaige's artistic thinking. "The play has all kinds of success factors, and it must be well done. "