Keep Cool Zhang Yimou's new movie "Keep Cool" is an exciting proof of Zhang's creative originality. "Keep Cool" is a black comedy about an accidental encounter between two men, and the subsequent absurdity spinning off from the chance meeting. Anyone who knows something about the Beijing society today can recognize instantly and appreciate very much the astounding contemporaneity and "Beijingness" that just keep bouncing off from "Keep Cool." "Keep Cool" basically is about how ordinary people -- a bar owner, a book seller, a small businessman, an unemployed pretty girl, try to solve their problems in their own ways. Their vengefulness, stubbornness, and fearlessness for any consequences steer the course of the plot to the inevitable madness. Only when things are completely out of hand do symbols of law and order finally show up to contain the situation. As the Public Security officer didactically reprimands these crazed citizens, every delivery of moral lessons becomes farcically surreal. In contrast, the anger of these common people transforms into honest helplessness and sadness. Yet, a good movie is much more than just an analyzable text. "Keep Cool" has an outstanding cast giving their best performances, a hysterically moving camera (a la NYPD Blue) that well suits the hysterics of the plot, and a great script that is so reflective of the earthy and humorous side of the Beijing dialect. The two leading roles are played by JIANG Wen ("The Red Sorghum") and LI Baotian ("Ju Dou"; "Shanghai Triad"), while the skinny GE You ("To Live") guest-stars as the police officer. All three actors are famous in China for their versatility, and they seem to enjoy their satirically comical roles in this movie. Most of the scenes appear to have been taken in one continuous shot, which means that the actors need to have perfect control of timing and mood to build up a desirable climax. The effect is very much like watching a breathtaking theatrical performance at an in-your-face distance. The language in this movie is very typical of Beijing. Native Beijingnese are known to be voluble, and love to show off their abilities to humor, satirize, or vivify any topic (often at the expense of the truth). To overpower others with one's way with words is what Beijingnese take pleasure in doing. No wonder that the Chinese title of "Keep Cool" reads "If you have something to say, say it calmly (don't get mad)" (You hua hao haor shuo!). Indeed, throughout the whole movie, all involved parties keep on arguing their ways out of troubles, or into troubles. Their logic is completely senseless at times, but always hilarious. If you're interested in seeing this movie you should probably take a course in "subtitles speed-reading," or you may not be able to catch up with these loquacious characters! "Keep Cool" was scheduled to participate in this year's Cannes Film Festival, but was prevented from doing so by the Chinese government, again. It's not that the movie is "politically incorrect"-- the director himself has already changed the ending to avoid that interpretation. The controversy was actually over another Chinese film "East Palace, West Palace" (Dong Gong Xi Gong), which probes the issue of homosexuality in Beijing and is directed by ZHANG Yuan ("Beijing Bastards"). To prevent "East Palace, West Palace" from being shown at Cannes, the Chinese government held "Keep Cool" as hostage. And the outcome of all these political maneuvers was that "East Palace, West Palace" was shown nonetheless and "Keep Cool" was kept cold in China. Frankly speaking, "East Palace, West Palace" was actually an artistic failure, which really does not deserve such attention. As always, the over-sensitive Chinese government gained nothing out of the situation, other than making life difficult for their best director. In October 1997 "Keep Cool" opened in Beijing and immediately generated polarized reviews. Some appreciated its absurd depiction of modern Chinese society, while the opposite side criticized Zhang for once again "uglifying" the image of the Chinese. Hey, Yimou, you just can't win, can you? In "Keep Cool," director Zhang Yimou cast a young model from Hunan province -- QU Ying (see photo on the left) -- as the sole female in the movie. Since Zhang's previous leading lady Gong Li has become a world-famous actress, everybody is now wondering if the same luck will befall on Miss Qu. However, since Miss Qu only appears in the film for less than five minutes and has hardly more than five lines, she is over-powered by the two leading actors. It is doubtful that she will become the next Gong Li. Besides, Zhang Yimou has already revealed that his next project of "The Great Empress of Tang Dynasty" will again feature Miss Gong. For fans missing the collaboration of Zhang and Gong, you have something to look forward to now. -- J. Tsao