Chinese superstar Fan Bingbing has returned to the Tokyo International Film Festival with a stunning new performance. Her latest film, "Mother Bhumi," is competing for the top prize. This marks her first major international project following a five-year hiatus from the spotlight.
The actress is nearly unrecognizable in her role as a Malaysian farmer and spiritual healer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she underwent a drastic physical and linguistic transformation for the part. Her performance is being hailed as a career renaissance.
Fan spent months living with farmers in Kedah, Malaysia to prepare. She learned to transplant rice and herd buffaloes. The working conditions were harsh and physically demanding.
She also mastered several local dialects for the role. The director provided recordings for her to study daily. Fan reports she practiced so much she didn't need the script during filming.
The role required her to perform authentic shamanic rituals. She studied videos of the director's father, a well-known local healer. This attention to detail brings remarkable authenticity to her character.
Fan describes her five-year absence from Chinese cinema as a "gift." She says it opened new creative windows for her. The period provided time for reflection and absorbing new life experiences.
She believes facing difficulties has made her a stronger performer. Personal struggles provide emotional depth for acting, she explains. Fan now feels drawn to more arthouse films and complex women's stories.
When asked about working in China again, she expressed concern about the current film landscape. She noted that diversity in Chinese cinema has decreased. The market for arthouse films has become particularly challenging.