Director Zhang Yimou Discusses 'Flowers of War', Speilberg's Involvement & Christian Bale

So what if The Flowers of War is the most expensive ever made in China?  Director Zhang Yimou is certainly not being affected by it.  Afterall, he has Christian Bale starring in his film, thanks to Steven Spielberg's involvment, about the Nanjing Massacre. That's got a recipe for Oscar written all over.

Mentioned at a press conference, Bale got involved with the film when Zhang "asked Steven Spielberg, who is a friend, to read the English script and recommend actors," who then recommended Christian Bale, having directed him as a child in 1987 for Empire of the Sun.  Which similar was "based on a novel set during Japan's World War II occupation of eastern China."

Bale was encourage in working with Zhang when Spielberg "passed [Zhang] Yimou a letter to give to me, and it said, 'do it.'""

Here's a quick take on the film:

Bale plays John Miller, an American drifter who finds himself in the then-Chinese capital in 1937, just as the Nanjing Massacre -- which saw invading Japanese troops rape and murder thousands of Chinese civilians -- is getting underway.  A group of young prostitutes take refuge in a church near the brothel where they work, and Miller, donning clerical robes, offers them protection from the invaders.

When asked about trying to achieve an Oscar trophy, Zhang responded:

"Winning an Oscar was not the goal.  We only wanted to create good art and make a good film," he said. "I don't really understand the Oscar process much, so it's up to luck."

Zhang was also the director behind the 2008 Olympic Games in China who's now representing the country's official entry for Best Foreign Language Film.  That's not to say the film is surrounded by possible controversy where Ni Ni, female lead in Flowers of War, has risked alerting censors by the films' steamy scene between her character and Bale's was necessary," because of controversy in Ang Lee's Lust, Caution after sex scenes were removed and incurred a two-year industry ban for actress Tang Wei.

Ni Ni on Tang Wei stated: "I really like Tang Wei and I think she's a wonderful actress, very beautiful, and I have learned a lot from her,"

The Flowers of War is directed by Zhang Yimou.  Starring Christian Bale, Paul Schneider, Ni Ni and Shigeo Kobayashhi.  The film is set for wide release in China on 16 December, which will be followed by a limited release in the US on 23 December 2011.

Source: THR