In the early 1990s, Wu stayed in the United States, but ended his self-imposed exile and returned to China in 1994. He made a few more movies, of which The King of Masks won some kudos.

In the past decade, Wu received several honorary awards recognizing his contribution to the birth of the Fifth Generation. The enormous pressure he resisted and the generosity he displayed when grooming the younger generation were often played down by him and the media.

The last memorable appearance Wu made on and off screen was in a leading role in Zhang Yang's comedy Full Circle (2012), about a band of senior citizens tackling the sunset of life and pondering mortality face to face.

As soon as Wu's death was announced, Zhang Yimou issued a brief statement, expressing his shock at the news and mentioning that he and Wu were developing a project together a few months earlier. Gu Changwei, another director who benefited from Wu's short reign at the Xi'an studio, wrote: "May our chief enjoy his bliss at heaven above!"

FILMOGRAPHY

• As director

Reverberations of Life (1979) 生活的颤音

Kith and Kin (1980) 亲缘

River Without Buoys (1983) 没有航标的河流

Life (1984) 人生

Old Well (1986) 老井

The King of Masks (1996) 变脸

An Unusual Love (1998) 世界

CEO (2002)

• As producer

The Black Cannon Incident (1985) 黑炮事件

The Horse Thief (1986) 盗马贼

Red Sorghum (1987) 红高粱

Mr Cinema (2007) 老港正传