Yimou Quotes

Zhang Yimou is an artist. Sometimes we did only two or three shots a day because we were waiting for the sun.

Zhang Yimou tried to use martial arts to talk about Chinese culture, Chinese people. What do they think, what do they want and what do they hope.

Zhang Yimou is one of the best directors on mainland China.

Zhang Yimou is always going to need young, pretty girls for his films. But I don`t really concern myself with what Zhang Yimou`s next starlet looks like.

Hero (2002) was the first time I had ever worked on a mainland Chinese production. It was great to work with such a good cast that included Maggie, Jet Li, Chen Daoming, and Zhang Ziyi. I was particularly excited to work with Yimou, a director whose work I have always admired. When I first heard the story, I thought of Kurosawa`s Rashomon (1950). At that time, Yimou gave me a choice of playing the narrator, like Leslie Cheung did in Ashes of Time (1994). In the end, I did what Yimou wanted and played Broken Sword, who is the lover of Flying Snow, played by Maggie. Because I have a baby face, I was quite concerned about my looks in this film because I was to play a martial arts hero. I did not want to look unconvincing. I spent a lot of time working with Emi Wada, who designed all the film`s costumes, on the look of my character, as the wardrobe was very important to play this heroic figure living in ancient China.(On working with Zhang Yimou in the movie, Hero)

In Hong Kong the camera is always moving. Yimou Zhang will put the camera on you and leave it there. And if you`re good, you`re good. And if you`re not, well ... (on the difference between working on Hong Kong productions and a Zhang Yimou production)