In the film, the elements of history and present-day reality are both grounded in the notion of study. At the same time, the story shows the attitude of country people towards learning - essentially, an attitude of respect and veneration. All of this brings to mind the ways that Chinese people have reacted to "learning" at two particular moments in our modern history. The first of these was several decades ago. For purely political reasons, learning was cruelly devalued. Intellectuals suffered physical abuse and were made to "disappear." The second of these is today. Everyone now understands the principle that knowledge equals power, and yet so many of us are ultra-materialistic and obsessed with money. Learning is once again being devalued.

I want to use this film to take a fresh look at these fundamental issues in Chinese society and history.

Born in Xi'an, China in 1950, Zhang Yimou is indisputably one of the most acclaimed Fifth Generation filmmakers. Initially working as a cameraman for Zhang Junzhao (One and Eight, 1983) and Chen Kaige (Yellow Earth, 1984), Zhang Yimou made his directorial debut in 1987 with the award-winning film Red Sorghum (Berlin International Film Festival) and became an internationally acknowledged film auteur. His films JU DOU and RAISE THE RED LANTERN were Academy Award nominees. RAISE THE RED LANTERN won the Silver Lion and THE STORY OF QIU JU won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. In 1994, TO LIVE won the Grand Prix du Jury at Cannes...