Renowned French actress Sophie Marceau recently expressed her admiration for Chinese cinema, drawn by what she sees the growing influence of China's movies around the world.
Marceau, the ambassador of the sixth Hainan Island International Film Festival, has long been hailed as the "French Rose." She gained international recognition at the age of 14 with her breakout role in the film "La Boum."
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Sophie expressed her excitement at being the ambassador for this year's Hainan Island International Film Festival and shared her plans for her involvement during the event.
"I have a lot of interviews and master classes to do. I'm enjoying traveling with cinema and meet other movies. I'm happy to be part of it," said the actress.
Marceau's connection to China dates back to 1985 when she visited with her film "La Boum." In 2014, she appeared on the Spring Festival Gala, singing "La Vie en Rose."
Reflecting on her relationship with China, she shared her appreciation for the warm welcome she has received.
"It just happened. 'La Boum' was a great success in a lot of countries and especially Asia and then China, and I was invited to come here. I had no idea of anything. I just followed the flow. I got here and I felt good, people were so welcoming and so nice. Then we kept in touch. We grew together because I've been around for a while now. I did other movies that also were very much appreciated here, and I was curious to come here and know more about [everything], and so to me it's like a natural story actually," she said.
As one of the first people in the French film industry to visit China and a key figure in promoting exchanges between the China and France film industries, Marceau also spoke highly of the growing popularity of Chinese films in France.
"We're very fond of Chinese movies in France. A lot of them are coming to our festivals. A lot of them are well known all over the world, even the most Chinese and historical [ones]. I'm thinking of 'The Assassin', for example, Hou Hsiao-Hsien, it's very like the ancestral part of China. It has its codes and everything. But the cinematography is wonderful. The way he directs actors, the way he sees the movie. It's like a masterpiece, so we can only be amazed and [Chinese movies] somehow influence us," she said.
The sixth Hainan Island International Film Festival is taking place from Dec 4 to 10 in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, bringing together filmmakers, critics, journalists and movie lovers from around the globe for a cinematic event themed "From Oceans, With Visions".
French actress Sophie Marceau expresses admiration for Chinese cinema
A contemporary Chinese art exhibition has been held at the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest, playing a vibrant role in fostering cultural ties between the East and the West. The exhibits, including brush paintings and sculptures on mountains, rivers, plants, blend traditional brushwork with Western influences, creating a serene, meditative atmosphere.
The artists' deep connection with the natural world is a window that the "Chinese Xieyi exhibition'' at the Hungarian National Museum presents to the public to explore Chinese philosophy, according to Tunde FegyvAri-Komori, curator of the Hungarian National Museum.
"This exhibition is a collection of 58 artworks, including four sculptures from 58 different artists, from the National Art Museum of China's collection. And they represent modern and contemporary artworks, partly reflecting back to the traditional Chinese painting and Chinese art, and partly reflecting to Western influences in art, which mostly started arriving in China after the 1970s and the 80s," said FegyvAri-Komori.
Much of the exhibition showcases traditional Chinese brushwork, where delicate strokes create intricate designs and meanings that express deep philosophical meanings, allowing viewers to experience the world from their perspective.
"The Chinese curators constructed the exhibition around these three topics and these three main aspects to approach Xieyi itself. The first one is called 'yi', which translates as meaning. This focuses on the essence of the topic. The second one is form, which in Chinese is 'xing,' and it's quite similar to meaning, but from a different approach. They are focusing on the form itself that they see, but they are not aiming at mirroring reality. The third one is called 'interest,' or in Chinese called 'qu.' And in this last part, I would say that it's a combination of the first two," said FegyvAri-Komori.
One standout piece is a sculpture that blends mythology and modern art, depicting Lao Tzu departing from the Qin Empire (221 BC to 207 BC), carrying the wisdom that shaped Taoist thought with him. The ox-head panther he rides symbolizes mysticism and the spiritual journey, adding another mythical dimension to the work.
"It expresses Xieyi very well, but at the same time, it also expresses a little bit of Western modern art, abstract art," said FegyvAri-Komori.
For many visitors, the exhibition is a chance to experience the dynamic evolution of Chinese art.
"My father had several books about Chinese art, about porcelains, ceramics, and paintings. It always struck me how different it is from our European tradition. There's a subtlety and sensitivity in it. The way they express emotions feels so unique and profound," said Daniel, a visitor.
The exhibition, part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and China, celebrates cultural exchange and shared appreciation for art and culture.
Contemporary Chinese art expo held in Hungary helps cultivate ties between east and west
