Tian Zhuangzhuang facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tian Zhuangzhuang
Tian at 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	(1952-04-23) 23 April 1952 (age 73) Beijing, China
Alma mater	Beijing Film Academy
Occupation	Film director, producer, actor and professor at Beijing Film Academy
Years active	1980–present
Parent(s)	Tian Fang (father) Yu Lan (mother)
Awards	Tokyo Grand Prix 1993 The Blue Kite San Marco Prize 2002 Springtime in a Small Town Jin Jue for Best Director 2007 The Go Master
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	田壯壯
Simplified Chinese	田壮壮
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Tián Zhuàngzhuàng IPA [tʰi̯ɛ̌n.ʈʂu̯âŋʈʂu̯âŋ]

Tian Zhuangzhuang (Chinese: 田壮壮) was born in April 1952 in Beijing, China. He is a famous Chinese film director, producer, and actor.

Tian grew up with parents who were well-known actors in China. After serving a short time in the military, Tian started his artistic journey. He began as a photographer and then became an assistant cinematographer at the Beijing Agricultural Film Studio.

In 1978, he joined the Beijing Film Academy. He graduated in 1982 with classmates like Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou. This group of filmmakers became known as the Fifth Generation film movement. Tian Zhuangzhuang was a very important part of this movement.

Tian's early films included experimental documentaries like On the Hunting Ground (1985) and The Horse Thief (1986). He also made more popular movies such as Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch (1991). In 1991, Tian started working on The Blue Kite (1993). This film led to him being unable to make movies for almost ten years.

He returned to directing with Springtime in a Small Town (2001). In the 2000s, Tian Zhuangzhuang became a leading figure in Chinese cinema again. He directed films like the true-story movie The Go Master (2006) and the historical action film The Warrior and the Wolf (2009). Since his break from directing, Tian has also helped new directors by producing their films.

Early Life and Beginnings

Tian Zhuangzhuang was born on April 23, 1952, in Beijing. His father, Tian Fang, was a famous actor who later became the head of the Beijing Film Studio. His mother, Yu Lan, was an actress who ran the Beijing Children's Film Studio.

Because his parents were very busy, Tian was mostly raised by his grandmother. Their important positions meant he had a comfortable childhood. However, during a difficult time in China called the Cultural Revolution, his parents faced challenges. Tian Zhuangzhuang himself was sent to the countryside in Jilin, like many young people from well-known families.

Even though his family was in the film industry, Tian didn't first plan to follow in their footsteps. In 1968, he joined the People's Liberation Army and served for three years. There, he met a war photographer who taught him about cameras. After working as a photographer for five years, Tian decided to try cinematography. He found a job as an assistant cinematographer at the Beijing Agricultural Film Studio.

Professional Film Career

Starting His Career

In 1978, after three years at the studio, Tian applied to the Beijing Film Academy. He was accepted into the directing department because of his age.

While at the academy, Tian directed a short student film called Our Corner (1980). This film was based on a story by Shi Tiesheng. Our Corner is considered the first film made by the Fifth Generation directors. Even years later, professors at the Beijing Film Academy would show Our Corner to new students.

Because of his role in Our Corner and his earlier film experience, Tian became a natural leader among the students. They admired his talent and his loyalty to friends, especially Hou Yong. Hou Yong later became his cinematographer for many of Tian's early movies.

After graduating in 1982, Tian was assigned to the Beijing Film Studio. However, he spent his early career making films for other studios. These included TV shows and the children's film Red Elephant (1982), which he co-directed.

Gaining International Attention

Tian became known around the world with two experimental films in the mid-1980s. These were On the Hunting Ground (1985) and The Horse Thief (1986). Both films were about ethnic minority groups in China.

Even though these films were praised abroad, they were not popular in China. For example, On the Hunting Ground sold very few copies. Both films were also criticized by the government and traditional groups. They said the films were only for foreign audiences. Tian disagreed, saying films were for people who appreciated art.

After these criticisms, Tian made more commercially successful films. These included Street Players (1987), Rock 'n' Roll Kids (1988), and Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch (1991). Tian has since said that these films were part of a period where he directed projects that already had funding and scripts.

In 1998, Tian received a Prince Claus Award. This award comes from an international organization in Amsterdam that supports culture and development.

Challenges and Return to Directing

Many of Tian's early films had faced criticism from the Chinese government. For example, his short film Our Corner was not shown on TV. His first major film, September (1984), had parts removed by censors.

However, Tian faced serious problems after making his film The Blue Kite (1993). This movie quietly showed the difficult effects of government policies in the 1950s and 1960s. The Beijing Film Studio refused to let the film be sent abroad for final editing. It is said that The Blue Kite had to be secretly taken out of the country by Tian's friends. It was then shown at international film festivals without official permission.

Because of this controversy, Tian left his job at the Beijing Film Studio in March 1994. A month later, he was one of six filmmakers who were not allowed to make films by the government. This ban officially lasted until 1996, but Tian did not direct another film for several more years.

During this time, he focused on producing films for new Chinese directors. He helped filmmakers like Huo Jianqi with The Winner (1995) and Lu Xuechang with The Making of Steel (1996). Tian also acted in The Making of Steel. He continued to help young talents like Ma Liwen and Ning Hao in the 21st century.

After about nine years away from directing, Tian returned with Springtime in a Small Town (2002). This film was a remake of an older Chinese movie. It was a small, personal story with only five characters. Some critics thought Tian was trying to "play it safe" after his ban. However, the film was still highly praised.

In 2004, Tian returned to making films about China's ethnic minorities with Delamu. This was a documentary filmed in Yunnan and Tibet. After that, he directed The Go Master (2006), a movie about the famous Chinese Go player, Go Seigen.

Tian's most recent work as a director is the historical epic The Warrior and the Wolf (2009). This film was shot in China's remote Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The actress Tang Wei was originally supposed to star in it, but she was replaced by Maggie Q.

Filmography

As a Director

As a Producer

As an Actor

See also

In Spanish: Tian Zhuang-zhuang para niños

• The Fifth Generation - the 1982 class of the Beijing Film Academy
• Hou Yong - Tian's classmate and cinematographer on many of his films