Chloé Zhao Defends Comic-Book Movies: ‘It’s Important to Not Write Off Stories Because We Don’t Consider Them High Art’
When Chloé Zhao was growing up, she dreamed not of directing movies but becoming a manga artist. “But I wasn’t very good at drawing. I wasn’t up to standard,” she said with a laugh during a wide-ranging masterclass about her career on Friday afternoon at the Venice Film Festival. “I wanted to tell stories. I […]
Director Chloé Zhao has maintained a curious approach to large-scale, commercially-driven Hollywood productions in recent times: Despite her ability to earn accolades and financial success with more intimate and personal projects, Zhao's ventures into the world of intellectual property have yielded less favorable outcomes. Her Eternals film, featuring a roster of well-known characters, was one of the underperforming releases in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's history.
Even worse, her attempt to adapt the beloved TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer was ultimately scrapped by Hulu in March. Despite these setbacks, Zhao remains committed to the significance of more fantastical and dramatic storylines often found in comic book narratives. At the Venice International Film Festival, she discussed the importance of not dismissing stories simply because they may not be considered high art.
Zhao emphasized that storytelling's purpose is to create spaces for individuals to process their own experiences, and archetypes play a crucial role in connecting with audiences universally. Even when compared to her 2020 Oscar-winning film Nomadland, Zhao pointed out that the contrast is minimal—the stories revolve around people in nature and their complex relationships with the environment.
Zhao also revealed that her passion for storytelling began with comic books, though she admits she was not particularly skilled at drawing. Regarding her experience working on Eternals, Zhao expressed her joy, stating that it felt like a dream come true for any anime enthusiasts, as comics are the Western counterpart to manga.
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