Chinese crosstalk parvenu Guo Degang was recently criticized for
his acting in a recent film Getting Home. In it, the role
Guo Degang plays is that of a highwayman who speaks in Henan
Dialect. Many people from Henan Province expressed their
dissatisfaction, claiming Guo Degang's acting reveals a strong
discrimination against their province.
There are no more martial arts films on Chinese screens this
year. The Chinese film masters are all preparing for their own
projects starring such many big names as Chow Yun-Fat, Andy Lau and
Tony Leung.
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The Hubei-based Changjiang Times comments that it's natural to use
dramatic or even exaggerated gestures for artistic purposes in
movies. To some extent, it adds, the movie language is not
necessarily accurate to real life. The use of local dialects is
injected for the purpose of adding some folk flavor to the movie,
as well as for the creation of fun effects.
However, the Red Net says that Guo Degang's performance actually
reveals a common problem in the creation of many crosstalks and
comic skits nowadays.
Without enough humorous or comical content, practicers resort to
dialects for help. And there has been a hackneyed use of
stereotypes, exploiting certain dialects.
For example, businessmen usually have a Guangdong accent, while
farmers speak in a Shanxi accent, and men with a Shanghai accent
always have a sissy look.
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(CRI.cn February 16, 2007)