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) is a famous Chinese film director, screenwriter, and sometimes an actor. He was born on May 22, 1966. He is known as one of the "Sixth Generation" of Chinese filmmakers. This group of directors started making movies in the 1990s. They often show how China was changing very quickly. Their films also look at how people's lives were affected by these changes.

Many of Wang Xiaoshuai's movies are special because they show the feelings and lives of teenagers and young people. Some of his well-known films include Beijing Bicycle, So Close to Paradise, Drifters, and Shanghai Dreams. In 2008, his film In Love We Trust was a bit different, focusing on problems in a marriage.

In 2010, Wang Xiaoshuai received an important award from France called chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. This award honors people who have made great contributions to art and literature. He also helped judge films at the BigScreen Italia Film Festival in 2006.

Early Life and Education

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

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

His Film Career

Starting Out as a Director

After finishing film school, Wang Xiaoshuai worked for a short time in the official Chinese film system. But he soon decided to make his own independent films. His first movie, The Days, was made in 1993. He filmed it on weekends in Beijing, and his friends acted in it. The movie was about two artists.

The Days became popular outside of China. It showed that Wang was a new and important director. However, the Chinese authorities were not happy with the film. In April 1994, they banned six filmmakers, including Wang. Because of this, Wang made his next film, Frozen, under a different name, "Wu Ming," which means "no name" or "anonymous." This film was shot in 1994 but was not released until 1997.

After some time, 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 Wuhan, where he had lived as a child. The story was about two workers who get involved in a kidnapping. This was the first time Wang worked with the official Chinese film authorities. Even then, the movie 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 movie was simpler and aimed to pass the censors easily.

Gaining International Fame

Even though Wang Xiaoshuai had made several films, he became truly famous around the world with Beijing Bicycle. This movie came out in 2001 and won a special award called the Silver Bear Jury Grand Prix at the Berlin Film Festival. Critics loved the story about a young person looking for their stolen bicycle. Many people noticed it was similar to a famous Italian movie from 1948 called Bicycle Thieves.

After the success of Beijing Bicycle, Wang made Drifters in 2003. This film was shown at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. In 2005, his movie Shanghai Dreams was also chosen for the main competition at Cannes and won the Prix du Jury award.

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. His next film, 11 Flowers, also won an award.

Films Directed by Wang Xiaoshuai

Films Wang Xiaoshuai Acted In

Films Wang Xiaoshuai Produced

See also

In Spanish: Wang Xiao-shuai para niños