Wang Xiaoshuai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wang Xiaoshuai
王小帅
Wang Xiaoshuai at the Berlinale 2019
Born	(1966-05-22) May 22, 1966 (age 59) Shanghai, China
Alma mater	Beijing Film Academy
Occupation	Film director, screenwriter, actor, film producer
Years active	1993-present
Movement	Sixth Generation
Awards	Golden Alexander 1993 - The Days Silver Bear - Jury Grand Prix 2001 - Beijing Bicycle Jury Prize 2005 - Shanghai Dreams Silver Bear for Best Screenplay 2008 - In Love We Trust
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	王小帥
Simplified Chinese	王小帅
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Xiǎoshuài

Wang Xiaoshuai (Chinese: 王小帅; Chinese: 王小帥; pinyin: Wáng Xiǎoshuài) was born on May 22, 1966. He is a famous Chinese film director, screenwriter, and sometimes an actor. He is known as one of the "Sixth Generation" of filmmakers in Cinema of China. This group of directors often makes movies about modern life in China.

Unlike older Chinese filmmakers who focused on history, Wang Xiaoshuai likes to show how China is changing quickly. His films often look at how people live in cities and how global changes affect them. Many of his movies show the lives of teenagers and young people. Some examples are Beijing Bicycle, So Close to Paradise, Drifters, and Shanghai Dreams. His 2008 film In Love We Trust was different, as it explored problems in a marriage.

In 2010, Wang was given an important award from France called chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He also helped judge the BigScreen Italia Film Festival in 2006.

Early Life and Education

Wang Xiaoshuai was born in Shanghai in 1966. He spent his early years, until he was 13, in Guiyang. This was because of big changes happening in China during the Cultural Revolution. While living in Guiyang, Wang became very interested in painting and started to study it.

In 1979, his family moved to Wuhan. When he was 15, Wang moved to Beijing. There, he went to the Central Art Academy Middle School to continue studying painting. Later, he decided to study directing at the Beijing Film Academy.

Filmmaking Career

First Steps in Film

After finishing film school, Wang Xiaoshuai worked for a short time in China's official film system. But he soon decided to make movies on his own. His first film, The Days (1993), was an independent movie. He filmed it on weekends in Beijing with his friends acting in it.

This film became well-known outside of China. It showed that Wang was a new and important director. However, Chinese authorities were not happy with it. In April 1994, they banned Wang and five other filmmakers from making movies. Because of this ban, Wang made his next film, Frozen, under a different name, "Wu Ming," which means "anonymous." This movie was filmed in 1994 but was not released until 1997.

After a period of reflection, Wang was allowed to make films again. His next movie, So Close to Paradise (1998), was different from his earlier ones. Instead of Beijing, he filmed it in his childhood city of Wuhan. The story was about two workers who get involved in a kidnapping. This was the first time Wang worked with the Chinese film authorities. But even then, the film faced many changes and was only shown a little in China after many years.

In 1999, Wang made a family comedy called The House. This film was a simpler movie. He made it to avoid problems with the film studio after the difficulties with So Close to Paradise.

Gaining International Fame

Even though Wang had made several films, he became truly famous around the world with Beijing Bicycle. This film won the Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix award at the Berlin Film Festival. Critics loved the story of a young person looking for his stolen bicycle. Many compared it to the famous 1948 Italian film Bicycle Thieves.

After Beijing Bicycle was a success, Wang made Drifters (2003). This film was shown at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Later, his film Shanghai Dreams (2005) won the Prix du Jury award at Cannes.

In 2008, Wang's film In Love We Trust (also known as Left Right) premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. This modern drama about a divorced couple won a Silver Bear for Best Screenplay. Wang's next project, 11 Flowers, also won an award called the Pusan Promotion Prize.

In 2010, Wang was honored with the chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres award.

Filmography

As Director

As Actor

As Producer

See also

In Spanish: Wang Xiao-shuai para niños