Q&A: Chow Yun-Fat
The 'Curse of the Golden Flower' star opens up about starring in Zhang Yimou's royal Chinese action drama.
By Karl Rozemeyer
Photographed by Russel Wong
PREMIERE: What is the origin of the film?
CHOW YUN-FAT: The movie is based on an old period stage play, I think, from the early '30s, called Thunderstorm [that was] very popular in China. The director, Zhang Yimou, changed it to the Tang Dynasty... to make it more powerful and dramatic. The story happens within the royal family... The emperor himself is the idol of the people but once his wife has affair with his son — a taboo, especially for the Chinese people — he has to poison his wife slowly. He can't execute her right away.
Well, how would you describe your character? He's obviously involved in a power struggle with his queen and with his son.
Usually, Chinese emperors are self-centered. [He's] very, very direct, [and] very demanding and controlling. He's a very powerful man, but on the other hand he has an eldest son from his ex-wife [who] has an affair with his wife. He can forgive him because his son was abandoned when he was a child. [The emperor] had to go out to war, fighting against other countries. So now, it is time to take care of his son... [But] at the end of the movie he cannot believe that his son has another affair with his ex-wife's daughter! It's a very complicated plot. My character is a little bit like King Lear or like Hamlet. I think my son [in the film] is more like Hamlet.
This is an incredibly dramatic role for you. In the United States you're probably better known for John Woo movies, Anna and The King, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Do you think that this is going to change the perception of your image once it's released here?
In your language, you say always say "Act your age," right? For me now, I am over 50. I have to change my career and my performance. I cannot be a handsome [leading man] anymore. I cannot be Clark Gable or James Dean.
Well, there are a lot of Hollywood actors that still push that envelope well beyond your age.
But Chinese audiences don't think so. In our society, [if you are] over 50, you must play some uncle character or an old man character. You must retire [laughs]. So for people familiar with John [Woo]'s or Ang Lee's movies, I think it is good timing for me to have a little bit of a change in my performance, in my new career. I think it's good for the Western audiences to see a different Yun-Fat on the silver screen.
How did you hear about the project?
It was from one of our producers, Bill Kong. He approached me with this movie and so I sat down with the director and discussed the script about five times and then we started to put a lot of our effort in the movie. And I think Zhang Yimou is a very clever director [who] has a vision. He knows what he wants and we had a good time.
The sets and costumes are really incredible, including replicas from the Forbidden City and courtyards filled with flowers. What set impressed you the most?
The costume designer, Chung Man Yee, did a good job in this movie. He made a very heavy robe for me of more than 45 pounds, I think. It's like a full metal jacket.
What happened to the masive Forbidden City set once the film was finished?
Oh, no, the set is always there. Because a lot of T.V. series and a lot of the movies made in China need this kind of Forbidden City set. In China, we have this kind of setting like the real Forbidden City in more than 3 or 4 locations. You don't have to pay anything, you just shoot there, live in the hotel, and they provide everything for you. Oh, incredible, just like in Universal Studios. And they welcome tourists to visit [the sets] as well.
It's interesting that you'll be continuing to work with John Woo. You're going to be doing The Battle of Red Cliff with him next, is that right?
I'd thought the time was coming for me and John to reunite to make a Chinese movie again. And of course, he's had a good time in Hollywood and also a bad time in Hollywood. So I think this is good timing for him to take a look and take a rest on mainland China and rejuvenate himself in his own movie culture.
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