Jiang Wen
Encyclopedia
Jiang Wen is a Chinese
film actor and director
. As a director, he is sometimes grouped with the "sixth generation" that emerged in the 1990s. Jiang is also well known internationally as an actor, having starred with Gong Li
in Zhang Yimou
's debut film Red Sorghum
(1986). He has a younger brother who is also an actor, Jiang Wu
.
, Hebei
, in a family of military personnel, Jiang relocated to Beijing
at the age of ten. In 1980, he entered China's foremost acting school, the Central Academy of Drama
, graduating in 1984. That same year, he started acting both on the stage (with the China Youth Theater) and in films.
After appearing in many television series and films, Jiang became renowned in China for his role in the 1992 television series A Native of Beijing in New York, which made him one of the most popular actors of his generation. In addition to these he also starred in Hibiscus Town
(1984), Black Snow (1990), The Emperor's Shadow
(1996) and The Soong Sisters
(1997). Apart from Red Sorghum
, Jiang also collaborated with Zhang Yimou
for the 1997 film Keep Cool
.
Jiang wrote and directed his first film in 1994, In the Heat of the Sun
, adapted from a novel by Wang Shuo
. A tale set in the Cultural Revolution
, it won for its young lead actor Xia Yu
the Best Actor prize at the Venice Film Festival
and garnered six Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan
. Jiang's second feature film, Devils on the Doorstep, set during the Japanese occupation of China in the early 1940s, won him the Grand Prix
in the 2000 Cannes Film Festival
. Jiang has also acted in television series, such as Daqing Fengyun
(2006), in which he played Hong Taiji
.
Jiang was married to French actress Sandrine Chenivisse, with whom he has a daughter. He is now married to Chinese actress Zhou Yun and they have two sons.
Chinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
film actor and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. As a director, he is sometimes grouped with the "sixth generation" that emerged in the 1990s. Jiang is also well known internationally as an actor, having starred with Gong Li
Gong Li
Gong Li is a Chinese film actress. Gong first came into international prominence through close collaboration with Chinese director Zhang Yimou and is credited with helping to bring Chinese cinema to Europe and the United States....
in Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer. He is counted amongst the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Sorghum....
's debut film Red Sorghum
Red Sorghum
Red Sorghum is a 1987 Chinese film about a young woman's life working on a distillery for sorghum liquor. It is based on a novel by Mo Yan....
(1986). He has a younger brother who is also an actor, Jiang Wu
Jiang Wu
Jiang Wu is a Chinese actor. He starred in Zhang Yimou's To Live, and Zhang Yang's Shower. He is the younger brother to Jiang Wen and is or was a member of the Beijing Experimental Theater Troupe.- Filmography :* To Live...
.
Life and career
Born in TangshanTangshan
"唐山"redirects here. For an alternative name of China, see Names of China#TangTangshan is a largely industrial prefecture-level city in Hebei province, People's Republic of China. It has become known for the 1976 Tangshan earthquake which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and killed at least...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
, in a family of military personnel, Jiang relocated to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
at the age of ten. In 1980, he entered China's foremost acting school, the Central Academy of Drama
Central Academy of Drama
The Central Academy of Drama is a drama school in Beijing, People's Republic of China.-History:The academy was established in April 1950. It was named by Mao Zedong. It inherited the drama department of Lu Xun Art Academy in Yan'an, art school of North China University, and National Drama College...
, graduating in 1984. That same year, he started acting both on the stage (with the China Youth Theater) and in films.
After appearing in many television series and films, Jiang became renowned in China for his role in the 1992 television series A Native of Beijing in New York, which made him one of the most popular actors of his generation. In addition to these he also starred in Hibiscus Town
Hibiscus Town
Hibiscus Town is a 1986 Chinese film directed by Xie Jin, based on a novel by the same name written by Gu Hua. The film, a melodrama, follows the life and travails of a young woman who lives through the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution and as such is an example of the "scar drama" genre that...
(1984), Black Snow (1990), The Emperor's Shadow
The Emperor's Shadow
The Emperor's Shadow is a 1996 Chinese historical film directed by Zhou Xiaowen and starring Jiang Wen, Ge You, Xu Qing and Ge Zhijun. It was the most expensive Chinese film produced at the time of its release.-Plot:...
(1996) and The Soong Sisters
The Soong Sisters (film)
The Soong Sisters is a 1997 Hong Kong film dramatization of the lives of the Soong sisters from 1911 to 1949. The three sisters married the most important historical figures during the founding of new China, making the family the focal point of every important major decision made in modern...
(1997). Apart from Red Sorghum
Red Sorghum
Red Sorghum is a 1987 Chinese film about a young woman's life working on a distillery for sorghum liquor. It is based on a novel by Mo Yan....
