Getting It ëTogetherí Chinese Director Switches Gears for Film About Violin Prodigy Acclaimed fifth-generation filmmaker Chen Kaige, a graduate of the Beijing Film Academy, is best known for his lavish historical epics (ìFarewell My Concubine,î ìTemptress Moon,î ìThe Emperor and the Assassinî). In his latest film, ìTogether,î a young violin prodigy moves from the country to study in modern Beijing. The Filmfest DC Audience Award winner marks a return to the more personal stories Chen made early in his career. Chen, who was in town for the filmís premiere, said, ìI just felt like, ëThis is it.í This is the story Iíd like to do. I have a passion for this. I canít tell you the reason why I wanted to do this. Yes, I can tell you why I didnít want to do a contemporary piece in the past. On the one hand, I must say I am quite a sort of nationalist. I love my country.î ìAt the same time, I just feel like I hate whatís happened in the last 15 yearsóparticularly the culture,î he said. ìThere is no high culture in China. Itís all been cut out. We lost our roots. Without those roots, we really cannot identify as Chinese. Why are we Chinese? I guess the communists realized that culture is a most dangerous thingóinfluencing people. If they donít cut the old culture, they will never ever get what they want. ìSo I just strongly rejected doing any contemporary piece,î Chen continued. ìTechnically, it would create more difficulties for me because the authorities will be more sensitive regarding the contemporary issues. In the past, I just wanted to concentrate on historyóa time when we had something called culture.î He concluded, ìNow, I think my idea has sort of changed. Iím the same person. I donít know how to play this political game like many other directors do. Iím very honest to myself and to my audience. Now I really see some positive steps being taken, not only by the Chinese people but also by the government. I think itís a good sign for the future. So thatís why I did this movie.î -Ky N. Nguyen