介绍:
Even if you don't know Niu Chunlong's name, you may have heard about her husband John Woo, one of the most celebrated Asian filmmakers in Hollywood. From the Academy-award nominated movie "Face/Off" to the hyperkinetic blockbuster "Mission Impossible II", Woo&`&s works are always tagged with the aestheticization of violence and the theme of masculinity.
But in his war epic "Red Cliff", the director went soft. He turned Xiaoqiao, a wife of a military general of the 3rd century, into a main character as a confession of love to his wife.
"The historical record of Xiaoqiao is pretty dim. So I thought why not portray this character by borrowing the image of my wife that I carry in my mind? A good wife is just like a confidante of a lonely swordsman. She not only comforts and understands him emotionally, but also acts as a brave and strong woman in her own right. "
Woo's description of this strong, considerate woman does fit the figure illustrated in his wife's essay collection, "In This Life", or in Chinese, "Jin Sheng Yuan".
Selected from blog entries, the book is Niu Chunlong&`&s reflection on families, friends and religion. Instead of casually enumerating the big names she knows, like those usual celebrity books do, Niu warmly recounts the joy and sorrow, triumph and hardship of her past. From the absence of father during her childhood, the economic predicament of early marriage to the overnight fame of her husband and the harmonious, simple domestic life, the author skates over the emotional surface of all those key events of her life and gently documents the ups and downs with candor, tenacity and gratitude.
"I try to avoid writing negative elements in my book. Actually I think I live an easy life. I just want to share my life lessons with others with a common heart. "
Many pieces of the collection mark her 39 years of wedlock with John Woo, which hum with hope, appreciation and affection. Without overstating any anecdotes of her husband or their celebrity friends, which may disappoint some curious readers, the low-profile author plainly unveils her household affairs, parenting skills and conjugal trivia with wisdom and sophistication.
No matter it is Woo&`&s career setback, overwhelming fame or his struggle with cancer, she has always dealt with ease and clam and acted as the strong backing. That&`&s probably explains why the pair has been hailed as the model couple in the entertainment industry.
Niu explains her recipe for successful marriage.
"I think mutual respect is crucial for a family. You need to apply the wisdom of two people to tackle with all the problems in life. If I fail to perform, I will affect my husband and vice versa. Any discord could affect our children and those friends we hold dear. The positive energy of one&`&s marriage ought to be well-maintained all the time. Once you slack off, it&`&s extremely hard to regain it back. "
Just like Rabbi Barnett R. Brickner once said: "Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate." By reading through Niu Chunlong&`&s from-the-heart manifesto, you may get the idea.
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