Korean actress Kim Hee-sun received high praises from the Chinese press which said that, “She will be reborn as the ‘representative brand of Asia’ by working with four major Chinese directors.”
A daily newspaper, published in Beijing reported in its Sunday paper that “The four major directors representing China -- Stanley Tong, Chen Kaige, Ang Lee, Zhang Yimou -- are all currently working with Kim Hee-sun or either planning on working with her. Kim will grow to be a higher level actress while working with them.”
According to the article, Stanley Tong, the director who has been filming the movie “SO4” with Kim Hee-sun and Jackie Chan from July 7 said, “I met with 20 top stars from all around Asia, but there was no one that fit the movie as well as Kim Hee-sun.” The producer and main actor Jackie Chan added, “I finally got the chance to work with her. The movie that I have been preparing for three years with Stanley will be brightened by Kim.”
The newspaper reported that the Director of “Farewell My Concubine,” Chen Kaige, said, “I offered Kim the role as the main character of a jointly produced movie between Korea, China and Japan when I met her in Seoul,” and the director of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” Ang Lee said, “I offered her the main character of the drama ‘Cinderella,’ which I will be producing with my brother, and I am waiting for her reply. If she accepts, I am willing to proceed with all the filming in Korea.” Zhang Yimou, who filmed the commercial of the Chinese communications company TCL with Kim said, “She has a profound harmony of Eastern and Western beauty. As I asked her at that time, I really wish to make a film with her at least once.”
Considering that Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi, Maggie Cheung and other actors became world stars while working with these directors, the inference of the Chinese newspaper might be reasonable after all.
