The fifth Cinema2006 competition title, Wu Qingyuan – The Go Master by Tian Zhuangzhuang, was presented in the Teatro Studio. The film tells the story of Wu Qingyuan, the most important player in the world of the ancient game of Go.

Through Wu’s life, the director presents a touching and poetic portrait of over 50 years of Japanese history, from the political and racial conflicts with China during WWII, to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to the country’s present-day opening towards the west.

“I think that Wu’s story is very moving. He is still alive and has dedicated his whole life to the game and his faith,” said Tian. “The origins of Go lie in astronomical measurements, only later did it become a competitive game. It is still interpreted differently in various cultures. In China it’s a sport, in Japan and Korea it is culture. However, I was not interested in making a film on Go but in telling the personal story of a man in a specific historical period. When a man loves a task, he dedicates himself to it body and soul. This is the most important spirit to have. Only in this way can he overcome all difficulties and free himself of all the limitations created by the material aspects of life. Respecting yourself and others is fundamental, winning and losing are not important. This is a trait shared by all Oriental cultures”.

The film’s screenplay was written by Ah Cheng, the Chinese writer known, above all, for his “Three Kings” trilogy. Tian said he was honoured by his relationship with the author because “Ah Cheng is a wise man. I didn’t work with him, I only learned from him. He gifted me with unexpected enlightenments”.

Lead actor Chang Chen stressed the research that went into best portraying Wu. “I prepared for a long time, before shooting began. Tian then helped me relive this particular historical period. This role gave me great illumination, it gave me greater insight into myself”.