Lou Ye

Infobox Person


image_size = 150px
name = Lou Ye
娄烨
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birth_date = 1965
birth_place = Shanghai, China
death_date =
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occupation = Director, Screenwriter
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Lou Ye (zh-stpw|s=linktext|娄|烨|t=linktext|婁|燁|p=Lóu Yè|w=Lou Yeh), born 1965, is a two-time Palme d'Or nominated Chinese writer-director who is commonly grouped with the "Sixth Generation" [cite web | url = http://www.filmfestivals.com/cgi-bin/fest_content/festivals.pl?debug=&channelbar=&lang=en&year=2003&fest=cannes2003&page=films&partner=&film_id=6878 | title = Purple Butterly | accessdate = 2007-04-30| author = Valens, Grégory |date= 2003 | publisher = FilmFestivals.com] [cite web | url = http://www.asiaarts.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=20198
title = Above Ground and Over His Head | accessdate = 2007-04-30| author = Hu, Brian |date= 2005-02-03 | publisher = Asia Pacific Arts] [cite web | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2002/06/28/bfsfs28.xml
title = In the Realm of Censors | accessdate = 2007-04-30| author ="The Daily Telegraph " Staff|date= 2006-02-28 | publisher = "The Daily Telegraph"] directors of Chinese cinema and is currently banned from filmmaking by the Chinese government for five years as a result of controversy surrounding his film, "Summer Palace".

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 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. [cite web | url = http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C02E4D7123DF936A15750C0A9669C8B63 | title = Film Festival Review; A Chill Scene for Shadowy Characters | accessdate = 2007-02-23 | author = Scott, A.O. |date= 2000-03-25 | publisher = "The New York Times"] [cite web | url = http://www.villagevoice.com/film/0012,global,13426,20.html | title = Think Global, Act Local | accessdate = 2007-02-23 |date= 2000-03-20 | publisher = "The Village Voice"]

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, have made waves both for its sexual and political contents.

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.cite web | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117949488.html?categoryid=1442&cs=1 | title = China gives 'Palace' pair 5-year bans | accessdate = 2007-02-20 | author = "Variety" Staff |date= 2006-09-04 | publisher = "Variety"] 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. [cite web | url = http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=features2007&content=jump&jump=story&dept=berlin&nav=FBberlin&articleid=VR1117958975
title = 'Banned filmmaker' is a relative term| accessdate = 2007-04-29 | author = Jones, Arthur |date= 2007-02-08 | publisher = "Variety"]

He and the movie's producer were forbidden by to make any new films for five years.

Filmography

References

External links

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* [http://www.dianying.com/en/person/LouYe Lou Ye] at the Chinese Movie Database
* [http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/28/28463/1.html Interview] with Lou Ye at Telepolis (German)