A file photo of Wu Yigong at his home in Shanghai, China, April 10, 2012. /VCG Photo
Fourth-generation Chinese director Wu Yigong, best known for his award-winning film "My Memories of Old Beijing," died at a hospital in Shanghai on Saturday. He was 80 years old.
Born in December 1938 in Chongqing, Wu moved to Shanghai 10 years later. After graduating from the directing department of Beijing Film Academy in 1960, he devoted his whole life to the film industry based in Shanghai, working as a director assistant, director, scriptwriter and producer.
He shot to fame with the "Evening Rain," co-directed with Wu Yonggang, by scoring the first Golden Rooster Award for best motion picture in 1981.
"My Memories of Old Beijing," Wu Yigong's first solo film based on the novel of the same name written by Lin Haiyin, won him multiple awards in 1983, such as the third Golden Rooster Award for best director, and the Golden Eagle Award for best picture at the second Manila International Film Festival.
His other works include "Sister," "The Tribulations of a Young Master" and "A Confucius Family" among others. His unique lyrical narrative style has had such a far-reaching influence that the Shanghai Film Association called him "our flag" in film creation.
Shanghai has been a key base for New China's film industry. To enhance its international influence, Wu, as the president of the Shanghai Film Bureau, initiated the Shanghai International Film Festival in 1993, which is China's only international class-A film festival.
Wu Yigong is honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Shanghai International Film Festival, June 16, 2012. /VCG Photo
Wu also served as vice president of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and president of the China Film Association, and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the China Film Directors' Guild and Shanghai International Film Festival, respectively, in 2012.
In May, the artist wrote "Shanghai film lives forever" in his sick bed to express his expectations for his beloved cause.
The death of the artist broke the hearts of film industry insiders and audiences.
Chinese actor Feng Yuanzheng prayed for Wu in his blog on Sina Weibo, China's equivalent of Twitter, saying, "Hope you continue to tell 'My Memories of Old Beijing' in heaven."
Some internet users used the lyrics of "Bidding Farewell," the theme song of "My Memories of Old Beijing," to express their grief.
"Beyond pavilions, beside old paths,
Green grass merging with sky ...
Rarely in this life the joy of meeting,
Only too many partings."