Abstract:

Department of Film Studies, Beijing Film Academy, Beijing 100088, China)Abstract： For the discussion on Xie Jin' s mode in the middle of 1980s, it is time to give a conclusion of the rights and wrongs, even from viewpoint of pure commemoration. After all, more than 20 years have passed. If we want to do so, the double perspectives of time change, historical inspection and butterfly effect can be adopted. On July 18, 1986, a young scholar named Zhu Dake published in Wenhui a 2000words essay, entitled "Shortcomings for Xie Jin' s Model", which caused a heated discussion in the circle of China' s film criticism. Just as Lorenz' s butterfly effect shows, things went beyond what was expected. Although Zhu' s evident errors in his essay, for which nobody paid attention to, appeared one after another overstated, echoed essays. Therefore, the suggestion was put forward that Xie Jin' s times should be put an end to, and his films also became the targets for critics, whether they were talented or untalented. It seemed that, in a twinkling, Xie Jin as a famous director fell to the ground, becoming an art foundling from God' s favored one. Nobody could change the situation even defenders. This event gave a great impact on Xie Jin' s creation. And his filmmaking idea was hit hard, for instance, Last Aristocracy. Thus, this gifted creator, who was successfully persistent in his film art, entered into his period of shock or transition. In view of the situation of the day, Mr. Zhong Dianfei wrote an instructing essay, entitled "A Multiple Thinking about Xie Jin' s films", which analyzed all kinds of questions arising in the discussion and made an advanced conclusion. But up to now, in some respects, we have not understood fully his good intentions cherished. Under such a circumstance, we must reread his essay so as to use history as mirror, drawing lessons from history. Although, at that time, the discussion abovementioned shook the traditional model of China' s mainstream films, the bitter satire of history is always powerful. We can see that, under the context of high industrialization, the traditional model, once rocked, is coming back in an unprecedented, powerful attitude. Even more ironic is that the theoretical voice of this comingback is stronger, bolder and clearer than ever before.

Key words:  butterfly effect, Xie Jin s mode, film confucianism