30-Minute Interview with Wong Kar-wai and a discussion with ‘Mad Men’ creator Matthew Weiner

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honoured Wong Kar Wai‘s contribution to film with a special screening of ‘The Grandmaster‘ at 7:30PM on July 22nd. Aside from the chair and the board members, the film’s lead actress Zhang Ziyi also made an appearance and surprised Wong Kar-wai.

The special screening was hosted by ‘Mad Men‘ creator Matthew Weiner who is an admirer of  Wong Kar-wai’s films and thus volunteered to host.

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New US trailer for ‘The Grandmaster’

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Official US website: http://thegrandmasterfilm.com/

‘The Grandmaster’ will have its US premiere at Comic-Con on Saturday July 20th: http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/hot-trailer-the-grandmaster/

A season of Wong Kar-wai‘s films will be shown at the Museum of the Moving Image (Queens, New York) between July 12th and August 24th. The Grandmaster’ premieres in New York on August 10th with Wong Kar-wai himself in attendance: http://www.movingimage.us/films/2013/07/12/detail/wong-kar-wai-2/

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences salutes Wong Kar-wai on July 22nd

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will be honoring Director/Writer Wong Kar-wai on July 22, 2013 with an onstage conversation followed by a sneak preview of his latest film, The Grandmaster.

From the Academy’s website:

Hong Kong-based filmmaker Wong Kar Wai is known for his unique sense of style and emotionally resonant work. The first Chinese director to win the Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his 1997 film “Happy Together,” Wong has been called a “poet of time” by Sight & Sound and “perhaps the most revered and singular of Hong Kong auteurs” by The New York Times.

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Wong Kar-wai apologizes for disturbance

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QQ.com:   

Wong Kar-wai received the French cultural world’s highest honour Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Two nights ago he and his wife, actor Chang Chen, cinematographer Christopher Doyle and his film team celebrated. Doyle left around 11:30PM. saying, “The party is a family gathering, everyone wasn’t just excited about Wong Kar-wai’s honor but also proud to be a part of the team.”

Around midnight, Wong Kar-wai left with his wife. He said that the party included teams from his first film to his most recent one, as well as many friends from different places, thus he was very happy. Earlier, Wong Kar Wai went to a hot pot casserole shop with friends. They drank outdoors and chatted until 1AM but the neighbours complained about how loud they were. The police came to investigate. Wong Kar-wai said, “After midnight we already returned indoors, I am sorry to have disturbed the residents.”

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Wong Kar-wai receives France’s highest cultural honour

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Sohu:

Acclaimed director Wong Kar-Wai was saluted with France’s highest cultural honour on Sunday in celebration of his lengthy career. Having already received the National Order of the Legion of Honour, he was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commander of France’s Order of Arts and Letters). Yesterday he accepted the honour with his wife from the French Foreign Affairs minister Laurent Fabius. He was so happy that he kissed his wife on the cheek twice. Actors Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Chang Chen and other company employees congratulated him.

Laurent Fabius said that Wong Kar-wai has brought Hong Kong culture to France. His influence has been recognized and planted in the hearts of the French people. Wong Kar-wai said, “I am very happy, this is a type of recognition and support for my team and Hong Kong film. My wife will take care of the honour, I am used to handing over everything to my wife.” He had no intention of emmigrating to France due to the high tax rate.

Wong Kar-wai disagreed that the French audience preferred his films. Most markets had Hollywood films had their mainstream, only France had room for different films. He said, “Chinese films perform poorly overseas so just focusing on one market is impossible. Film is a very lively culture.” he would not make French style films due to the honour. If he deliberately do something for others it would be meaningless. Speaking of Tony Leung taking a year off after completing “The Grandmaster”, Wong Kar-wai joked, “I just needed to take 9 months off. The film will be released in France, Germany, Russia, Japan, Korea and the U.S. I will take Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi to promote the film.”

Tony Leung said that recently he has been busy with computer lessons. He has already made plans with Wong Kar-wai to celebrate with a few drinks at night. “His movies are very unique and promote Hong Kong culture of the 50s and the 60s. Their productions are very intricate as well. Some feels that he spends a lot of time and money, but spending such much effort is truly not easy.”

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Wong Kar-wai’s eyes see rare daylight

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 CriOnline.com:

“Born wearing a pair of sunglasses”, internationally renowned director Wong Kar-wai rarely has been without his sunglasses. Yesterday the Grandmaster of directing tried on glasses at an optical store. Wong Kar-wai went to pick out a pair of glasses at a Causeway Bay optical store. Actually Wong Kar-wai was as selective with his glasses as with his movies. After over an hour of choosing he finally left the store with his wife. He even showed his eyes while his wife became the “female Wong Kar-wai” and put on sunglasses.  If not for his height, he almost could not be recognized without his sunglasses.

Whether you like Wong Kar-wai’s movies or not, everyone knows that “Wong Kar-wai” and sunglasses were almost inseparable “conjoint twins”. Earlier actor Eric Tsang described Wong Kar-wai as being “born wearing sunglasses” when Wong presented the Professional Spirit Awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards. However, the director also had moments when he was without his “beloved”.

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US trailer for “The Grandmaster”

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The new US trailer for Wong Kar-wai’sThe Grandmaster” has finally been released, complete with annoying voiceover.

The film will finally be released in America on August 23.

French featurettes for “The Grandmaster”

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The 130-minute version of “The Grandmaster” will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in China on April 23rd.
 
Meanwhile, The Weinstein Company has revealed that the international version of “The Grandmaster” (now retitled as “Grandmasters“) will be in US cinemas on August 23rd.