In the business of theology it is hard not to be controversial - Jurgen Moltmann

Saturday 18 October 2008

謝晉 1923 - 2008 :: Xie Jin

Back in the 1980s when I used to watch quite a lot of mainland Chinese films, Xie Jin was my favourite Chinese director.  He passed away at his place of birth after attending the 100th anniversary of his alma mater.  Seems that his own life journey has embodied one of the key themes of his films — to return home.

 

 

謝晉(1923.11.23 - 2008.10.18)。

八十年代當我看不少中國(大陸)電影的年代,曾經是我非常喜愛的中國導演。

舞臺姐妹》(1965)在暗湧不絕的文革前夕,是不可多得的人性戲劇。

天雲山傳奇》(1980)是文革之後傷痕電影的代表作。還記得當年對馮晴嵐這個人物很是神往。(我是看了這部戲才懂得讀這個『嵐』字的 —— 謝謝文蘭芳老師。)

牧馬人》(1982)非常刻意地流露著一股我現在已經吃不消的愛國情懷,但當年竟然去戲院看了三次(是旺角南華戲院),有幾句對白,現在還背得出來。

到了《高山下的花環》(1984),感覺已經沒有那麼深刻。

記憶中最後看謝晉的電影,應該是《老人與狗》(1993),很灰,很沉,只覺得,謝晉失去了原來的動力。

我變了,對於謝晉後來的電影已經提不起興趣 —— 尤其是《鴉片戰爭》(1997)。(不過我倒覺得那部曾被港英政府禁映廿多年的《鴉片戰爭》(1959)十分精彩。)

話說回來,我跟謝晉前輩在工作上也曾經有差不多擦身而過的經驗 —— 十多年前,我們拍過一系列關於中國城市文化轉變的紀錄片,上海大學影視學院曾經在籌備階段給我們很大幫忙,當時的院長,正是謝晉。可惜,那時一直只跟副院長對口,無緣拜訪或者跟前輩碰面。

謝晉回到他出生的地方(浙江上虞),參加過他母校春暉中學一百周年校慶,然後就去了,像是以自己生命的開始和終結,呼應他電影裡的重要題旨。

落葉,歸根。

 

延伸Interview with Xie JinJump Cut 34, March, 1989, pp. 107-109)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing!

I really enjoy reading your blog.
Wish you all the best in teaching!

Milly

Anonymous said...

我无意中发现你的网站,好正呀!
有些topic我好有同感,所以忍吾住想留个我既blog link 比你.同你做个交流.
就系呢到啦:
http://millyinleeds.wordpress.com

我牟你甘有幽默感,写得吾及你精彩.:p

Milly

Yam 飲者 said...

Milly, thanks for stopping by and for your flattering; do come more often and leave a few words whenever you feel like doing so.