Serbian Film Genius Kusturica Fights for Old Guard Standards against Modern Commercialization

Kusturica insists on making authentic movies that can touch people’s hearts and even change their lives.
 

　　For most Chinese movie fans, the name Emir Kusturica is the hallmark for film quality. The Serbian actor and filmmaker is regarded as a film genius, all of his works representing an attitude to keep fighting commercialization. In his eyes, films should be made to pursue artistry rather than profit. He is a bold man in exploring the future trend of movies but also an old guard artisan who is trying to protect the original intentions that inspired master filmmakers. As such a rebellious "weirdo," he insists on making authentic movies that can touch people’s hearts and even change their lives. That’s why his works have been admired by generations. After talking face-to-face with him, we are confident of one thing: the history of movies might change but the true love of films will not, and idealism will prevail.

　　About SIFF and Shanghai

　　Daily News: Welcome to Shanghai. Have you already seen some movies?

　　Emir Kusturica: Yes, we have seen a few films, some of them representing young, new fashion cinema, some classical.

　　Daily News: Have you found something special at Shanghai International Film and TV Festival?

　　Emir Kusturica: First of all, I want to express my love for this country. I believe that more parts of the world can be powerful and rich, especially China which is more special than others. And I am really impressed by this film festival, especially as it has been built in such a short time, about 19 years, into a global festival. And I am more than delighted to know that you have 20,000 screens in this country and you shoot more than 600 films each year. With such big figures, you could go anywhere in the future.

　　Daily News: Are there any films which attract you the most?

　　Emir Kusturica: Yes. I’m attracted by some unique ones. The movie language has changed and is different than in the 1990s. When I participated at the Cannes film festival in 1985, we had 800 films. Today we have more than 2,800 films for selection. And in the Shanghai International Film and TV Festival, we have to choose 14 films from 2,403 movies. Yet the growing quantity of films doesn’t mean the quality is growing which means a new movie language needs to be found.

　　About commercial films

　　Daily News: You once organized a film festival in your own village so how do you feel about walking the red carpet at film festivals?

　　Emir Kusturica: I don’t like walking red carpets. They have became the main symbol of film festivals. They are something like Facebook, a method of observation like the world police. The ultimate goal of some filmmakers is to walk the red carpet but, for me, I don’t like it at all.

　　Daily News: The number of films being produced in China is booming every year. But our movies are not being accepted so well by local people. What is your opinion on that?

　　Emir Kusturica: In your country, you will always have enough good movies. I don’t think you will lose a good sense of quality cinema. This is impossible.

　　Daily News: What kind of Chinese movies do your think will catch the attention of European audiences?

　　Emir Kusturica: Those that are sincere, emotional, bizarre and strange. You will always intrigue European audiences because of the unique and special culture you have.

　　Daily News: Do you watch Hollywood movies or not? You once shot a film called “Arizona\'s Dream.”

　　Emir Kusturica: No, that’s not a Hollywood movie, it\'s a French film. I don\'t make films in Hollywood at all because I don’t trust Hollywood. Hollywood was the center of the world from the start of the 1950s because it was spreading idealistic ideas about an idealistic world. That was the American dream, but the dream is now broken. Hollywood is an agency of bankers with stupid stories. They are making all kinds of men, this man, that man, and they only have action pictures and big sound, and stupid ideology.

　　Daily News: Opera is a key element in your movies, like in “Life is a Miracle.” What role has opera played in your life and your filmmaking?

　　Emir Kusturica: Opera was the one factor that became a key to making movies. The way opera directors used orchestras and other stagecraft made it practical for film directors, like Visconti, to learn the business. But today everyone is just making movies.

　　About new technology

　　Daily News: What do you think is the future in movies for the popular visual reality (VR) technique?

　　Emir Kusturica: Visual reality is for me like visual stupidity. You know 3D was something founded in the Lumière Brothers time. But they said no to 3D. Why no? Because 3D must be contained in a narrow image and light. We don’t need to put the story in one frame. But all of these new technologies are going to happen because people are running for profit.

　　Daily News: How do you feel about China when you come here?

　　Emir Kusturica：I feel something new each time I come here. You see Chinese in America, but they are not the same as here. And I think the emotion with which you make films is spontaneous and sincere. You have many good stories and movies. Your human reaction to the world is very emotional.

　　Daily News: So about your new film. Do you feel pressure to make new films or do you still feel quite energetic? Have you had a mid-life crisis in making movies?

　　Emir Kusturica: I will admit that we still use VR but it\'s a technique that is not apparent. I have incorporated two fights with a snake in my new film. It was artificially made but looks good. My new movie is almost at the same level as "Life is a Miracle." They share the same strong emotions and conflict. But it is really difficult today, and almost impossible, to keep going at the same level of quality as my previous movies. About that mid-life crisis, I am already an old man (laughing).