In 1991, director Chen Kaige and actors Zhang Guorong and Zhang Fengyi put "Farewell to the Overlord" on the screen. After the film was released, it won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the Best Screenplay Award.
The movie succeeded, but the story behind the movie is little known.
In 1988, when Ms. Xu Feng, a well-known investor, purchased the film rights from the original author of "Farewell to the King", the author proposed the only condition: Cheng Dieyi must be performed by Zhang Guorong, otherwise it will not be sold.
To this end, director Chen Kaige flew to Hong Kong to find Zhang Guorong in the case that the script had not yet been adapted, and talked with him about "Farewell to the Overlord" and Cheng Diyi. The two talked for 2 hours, during which Zhang Guorong had been smoking and did not say a word.
Just when Chen Kaige was nervous, Zhang Guorong said to him, "I am Cheng Dieyi."
Zhang Guorong's participation, a stone in the heart of the original author can be counted as falling to the ground, this is a dream of hers, she wants to write a classic for her idol.
The original author is Li Bihua.
In the 1990s, she often appeared on the Chinese film list.
Li Bihua is undoubtedly a successful writer and screenwriter. However, such a versatile person is rarely mentioned online. Rumors circulate on the Internet are of her own photographs, none of which are true.
Li Bihua is such a low-key and mysterious writer.
Li Bihua, formerly known as Li Bai, was born into a large family with a large population. His grandfather was a famous squire in Hong Kong, married a 4-room wife, and even had a concubine.
Since she was a child, she has lived in an old building with wooden stairs, and she has heard a lot of old things, like a folding play. These became the material and inspiration for her future creations.
Li Bihua has loved literature and art since childhood, and has published many works when he was a student. In 1976, Li Bihua not only became a reporter for Wenji Monthly, but also mainly responsible for interviews with characters. She also wrote a column for the Oriental Daily, while writing novels.
During this period, a series of classic novels were born in her pen, such as "Farewell to the Overlord", "Green Snake", "Rouge Buckle", "Seduction monk", "Kawashima Yoshiko" and so on. These classics have also been put on the screen.
Li Bihua's people are mottled with lust, and they are secretive. The ghosts in the pen are pure and miserable, persistent and unrepentant. The demon in the pen, the charm of the charm, the heart of the child. The love she wrote about was either violent, fiery, or poignant and miserable, and painful to the heart.
Writing these lingering love stories, in the reader's view, Li Bihua needs a lot of time to conceive.
However, she said, "I never deliberately write, all the scenes, associations, what I see, what I think, are all unconsciously generated when I write." ”
This is exactly the same when Li Bihua answered the media interview.
There was a media interview with Li Bihua, how did he write about these loves, and what kind of connotations did he want to express?
Li Bihua replied: "As soon as the inspiration comes, I will write it, and when I want to understand it, and then write it after thinking through it, then I don't have to write anything." ”
In the history of Hong Kong cinema, Li Bihua is also a well-known figure. But only a few people have seen her. It's possible that she passes in front of you and you don't recognize it. In the eyes of everyone, Li Bihua seems particularly "different".
In "No Defense Tonight", Zhang Guorong, Huang Xia, Ni Kuang and others talked about Li Bihua and said that they only heard his name and did not see his person, which attracted everyone's speculation. Zhang Guorong, who is familiar with her, said that Li Bihua looked very ordinary.
Ni Kuang said that Li Bihua put a large pair of scissors in his backpack, which startled him. Asked how she hid the scissors in her backpack, Li Bihua replied that it was self-defense.
There was a photo on the Internet, which was a photo of a girl and Zhang Guorong, suspected that Zhang Guorong took a group photo when filming "Farewell to the Overlord". The girl in the photo wears a pair of round glasses with thin borders, which looks particularly literary and intellectual.
Many people believed it to be true, believing that the girl was Li Bihua, and circulated it one after another.
