LOU YE

'Lou Ye' (), born 1965, is a Chinese writer-director who is commonly grouped with the "Sixth Generation" directors of Chinese cinema.^[1][2][3]

Contents

Films

Controversy

Filmography

Notes

External links

Films

Born in Shanghai, Lou was educated at the Beijing Film Academy. In 1993, he made his first film ''Weekend Lover'', but it was not released until two years later in 1995. Lou, however, did not gain international prominence until his second film, the neo-noir ''Suzhou River''. That film dealt with questions of gender identity and proved quite controversial upon its release in China. Upon its release, international audiences praised ''Suzhou River'', which several critics felt evoked Alfred Hitchcock's '' Vertigo'', particularly in how both films focus on a man obsessed with a mysterious woman.^[4][5]
In 2003, Lou Ye made the film ''Purple Butterfly'' starring Zhang Ziyi. The film, which took place during the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, with its tale of revenge and betrayal, as well as its complex narrative structure again borrowed heavily from the film noir tradition.
Lou's most recent film, '' Summer Palace'' which deals with two lovers in the backdrop of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, is the first Chinese Mainland film that features both male and female full frontal nudity.

Controversy

Lou Ye's films have proven controversial in their content, and often deal with issues of sexuality, gender, and obsession. PRC censors banned his first film ''Weekend Lover'' for two years, while his breakout film ''Suzhou River'' is still banned (with Lou receiving a 2 year ban from filmmaking).
Most recently, ''Summer Palace'' led to Lou's second ban from film-making, this time for five years. Indeed, though Lou submitted the film to the 2006 Cannes Film Festival as the only Asian film in competition for the Palme d'Or, he and his producers had not received approval from Chinese censors, thus instigating his official censure. The longer term of punishment is indication that it is Lou's second offense.^[6] Lou, however, has stated that the reason for the ban was for "technical reasons" in that the film was not up to the Beijing Film Bureau's standards for picture and sound quality.^[7]
He and the movie's producer were forbidden by to make any new films for five years.

Filmography

★ ''Weekend Lover'' ''(Zhou mo qing ren)'', 1995.

★ ''Suzhou River'', 2000.

★ ''Purple Butterfly'', 2003.

★ ''Summer Palace'', 2006.

Notes

1. Purple Butterly Valens, Grégory
2. Above Ground and Over His Head Hu, Brian
3. Above Ground and Over His Head The Daily Telegraph staff
4. Film Festival Review; A Chill Scene for Shadowy Characters A.O. Scott
5. Think Global, Act Local
6. China gives 'Palace' pair 5-year bans Variety Staff
7. 'Banned filmmaker' is a relative term Arthur Jones

External links

★

★ Lou Ye at the Chinese Movie Database