, Jiang also collaborated with Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou
Zhang Yimou is a Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer. He is counted amongst the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Sorghum....
for the 1997 film Keep Cool
Keep Cool (film)
Keep Cool is a 1997 Chinese black comedy directed by Zhang Yimou and adapted from the novel Evening Papers News by Shu Ping. The film about a bookseller in love in 1990s Beijing, marked a move away from earlier period pictures of Zhang's earlier work to a more realistic Cinéma vérité-like period...
.
Jiang wrote and directed his first film in 1994, In the Heat of the Sun
In the Heat of the Sun
In the Heat of the Sun is a 1994 movie directed by Jiang Wen. This was Jiang Wen's first foray into directing after years as a leading man. The film is based on author Wang Shuo's novel Wild Beast .-Synopsis:...
, adapted from a novel by Wang Shuo
Wang Shuo
Wang Shuo is a Chinese author, director, actor, and cultural icon. He has written over 20 novels, television series and movies. His work has been translated into Japanese, French, English, Italian, and many other languages...
. A tale set in the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, it won for its young lead actor Xia Yu
Xia Yu
Xia Yu is a Chinese actor.-Biography:He was born in Qingdao, Shandong Province. He was initially discovered by Jiang Wen during his semi-autobiographical film In the Heat of the Sun . Xia was chosen partly because of facial resemblance to a young Jiang...
the Best Actor prize at the Venice Film Festival
Venice Film Festival
The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
and garnered six Golden Horse Awards in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Jiang's second feature film, Devils on the Doorstep, set during the Japanese occupation of China in the early 1940s, won him the Grand Prix
Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)
The Grand Prix is an award of the Cannes Film Festival bestowed by the jury of the festival on one of the competing feature films. It is the second-most prestigious prize of the festival after the Palme d'Or...
in the 2000 Cannes Film Festival
2000 Cannes Film Festival
The 2000 Cannes Film Festival started on May 14 and ran until May 25. The Palme d'Or went to the Danish film Dancer in the Dark by Lars von Trier.-Jury:* Luc Besson, President * Jonathan Demme * Nicole Garcia...
. Jiang has also acted in television series, such as Daqing Fengyun
Daqing Fengyun
Daqing Fengyun, alternatively known as Qinggong Fengyun, is a 2006 Chinese television series set in the early Qing Dynasty, that focuses on the romance between Dorgon and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.-Cast:*Zhang Fengyi as Dorgon...
(2006), in which he played Hong Taiji
Hong Taiji
Hong Taiji , also transliterated as Huang Taiji based on the Chinese language transcription of his name, was the first Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.Hong Taiji was the first Emperor of the Qing dynasty after acceding to the title in 1636...
.
Jiang was married to French actress Sandrine Chenivisse, with whom he has a daughter. He is now married to Chinese actress Zhou Yun and they have two sons.
Filmography
| Year | English title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 末代皇后 | Puyi Puyi Puyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the... |
||
| 1986 | Hibiscus Town Hibiscus Town Hibiscus Town is a 1986 Chinese film directed by Xie Jin, based on a novel by the same name written by Gu Hua. The film, a melodrama, follows the life and travails of a young woman who lives through the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution and as such is an example of the "scar drama" genre that... |
芙蓉镇 | Qiu Shutian | |
| 1986 | Tears of the Bridal Sedan | 花轿泪 | ||
| 1987 | Red Sorghum Red Sorghum Red Sorghum is a 1987 Chinese film about a young woman's life working on a distillery for sorghum liquor. It is based on a novel by Mo Yan.... |
红高梁 | My Grandpapa | Nominated for Golden Rooster Award for Best Actor (1988) |
| 1990 | Black Snow Black Snow (film) Black Snow is a 1990 Chinese drama film directed by Xie Fei. It was entered into the 40th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Silver Bear for an outstanding single achievement.-Cast:* Cai Hongxiang as Cui Yongli... |
本命年 | Li Huiquan | |
| 1991 | Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch Li Lianying: The Imperial Eunuch, also known as The Last Eunuch, is a 1991 Chinese biographical film directed by Tian Zhuangzhuang. It tells the story of Li Lianying, a eunuch who wielded power in the waning days of the Qing Dynasty... |