Li Bihua learned of the existence of the photo through a friend, and she did not intend to clarify it, and did not want to see people misled, which in turn affected the lives of the girls in the photo.
She clarified in her blog: "The girl with the glasses is not me, don't spread false rumors, but also affect others, she is innocent and has her own name and private life." ”
The true and false news on the Internet makes everyone confused. Even Tian Qinxin, who belonged to the same circle, could not recognize Li Bihua.
Tian Qinxin is a well-known drama director in mainland China. Once, she received a phone call, and the person on the other end of the phone claimed to be Li Bihua.
Hearing this introduction, she was stunned, she was not sure if it was the Li Bihua she had in mind. So, she carefully asked, "Which Li Bihua, is that writer Li Bihua?" ”
After hearing the other party's confirmation, Tian Qinxin confirmed her identity. Originally, Li Bihua called Tian Qinxin in the hope that Tian Qinxin could put "Green Snake" on the stage of the drama.
It was this phone call that allowed us to see the wonderful performances of Yuan Quan and Qin Hailu on the stage.
People always hope to see more news about Li Bihua in the media, but she lives like an invisible person. I can't see her related news on the Internet, and I don't even have a little gossip about catching wind and shadows.
On May 24, 1993, in the star-studded Cannes, "Farewell to the King" won the Palme d'Or and the Best Screenplay Award.
Chen Kaige and Li Bihua attended the ceremony. However, only Chen Kaige was seen on the report, but no Li Bihua was seen.
Xu Ke's "Green Snake" original and screenwriter are all her, and she can't find more news about Li Bihua, only the three words "Li Bihua" are on the side.
In the entertainment circle of Vanity Fair, gossip is rampant, entertainment is everywhere, and the famous Li Bihua cannot find a photo on the Internet, without any rumors. This is the result of her deliberate guidance, but also the result of personality.
Li Bihua has seen many people in the entertainment industry, living under the spotlight, losing his freedom, and has no privacy at all. Even if it is a simple trip, it needs to be disguised, and she does not want her life to become like this.
Li Bihua prefers to have his own space, to do whatever he wants, without disguise, without caring about the views and comments of the outside world. When she found someone photographing her, she would ask others not to shoot.
Over time, there was no news of her on the Internet. To understand her dynamics, you can only wait until a new book is released or a text interview report.
Li Bihua will produce about 4-5 books a year. When it was time to publish the book, she personally went to the publishing house to discuss the typesetting and other matters with the editors. But she never does new book promotions, or does speeches, meets with readers, etc.
Chen Zhiquan, manager of Hong Kong Tiandi Book Publishing House, once complained about Li Bihua. He repeatedly persuaded her to attend the press conference, but Li Bihua's answer was always rejected, which made him love and hate.
After decades of cooperation with Tiandi Books, very few publishers know Li Bihua. After the new book is listed, she will come to the book fair, just quietly, and quietly go.
In the face of such a talented woman, the crowd is more curious about her?
Chen Zhiquan said, "She is just an ordinary middle-aged lady. Like passers-by on the street, nothing special. Editor Wu Huifen said, "Li Bihua does not like to dress up, only about comfort." ”
Li Bihua said, "I am just an ordinary person, it is difficult to recognize in the crowd, there is nothing to be curious about." ”
Li Bihua only wants to be an ordinary person, who can walk freely in the world and quietly enjoy the fireworks in this world.
You can walk freely through the streets and alleys without any disturbance; if you want to eat raw fried buns, you can go to Xiao Yangsheng to fry a big meal, don't care if the eating phase is elegant.
Laugh out loud if you want to laugh, cry when you want to, don't suppress yourself, don't force a smile; have your own space, feel free to do what you want to do, and don't have to be watched.
Do not care about the aura, not too much pursuit of fame and profit, although Li Bihua is low-key, it does not mean that she is weak and deceitful.
In 2014, the screenwriting industry was in constant conflict, and the most eye-catching was Li Bihua and Reed. The two are both well-known big names in the screenwriting industry, and they have a dispute over the copyright of "Overlord Farewell".
