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Humanistic concern paves way for Go Away Mr. Tumor's bid for the Academy Awards

By Yuan Can (People's Daily Online)    16:27, October 10, 2015
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Poster of Go Away, Mr. Tumor (File photo)

Poster of Wolf Totem (Photo/Guangzhou Daily)

Poster of Mountains May Depart (Photo/Guangzhou Daily)

Chinese film Go away Mr. Tumor is submitted for this year’s foreign-language category at the Academy Awards, according to a shortlist on the official website of the awards.

Contrary to expectations in the movie industry, two previously submitted Chinese films - Mountains May Depart by Chinese Director Jia Zhangke and Wolf Totem by French Director Jean-Jacques Annaud - have not made the list. Wolf Totem is regarded as a film with Oscar's characteristics by the industry.

Go Away Mr. Tumor, directed by Han Yan and starring Daniel Wu and Bai Baihe, portrays the final years of cartoonist Xiong Dun and her fight against a malignant tumor until she loses the battle at the age of 30. The film has grossed nearly 500 million yuan during the summer.

Han could not figure out why this film has made it to the shortlist. "Maybe this is in praise for Xiong's spirit," said Han.

Not only was Han confused about the submission, but also Gao Shuqun, a Chinese film director, could not understand why. "This film is good only in China," said Gao in his Weibo account, "I do not understand why this film has entered into the awards. Relevant authorities please give me a reason." Netizens also expressed their puzzlement on the Internet.

The successful submission of the film may benefit from positive audience responses in the U.S. 2015 Chinese Film Week. Five Chinese films including Go Away Mr. Tumor, Wolf Totem, To the Fore, Monster Hunt and Monkey King: Hero Is Back were shown to American audiences during the film week from Sept. 24 to 28.

Go Away Mr. Tumor was screened after opening ceremony banquet of the Chinese Film Week after which Bai Baihe met the U.S. audience.

Chinese filmmakers have long carried a strong ambition for the awards but they all faded away due to of less compelling storylines.

"The Academy Awards think highly of humanity," said Zheng Dongtian, a director and a professor at the Beijing Film Academy.

Go Away Mr. Tumor demonstrates humanistic concern for life and can arouse resonance among audiences. 

(For the latest China news, Please follow People's Daily on Twitter and Facebook)(Editor:Yuan Can,Huang Jin)

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