Representing Buddhism in Cinema at the Lars Nittve Keynote Lecture
The recent event hosted by M+ in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon cultural district featured Joan Chen in conversation with Maggie Lee as part of the Lars Nittve Keynote Lecture Series on February 24th.
This series, supported by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong since 2021, invites influential figures to discuss arts, culture, and significant cultural projects.
Chen, known for her roles in Asian cinema, including her portrayal of empress consort Wanrong in “The Last Emperor,” discussed Bernardo Bertolucci’s mythical retelling of Puyi’s life.
The conversation highlighted the powerful presence of Vajrayana Buddhism in Bertolucci’s film, particularly in the opening scene depicting Empress Dowager Cixi’s passing.
Meanwhile, Gaetano Kazuo Maida of the Buddhist Film Foundation emphasized the importance of contemporary Buddhist-themed films while advocating for more diverse interpretations of historical Buddhist epochs.
He suggested exploring bold historical narratives and adventurous retellings, akin to the Ming novel “Xiyou ji,” to tap into Buddhism’s rich concepts and characters for striking cinematic representations.
