Cao Baoping (Chinese: 曹保平; pinyin: Cáo Bǎopíng) is a Chinese TV and film director and screenwriter. He has emerged in recent years as a figure in China's "midrange" cinema industry. Some industry watchers, like Variety, have situated directors like Cao between the older fifth generation directors, such as Chen Kaige or Zhang Yimou, who have achieved major international and box-office success, and the more "underground" sixth generation directors, like Jia Zhangke and Wang Xiaoshuai.[1]
Cao Baoping | |
|---|---|
曹保平 | |
| Born | February 1, 1968 |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Education | Beijing Film Academy |
| Occupation(s) | Film and Television Director, Screenwriter |
| Years active | 1996 - present |
| Known for | Chinese neo-noir and crime films |
| Notable work | Across the Furious Sea The Equation of Love and Death The Dead End Trouble Makers |
| Movement | Fifth Generation |
| Awards | Asian New Talent Jury Prize - Shanghai 2006 - Trouble Makers Altadis New Director Award - San Sebastian International Film Festival 2008 - The Equation of Love and Death 18th Shanghai International Film Festival - Best Director Award 25th Chinese Film Golden Rooster Award - Best Picture and Best Screenplay |
Directorial career
Cao Baoping graduated from the Beijing Film Academy in 1989, and spent most of the 1990s teaching screenwriting at his alma mater. Cao would go on to expand into directing television and television films, co-directing the television film Absolute Emotion in 2001.[2]
His solo debut as director was 2006's Trouble Makers, a satirical black comedy about a village taking revenge on a gang of hoodlums. Due to its rough content, Trouble Makers faced a host of problems from censors and spent six years in gestation before finally being released.[3] The film premiered at the 2006 Shanghai International Film Festival, where it was called by Variety's Derek Elley as a standout entry.[4]
In 2008, Cao followed up Trouble Makers with The Equation of Love and Death, starring Zhou Xun. The film was well received and Cao would win a best new director award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival for his efforts.[5]
Filmography
Film
| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Absolute Emotion | 绝对情感 | Co-direction |
| 2006 | Trouble Makers | 光荣的愤怒 | Feature film debut |
| 2008 | The Equation of Love and Death | 李米的猜想 | |
| 2013 | Einstein & Einstein | 狗十三 | |
| 2015 | The Dead End | 烈日灼心 | |
| 2016 | Cock and Bull | 追凶者也 | |
| 2023 | Across the Furious Sea | 涉过愤怒的海 |
Television
| Year | English Title | Chinese Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Accumulating All My Love | 堆积情感 | |
| 2001 | China - Paul Wu Yunduo | 中国保尔吴运铎 | |
| 2004 | Back of the Sun | 太阳背面 | |
| 2005 | Pregnant for Ten Months | 十月怀胎 | |
| The Color of Life | 生命的颜色 | ||
| 2007 | The Married Life of Zuo Wei and Du Ye | 左伟与杜叶的婚姻生活 | |
| 2010 | Love of Yan'an | 延安爱情 | |
| 2011 | Romance or Marriage | 浪漫向左，婚姻往右 | |
| 2014 | Let Go of Your Hand | 错放你的手 |
References
External links
- Cao Baoping at IMDb
- Cao Baoping at the Chinese Movie Database
- Cao Baoping at Variety.com