(Busan) Zhang Yimou, the Chinese director appointed as the jury chair for the competition section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), shared his thoughts on the attitude of creators when dealing with historical events.
On the morning of October 7, a press conference for the competition jury was held at the Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae. The event featured jury chair Zhang Yimou, along with directors Bikan, Jeong Juri, Ishikawa Kei, actress Samal Yeslyamova, and producer Tran Thi Bich Ngoc.
During the conference, Zhang was asked about the recent controversy surrounding the film 'Assassins' and the approach creators should take when addressing historical works.
Zhang stated, "It is difficult to express the relationship between historical truth and creation in just a few words or a short time. I believe creation is creation, and it may not always be based on facts. We often talk about going beyond life while being grounded in it in the film industry."
He continued, "I haven't seen the film in question, but I have heard about it. I think we should consider it from the audience's perspective, and there can be debates about whether historical facts are indeed true or not. This aspect is what makes the film interesting and appealing."
Zhang added, "While respecting creators, we must acknowledge that history is a distant story being told through an artistic form. I believe history approaches us through art, and each audience member will have different feelings about it. Not everyone may agree with the audience's opinions, but I think that itself is the charm of cinema."
Previously, the film 'Assassins' faced backlash for its portrayal of the assassination attempt on former First Lady Yuk Young-soo on August 15, 1974, which sparked a controversy over historical distortion.
The controversy escalated into a serious social issue, fueled by fierce criticism from political circles and conservative groups, leading to severe online harassment directed at the actors involved. Ultimately, due to safety concerns, the production company requested the cancellation of all official events planned for the Busan International Film Festival, including actor Lee Min-ho's solo event 'Actors House,' as well as the attendance of the director and lead actors at the opening ceremony red carpet, outdoor stage greetings, and free public screenings.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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