[Four Women]

Shaken beliefs

Character: Jiang Shuyun

Background: Missionary school teacher who is ultimately killed

Implication: Justice

Actress: Gao Yuanyuan

Character’s story: Jiang Shuyun, sensitive and kind, is the embodiment of justice. During the massacre, she does her best to protect refugees, and finally sacrifices her own life for the cause.

Actress´ account: Did not feel like living and could not rest my head on a pillow.

While filming, I even thought about no longer living. I could not sleep; I could not rest my head on a pillow. I would think about how people are unable to control their destinies. I never thought like this before. I regard myself as a somewhat naive person. When I fearlessly took up the task of shooting this film, I did not realize how deep this was. When I look back on it now, I would have accepted it even had I known all along. On the last few days of filming, I did not talk with Lu Chuan at all. Prior to then, I kept asking him questions. I felt that I had to talk to someone just to let it out— Even if we argued, it was alright. During the filming of the movie, I often lost my confidence, because Lu Chuan constantly told me that so-and-so was delivering a great performance, and I had repeatedly been told that I was not good. After hearing so many “no’s,” I found I had developed a thick skin. I did not care that much anymore and I was a lot braver than before. Knowing that I had already hit bottom, I believed that I would bounce back. Filming this movie has impacted me tremendously. If not for this experience, I would never have become a good actress and I would have just lived a safe life. Now, I feel that I am able to tolerate a lot more, the scope of my career has widened, and I am not afraid of failure anymore.

Lu Chuan’s remarks: Gao Yuanyuan previously gave people the impression of being sweet and youthful whereas she is actually very stubborn. She has a strong personality and is very assertive. She often discussed a particular point with me over and over again. I once joked with her: “You should be called Fangfang (meaning "stubbon" in Chinese) instead of Yuanyuan (meaning "flexible").” The role, as a matter of fact, was created with Zhang Chunru in mind. Gao Yuanyuan was the perfect match for the role, because she is one of those girls not afraid of evil.