In the press conference given today, in the framework of the 44th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Director of the Festival, Michel Demopoulos presented famous cinematographer, Chris Doyle as one of the most prominent cinematographers saying that, “Chris Doyle is a leading figure in cinema, a true artist, an intellectual”, and added that that he left the set of the film “2046” in order to attend the Festival.
“I’m attending the Thessaloniki Film Festival thanks to Wong Kar Wai. Previously I hadn’t attended, again, thanks to Wong Kar Wai”, he said jokingly and added, “You know, we’ve been working together for so many years that it feels like a husband-wife relationship. I believe, though, that we need to continue this insanity: for us to make films and for you to watch them”. In reference to Asian cinema and his relationship with it, Chris Doyle said: “Do you know what a banana is? In English it’s a term used to describe someone who’s yellow. I’m white on the outside and yellow on the inside. I was born near a beach, in Australia, and raised in a catholic family. Essentially, though, I grew up watching Asian cinema. It was by chance that I started working in cinema when I was 30 years old”.
Chris Doyle was asked why he hasn’t become a painter: “It’s because I haven’t been able to balance what my eyes see and what my hands do. I can only connect my hand to a camera, and so, I use a camera instead of a brush. In a sense, I think it’s the same thing”. As far as his relationship with Wong Kar Wai, Chris Doyle said, “Kar Wai is a compulsive smoker. I like to drink a lot. However, we both enjoy reading literature. We have a very special relationship. The two things he usually repeats to me every day are: ‘Chris, is that all you can do?’ and ‘Listen to the music. The music is the setting’”.
Doyle also spoke about the film they are currently working on, “2046”: “2046 is a year, it’s a transfer of time. As you know, in 1976 Hong Kong passed into British rule for another 50 years, so if you add 50 to 1976 you get 2046. The film will screened next year in the Cannes Film Festival, so I assume you’ll be able to see it Greece around June. The film encapsulates all the other films. It’s the most literary we’ve done so far. I believe its imagery is unbelievably invaluable”.
