‘Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains’ Chinese Director Gu Xiaogang Sets ‘The First Taste of Loneliness’ Starring Zhou Xun, With ‘Resurrection’ Producer (EXCLUSIVE)

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As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to share that I, as Gu Xiaogang (also known as Gu You), am preparing to direct an upcoming film titled “The First Taste of Loneliness.” This project will bring together the exceptional talents of renowned Chinese cinema icon, Zhou Xun, best recognized for her roles in “Suzhou River” and “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress.

The Last Installment of Gu’s ‘Shan-Shui’ Trilogy, titled ‘The First Taste of Loneliness,’ wraps up the series. His first film, ‘Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains,’ was a groundbreaking achievement as it became the first Chinese movie to close Critics’ Week at Cannes in 2019 after being filmed across four seasons. The second installment, ‘Dwelling by the West Lake,’ garnered three nominations at the 17th Asian Film Awards and saw Jiang Qinqin win Best Actress. The film earned a total of 121 million RMB domestically before its scheduled release in Japan in 2024.

Shan Zuolong, currently attending Cannes Film Festival with Bi Gan’s ‘Resurrection’ and Du Kexin’s ‘Dwelling by the West Lake,’ is the creator of the upcoming film titled ‘The First Taste of Loneliness.’ This film will serve as the final installment in his ‘Shan-Shui’ (“Landscape”) Cinema trilogy.

In this movie, Zhou plays a woman mourning her father’s demise. As she copes with her sorrow, she witnesses her mother embarking on a fresh relationship and finds a list outlining her father’s last desires. This tale spanning three generations – the elderly, middle-aged, and young – delves deeply into life’s recurring patterns. The film scrutinizes themes of love, mortality, and recovery through the perspective of loneliness.

In this arrangement, Les Films du Losange, based in Paris, will oversee international distribution (excluding France, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan). Meanwhile, Tandem Films, under the leadership of French producer Mathieu Robinet, is partnering with Hangzhou Enlightenment Films for co-production.

Alice Lesort, director of international sales at Les Films du Losange, expressed her admiration for the young filmmaker Gu Xiaogang, stating that his exceptional skills in narrative, framing, and rhythm were evident from his debut movie. She further mentioned that this upcoming project is expected to solidify his status as a significant contemporary filmmaker.

In the words of Tandem Films’ Robinet, “What makes ‘The First Taste of Loneliness’ powerful isn’t just its visually captivating elements, but also the deep emotional resonance and intricate moral layers woven into its storyline.

“It’s a story that resonates on both a philosophical and deeply human level,” Robinet continued.

Xun acts alongside a distinguished Chinese cast, featuring XI Meijuan (Golden Rooster Award winner for “The Left-Behind Lady”), Wang Shengdi (“The Bad Kids”), Zhou Yiwei (“Dying to Survive”), Mu Zhicheng, and XU Chaoying (“Green Wave”).

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Xun is joined by a renowned Chinese cast, including XI Meijuan (Golden Rooster winner for “The Left-Behind Lady”), Wang Shengdi (“The Bad Kids”), Zhou Yiwei (“Dying to Survive”), Mu Zhicheng, and XU Chaoying (“Green Wave”).

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Xun is part of an illustrious Chinese cast, including XI Meijuan (awarded the Golden Rooster for “The Left-Behind Lady”), Wang Shengdi (“The Bad Kids”), Zhou Yiwei (“Dying to Survive”), Mu Zhicheng, and XU Chaoying (“Green Wave”).

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Xun works with a highly esteemed Chinese cast, which includes XI Meijuan (Golden Rooster Award recipient for “The Left-Behind Lady”), Wang Shengdi (“The Bad Kids”), Zhou Yiwei (“Dying to Survive”), Mu Zhicheng, and XU Chaoying (“Green Wave”).

Renowned Japanese cinematographer Mikiya Takimoto (“Like Father, Like Son,” “Our Little Sister“) who frequently works with Hirokazu Kore-eda, has been tapped to take on the cinematography for “The First Taste of Loneliness.” The principal crew also consists of production designer Zhou Xingyu (known for “Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains” and “Dwelling by the West Lake”), costume designer Su Chao (“Girls on Wire”), sound director LI Danfeng (“Resurrection”), and editor Matthieu Laclau (who has worked on “A Touch of Sin” and “The Wild Goose Lake”).

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2025-05-15 09:16