Why didn't Zhang Yimou win the Oscar?

If Zhang Yimou wants to win the Oscar, although he can qualify for other awards, the real chance is foreign language films. Let's focus on foreign language films here. Zhang Yimou's works were selected for the first time 1989, a foreign language film that hit the Oscar. The year before last, Red Sorghum won the Golden Bear Award at the West Berlin Film Festival, which caused a great sensation at home and abroad. It is the starting point for the western world to understand China's films in the new era, and it was naturally selected by domestic official institutions. However, Americans are still too unfamiliar with China's films. The final nomination of Red Sorghum failed and was regarded as a legacy by some media at that time. This year, the Danish film Pearl the Conqueror won the prize. 199 1 year, "Ju Dou" is Zhang Yimou's second impact on the Oscars. The investment in this film came from Japan and was later favored by western film festivals. This was very sensitive for China officials at that time. Due to the tightening of cultural policies, the film failed to meet the broad audience in China. After submitting the film to the Oscar authorities, the Film Bureau went back on its word and resigned for Zhang Yimou. Perhaps it is this subtle political factor that helped Ju Dou to be shortlisted for the five best foreign language films, making it the first time for a China film. But in the end, it lost to a realistic film "Journey of Hope" co-produced by Switzerland, Britain, Italy and Turkey. This film describes the painful experience of illegal immigrants, adapted from a true story and played by non-professional actors. This is exactly the kind of foreign film that Oscar voters like best. In contrast, Ju Dou tells a sensational story with exaggerated colors, which may be loved by very few people. Today, from the perspective of hindsight, Journey of Hope is not a masterpiece in film history, and it is a pity that Ju Dou lost to it. 1992, Zhang Yimou was shortlisted for the final nomination again for "Raise the Red Lantern", only this time he represented Hong Kong and lost to the Italian film "Mediterranean". Today, no one talks about the Mediterranean, and no one talks about other movies in this nomination. In fact, from the perspective of film quality alone, The Red Lantern had a chance. From the point of view of Monday morning quarterback, today's western film critics speak highly of Hanging the Red Lantern. If re-evaluated, Zhang Yimou has a great chance. But unfortunately, back in those days, Orion, the American publisher who was catching up with Raise the Red Lantern, was in financial trouble and could only concentrate all his resources on his son The Silence of the Lambs. As a result, the red lantern was left out in the cold for a few days in America, and few people saw it at all. Being nominated is a miracle, so it is impossible to expect to win the prize.