Chinese director and screenwriter Wang Xiaoshuai has
picked up his second Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival,
winning the best screenplay prize for In Love We Trust on
February 16, 2008.
Wang's film had been competing for the top Golden Bear award at
the 58th Berlinale, but that went to Brazilian director Jose
Padilha's Tropa de Elite (The Elite Squad), a story of
police corruption and gang violence in the Brazilian slums.
In Love We Trust lead actress Liu Weiwei missed out on
the best actress prize, which was picked up by Sally Hawkins for
her performance in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-lucky.
Wang thanked the jury saying the award would help "all of us who
try to make independent film in China."
In Love We Trust, a story of love, loyalty, and
responsibility among China's new middle class, tells how a
middle-aged divorced couple, both remarried, try to save their
young daughter, who suffers from leukemia, by having another child
to act as a bone marrow donor.
It was the only film from the Chinese mainland competing this
year in Berlin, where last year's top Golden Bear award was won by
the Chinese film, Tuya's Marriage.
Wang, who is better known outside China, won the Grand Jury
Silver Bear Award at the 2001 Berlin Film Festival for his film,
Beijing Bicycle. He won the Special Jury Prize for
Shanghai Dreams at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.
In Love We Trust is expected to open in Chinese cinemas
in the spring, but the exact date has yet to be set.
Wang said he would value the response and comments of Chinese
audiences and hoped they would like the film.
Shanghai Dreams made more than five million yuan (685,000
U.S. dollars) at the box office China in 2005, which was considered
reasonably successful for a small-budget independent movie.
Director Jose Padilha poses with his
Golden Bear award during the awards ceremony at the 58th Berlinale
International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Padilha
won the award for the Best Film Tropa de Elite.
Actress Sally
Hawkins (L-R), director Jose Padilha and producer Marcos Prado pose
with their Bear awards during the awards ceremony at the 58th
Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16,
2008.
Italian Director Francesco Rosi poses with
the trophy for the "Honorary Golden Bear" at the 58th Berlinale
International Film Festival in Berlin, February 14, 2008. Rosi was
awarded for his lifetime achievement among the 58th Berlinale, one
of the world's most prestigious film festivals, running from
February 7 to 17 in the German capital.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson poses with
the Silver Bear award for Best Director during the awarding
ceremony at the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in
Berlin, February 16, 2008. Anderson was awarded for the movie
There Will Be Blood. He also holds the Silver Bear award
for Outstanding Artistic Contribution that was given to musician
Jonny Greenwood.
Director Errol Morris poses with his
Silver Bear, the Jury Grand Prix, during the awarding ceremony at
the 58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February
16, 2008. Morris was awarded for his movie Standard Operation
Procedure.
Actor Reza Najie poses with the Silver
Bear trophy for Best Actor during the awarding ceremony at the 58th
Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008.
Najie was awarded for his performance in the film The Song of
Sparrows by Mijid Majidi.
Actress Sally Hawkins poses with the
Silver Bear for Best Actress during the awarding ceremony at the
58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16,
2008. Hawkins was awarded for her performance in the film
Happy-go-lucky directed by Mike Leigh.
Director Fernando Eimbcke poses with the
'Alfred-Bauer-Preis' trophy during the news conference after the
58th Berlinale International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16,
2008. Eimbcke was awarded for his film Lake
Tahoe.
Producer Keiko Araki (R) and director
Kumasaka Izuru pose with their Best First Feature Award during the
news conference after the 58th Berlinale International Film
Festival in Berlin, February 16, 2008. Araki and Izuru were awarded
for their movie Asyl - Park and Love Hotel.
Award winners director Errol Morris (L-R),
actress Sally Hawkins, director Jose Padilha, director Wang
Xiaoshui, Actor Reza Najiepose and Director Paul Thomas Anderson
pose with their Silver and Golden Bear at the 58th Berlinale
International Film Festival in Berlin, February 16,
2008.
(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2008)