大太监李莲英 | Li Lianying Li Lianying Li Lianying was an imperial eunuch during the Qing Dynasty who rose to power during the rule of Empress Dowager Cixi, who was the de facto ruler of China for thirty-nine years from 1869–1908. He served as the Head Eunuch until getting deposed in 1908... |
|
| 1993 | 大路 | Chinese Police | ||
| 1993 | 北京人在纽约 | Wang Qiming | Television series | |
| 1994 | In the Heat of the Sun In the Heat of the Sun In the Heat of the Sun is a 1994 movie directed by Jiang Wen. This was Jiang Wen's first foray into directing after years as a leading man. The film is based on author Wang Shuo's novel Wild Beast .-Synopsis:... |
阳光灿烂的日子 | Ma Xiaojun (adult) | Director; writer; won Golden Horse Award for Best Director (1996); won Golden Horse Award for Best Original Screenplay (1996) |
| 1996 | 秦颂 | Ying Zheng Qin Shi Huang Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC... |
||
| 1997 | Keep Cool Keep Cool (film) Keep Cool is a 1997 Chinese black comedy directed by Zhang Yimou and adapted from the novel Evening Papers News by Shu Ping. The film about a bookseller in love in 1990s Beijing, marked a move away from earlier period pictures of Zhang's earlier work to a more realistic Cinéma vérité-like period... |
有话好好说 | Bookseller | |
| 1997 | 宋家皇朝 | Charlie Soong Charlie Soong Charles Jones Soong , courtesy name Yaoru was a Chinese businessman who first achieved prominence as a missionary in Shanghai. He was a close friend of Sun Yat-Sen and a key player in the events that led to the Xinhai Revolution in 1911... |
Won Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actor (1998) | |
| 2000 | Devils on the Doorstep | 鬼子来了 | Ma Dasan | Director; writer; won Kinema Junpo Award for Best Foreign Language Film Director (2003) |
| 2002 | 寻枪 | Ma Shan | ||
| 2003 | Green Tea | 绿茶 | Chen Mingliang | |
| 2003 | My Father and I My Father and I My Father and I is a 2003 Mainland Chinese drama directed by actress Xu Jinglei in her directorial debut. The film centers around a young girl, played by Xu, and her father, played by Ye Daying, following the death of her mother in an accident... |
我和爸爸 | ||
| 2003 | Warriors of Heaven and Earth Warriors of Heaven and Earth Warriors of Heaven and Earth is a 2003 Chinese action adventure film directed by He Ping. The film's notable cinematography captures a wide range of landscapes across China's Xinjiang province... |
天地英雄 | Lieutenant Li | |
| 2004 | Jasmine Women Jasmine Women Jasmine Women is a 2004 film, adapted from Su Tong's novel called Funü Shenghuo which means Women's Lives. It is directed by Hou Yong, formerly a well known cinematographer. Zhang Ziyi plays the youngest of three generations of women who leads lives in Shanghai. Joan Chen plays the... |
茉莉花开 | Mr. Meng | |
| 2004 | Letter from an Unknown Woman Letter from an Unknown Woman (2004 film) Letter from an Unknown Woman is a 2004 Chinese film written and directed by Xu Jinglei and is her second feature film as director after 2002's My Father and I. The film is an adaptation of Stefan Zweig's 1922 novella of the same name which was also adapted in 1948 by screenwriter Howard Koch. The... |
一个陌生女人的来信 | Writer / Mr.Xu | |
| 2006 | Daqing Fengyun Daqing Fengyun Daqing Fengyun, alternatively known as Qinggong Fengyun, is a 2006 Chinese television series set in the early Qing Dynasty, that focuses on the romance between Dorgon and Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.-Cast:*Zhang Fengyi as Dorgon... |
大清风云 | Hong Taiji Hong Taiji Hong Taiji , also transliterated as Huang Taiji based on the Chinese language transcription of his name, was the first Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.Hong Taiji was the first Emperor of the Qing dynasty after acceding to the title in 1636... |
Television series |
| 2007 | 太阳照常升起 | Tang Yunlin | Director; writer | |
| 2008 | New York, I Love You New York, I Love You New York, I Love You is a 2009 romance film released in the United States on October 16, 2009. From the producer of Paris, je t'aime, it stars an ensemble cast, among them Bradley Cooper, Shia LaBeouf, Natalie Portman, Anton Yelchin, Hayden Christensen, Orlando Bloom, Irrfan Khan, Rachel Bilson,... |
纽约，我爱你 | Director | |
| 2009 | 贵族 | |||
| 2009 | 建国大业 | Mao Renfeng | ||
| 2010 | Let the Bullets Fly Let the Bullets Fly Let the Bullets Fly is a 2010 China-Hong Kong co-production action comedy film written and directed by Jiang Wen, based on a story by Ma Shitu, a famous Sichuanese writer. The film is set in Sichuan during the 1920s when the bandit Zhang descends upon a town posing as its new mayor... |
让子弹飞 | Zhang Mazi(Zhang Muzhi) | Director |
| 2011 | 关云长 | Cao Cao Cao Cao Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled... |