Multi-nominated director talks about ‘Starfall’ movie and chasing ideals

By Alex Miao

Multi-nominated director Zhang Dalei fronted a media conference on June 21 for his movie “Starfall” which is shortlisted for the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Awards Main Competition.

It is the second film of Zhang to be honored by this year’s festival, the other being "Dream On" which is nominated for the Golden Goblet Awards in the short film category.

“Starfall” is focused on the plight of Lao Zhang (played by Liang Jingdong) who, when faced with mounting life challenges, escapes into a desert wasteland to give himself a break.

Unexpectedly, he meets some strange people along the way, but what happens next makes it difficult for him to distinguish between reality and dreams.

"This movie is about the road to the land of the ideal," the excited Zhang Dalei told the media gathering, also revealing that the prototype for his lead character was a model entrepreneur in Shaanxi Province.

“I tried in the movie to intertwine stories that would express myself and the theme, and go beyond an archetypal character," he said. "All in all, I wanted to tell the story of a group of people who are very clumsy in holding on to their ideals."

Zhang said he would not fall into complacency by having two of his films shortlisted at the same time in the same festival.

"Features and short films are the same for me, both being an opportunity to create my films,” he admitted.

“I don't have any big ideals either, as long as I can always stick to making movies according to my own ideas,” Zhang said.