"Farewell to the Overlord" is adapted by Li Bihua and Reed. In 1988, Li Bihua signed a contract with Tomson Xu Feng for the rights to the film and screenwriter.
Li Bihua has adapted three versions of the script for "Farewell to the Overlord". Before the film began, under the matchmaking of Wu Tianming, Reed joined in.
In order to adapt the script, Li Bihua personally flew to Beijing and participated in the adaptation of the script. There is also the "Overlord Farewell" that we see later.
The film was a huge success, and the screenwriting award was also included. Reed is even more invincible with "Farewell to the Overlord".
In an interview, Reed talked about the script of "Farewell to the Overlord", claiming to have made a fundamental adaptation of the original work, resetting the plot and character relationships, and having a large number of original elements.
He said that the adapted script has nothing to do with Li Bihua, and he will publish his adapted script.
After li bihua learned the news, on April 22, through a lawyer, he issued a statement saying that Reed did not own the copyright of the film script, and the copyright belonged to Tomson.
He also said that "Overlord Farewell" is a good achievement produced by the sincere cooperation of the team in front of the stage and behind the scenes, and it is not allowed for one person to exaggerate the greed for himself.
After the statement was issued, it triggered a big wave of regulus. The next day, Reed publicly apologized to Li Bihua in the media because his inappropriate remarks misled the readers, hoping to get Li Bihua's forgiveness. At the same time, it also shows that the publication of the script is only a personal idea, and if it is published, it will definitely consult with Li Bihua.
Li Bihua's counterattack came quickly and fiercely, denouncing Reed's greed and using the law to protect his own interests.
Walking the rivers and lakes, she has her own bottom line. She cannot tolerate false slander and infringement, and once discovered, she is bound to express her attitude.
When it comes to infringement, what Makes Li Bihua most resentful is pirated books. She has personally visited and investigated her own works, learned in detail how many authentic and pirated copies she has, and even the price and printing quality have been clearly investigated.
Although you can't refuse piracy, you have to understand it yourself and know it in your heart.
Behind Li Bihua's low profile, in fact, there has always been a bottom line, once it touches his bottom line, he will shine the sword, show his attitude, and never be ambiguous.
Wang Anyi wrote in "Love and Love in Hong Kong": "Hong Kong is a big encounter, a miracle encounter. It is the carnival of a group of people, throwing out its enthusiasm and music to the fullest. ”
And Li Bihua, who is also a member of this encounter, she looks at it coldly and uses her pen to outline all kinds of love. Therefore, Li Bihua is also known as "Hong Kong Zhang Ailing".
Someone always compares them together. However, Li Bihua said: "I am only a reader of Zhang Ailing, and I dare not compare with her? Writers are independent. ”
Zhang Ailing said, "Fame should be early. ”
Li Bihua believes: "The pursuit of life is nothing more than 'freedom' and 'happiness'. ”
Only by losing freedom can we realize the preciousness of freedom. In the entertainment industry, which is bright and beautiful in appearance, it is normal to have different appearances. Li Bihua saw more stars involuntarily, unhappy and unfree.
From this, she said that she was pursuing freedom and happiness.
She is willing to be an ordinary person, free and unrestrained, watching the four times changing, tasting the fireworks of the world. Don't live to show others, only live to see yourself, don't have to be liked by the whole world, just be a person who likes yourself.
There's a classic line in The Shawshank Redemption: Everyone is busy, busy living, busy dying.
In this materialistic and complicated society, busy is the main theme and desire is the master. Everyone is trapped in time and cannot retreat, cannot stop.
The free and happy life was originally what it was in the beginning, and later it became Li Bihua's wish, and it also became our wish. It's just that Li Bihua did it, and we are still toiling.
. END .
【Text| Yu 】
Edit | Daniel Lee]
【Typography | Drizzle】
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