Zhang Yimou facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zhang Yimou
张艺谋
Zhang in 2023
Born	(1950-11-14) 14 November 1950 (age 74) Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Nationality	China
Alma mater	Beijing Film Academy
Occupation	Film director, producer, cinematographer and actor
Known for	One of the representative figures of China's "fifth generation directors"
Notable work	Full River Red House of Flying Daggers Cliff Walkers The Flowers of War
Spouse(s)	Xiao Hua (肖华) ​ (m. 1978⁠–⁠1988)​ Chen Ting (陈婷) ​ (m. 2011)​
Children	4, including Zhang Mo
Awards	Zhang Yimou § Notes

Zhang Yimou
Zhang's name in Simplified (top) and Traditional (bottom) Chinese characters
Simplified Chinese	张艺谋
Traditional Chinese	張藝謀
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhāng Yìmóu Bopomofo ㄓㄤ ㄧˋ ㄇㄡˊ Wade–Giles Chang1 I4-mou2 IPA [ʈʂáŋ î.mǒu̯] Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Jēung Ngaihmàuh IPA [tsœ́ːŋ ŋɐ̀i.mɐ̏u] Jyutping Zoeng1 Ngai6-mau4

Zhang Yimou (simplified Chinese: 张艺谋; traditional Chinese: 張藝謀; pinyin: Zhāng Yìmóu) is a famous Chinese filmmaker. He was born on November 14, 1950. He directed his first movie, Red Sorghum, in 1987. This film won a big award called the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Since then, Zhang Yimou has become one of China's most important directors. He is known as a leader of the "Fifth Generation" of Chinese filmmakers. His movies are popular with both critics and audiences around the world. He also directed the amazing opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. These ceremonies were praised by people everywhere.

Many of Zhang's early films showed the strength of everyday people. Examples include To Live (1994) and Not One Less (1999). Later, with movies like Hero (2002), he started making big, exciting blockbusters. His films often use bright, beautiful colors, as seen in Raise the Red Lantern (1991) and House of Flying Daggers (2004). His movie Full River Red (2023) is his highest-earning film so far in China. Zhang Yimou has received honorary degrees from Yale University and Boston University. In 2022, he became a special professor at the Beijing Film Academy.

Early Life and Education

Zhang Yimou was born in Xi'an, China, on November 14, 1950. His father was a doctor, and his mother was also a doctor. Because of his family's background, Zhang faced some challenges when he was young.

During a period called the Cultural Revolution in China, Zhang stopped his school studies. He worked as a farm laborer for three years. Then, he worked at a cotton factory for seven years. During this time, he started painting and taking photos as a hobby. He even sold his own blood to buy his first camera! In 1978, he was accepted into the Beijing Film Academy to study how to film movies. He later received special honorary degrees from Boston University and Yale University.

Filmmaking Journey

Starting in Film

When the Beijing Film Academy reopened in 1978, Zhang Yimou was 28 years old. This was older than the usual age limit for new students. But he was very talented. With help from relatives and famous artists, his photography work impressed the Minister of Culture. So, he was allowed to join the academy. He graduated in 1982 with other students who would become famous. This group became known as the "Fifth Generation" of Chinese directors. They helped bring new life to Chinese cinema after the Cultural Revolution.

After graduating, Zhang worked as a cinematographer. He helped film movies like One and Eight and Yellow Earth (1984). These films were very successful and showed the world a new kind of Chinese movie. Yellow Earth is often seen as the first film by the Fifth Generation directors. In 1985, Zhang also acted in the film Old Well. He won an award for Best Actor at the Tokyo International Film Festival for this role.

Breakthrough Films of the 1980s

In 1988, Zhang Yimou directed his first movie, Red Sorghum. It starred Gong Li, who became a famous actress. The movie was a big hit with critics and won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival. This made Zhang a well-known director around the world.

He also directed Ju Dou (1990), which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. This was the first Chinese film to receive such an honor.

Masterpieces of the 1990s

After Ju Dou, Zhang directed Raise the Red Lantern (1991). This film was set in the 1920s and showed life in a rich family. It also starred Gong Li and was praised internationally for its beautiful colors. It was also nominated for an Academy Award.

In 1992, Zhang directed The Story of Qiu Ju, again starring Gong Li. This film won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. His 1994 film, To Live, told the story of ordinary Chinese people facing big changes. It won the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

Zhang's 1999 film, Not One Less, won him his second Golden Lion prize in Venice. That same year, he directed The Road Home, which introduced the young actress Zhang Ziyi to the screen.

Blockbusters and Beyond (2000s-Present)

In 2002, Zhang directed the epic martial arts film Hero. It featured many famous Asian stars like Jet Li and Zhang Ziyi. The movie was a huge international success and was nominated for an Academy Award.

He followed Hero with another martial arts epic, House of Flying Daggers, in 2004. This film was also praised for its stunning visuals and use of color. In 2006, he worked with Gong Li again on Curse of the Golden Flower.

Zhang's films and his work on the Olympic ceremonies have sometimes caused discussion. Some people felt his later works were too approved by the Chinese government. However, Zhang has said he is not interested in politics. He felt it was a great honor to direct the Olympic ceremonies. In 2018, his film Shadow received many awards, including Best Director at the Golden Horse Awards. His most recent films include Cliff Walkers (2021) and Full River Red (2023).

Stage Productions

Besides films, Zhang Yimou has also directed many stage shows. In 1998, he directed the famous opera Turandot in Florence and later in Beijing. He also directed a ballet version of his film Raise the Red Lantern in 2001.

He has also co-directed several outdoor musical shows called Impression. These shows combine music, dance, and beautiful scenery. They include Impression, Liu Sanjie and Impression West Lake. In 2006, he directed the opera The First Emperor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Olympic Ceremonies

Zhang Yimou played a key role in the Olympic Games. He directed the Beijing parts of the closing ceremonies for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Most famously, he directed both the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He also directed the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.

His work on the Olympic ceremonies was highly praised. Steven Spielberg, a famous director, said that Zhang's ceremonies showed the idea of "harmony and peace," which is the spirit of the Olympic Games.

Artistic Style

Zhang Yimou is known for his strong visual style. He focuses on how things look, using elements like composition, color, and lighting. He uses these visual tools to show emotions and ideas in a powerful way.

He is very good at using simple colors to create deep meaning. For example, in Red Sorghum, the color red represents things like fresh blood and strong desires. His films often explore big social topics and modern ideas.

Some people praise his beautiful visuals and how he brought Chinese films to Western audiences. Others have said that he sometimes changed his style to appeal to Western viewers.

Personal Life

Zhang Yimou has been married twice. His first wife was Xiao Hua, and they had a daughter named Zhang Mo. They divorced in 1988. He later married Chen Ting in 2011. They have two sons and a daughter.

In 2013, it was revealed that Zhang Yimou and Chen Ting had more children than allowed by China's family planning rules at the time. They were fined a large amount of money for this. Zhang Yimou cooperated with the authorities and accepted the consequences.

Zhang Yimou also had a long business partnership with a producer named Zhang Weiping. They worked together on many films for 16 years. However, they had disagreements and ended their partnership in 2012. Since then, Zhang Yimou has filed lawsuits to get unpaid earnings from their past work.

Filmography

Director

Cinematographer

Actor

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

• 

  Zhang Yimou directing

• 

  Zhang Yimou at the Hawaii International Film Festival in 2005

See also

In Spanish: Zhang Yimou para niños

• Mou girls
• Cinema of China
• Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize
• Zhang Jigang