Dances with wolves

“What I did was pick the best wolf trainer in the world and convince him to live in China for several years,” reveals Annuad.

This year Jean-Jacques Annaud, the mastermind as a metaphor for China’s nomadic cultures pups being used for Wolf Totem were bred behind Enemy at the Gates and Academy in comparison to the ethnic Han “sheep.” in Chinese zoos. Before the little balls of Award-winning Black and White in Color, Mirroring Lu’s own life, the protagonist fur were 21 days old he was by their side to has recently been scouting the steppe of Inner leaves Beijing for the grasslands of Inner ensure they would imprint on him the moment Mongolia for his latest project, an adaptation of Mongolia during the Cultural Revolution, they opened their eyes, thus identifying him as best-selling Chinese novel Wolf Totem. where he is schooled in the way of the land a trusted igure. and comes to understand the importance of Written by Lu Jiamin under the pseudonym equilibrium between man and beast. Using real wolves is a crucial part of Jiang Rong, Wolf Totem won the inaugural Man Annaud’s philosophy towards environmental Asian Literary Prize in 2007, and is reportedly If you are expecting extensive CGI and protection. “I love to be reminded that we the most circulated piece of literature in the motion-capture effects to be used in place share the same basic instincts and emotions as country after Mao’s Little Red Book. of the genuine article, you obviously aren’t animals. Directing animals is a great humbling familiar with Annaud’s previous body of lesson compared to directing babies, children Movie rights were snapped up by the Beijing work. In both The Bear and tiger tale Two or Hollywood ilm stars.” Forbidden City Film Company right after its Brothers, the director made a point of using original publication in 2004, but the project real animals for much of the shooting. His He believes that the similarities between homo had been languishing for ive years before upcoming release will prove no exception. sapiens and other fauna are too often ignored Annaud announced his participation in 2009. by modern man, who would rather consider “What I did was pick the best wolf trainer in himself on a different plane of existence. “I read the book in a magniicent French the world and convince him to live in China “Most people are very uncomfortable about translation,” says the 68-year-old, recalling his for several years,” reveals Annuad. “Andrew their wild impulses. If only they would realize initial interest. “I was fascinated by the fact Simpson is a highly respected and specialized that they are just evolved mammals.” that a Chinese writer had incredible success in Canadian wolf specialist. We built a ranch for China with a novel about nature conservation him and his animals an hour away from Beijing. Wolf Totem’s schedule is still being discussed and ighting for a number of themes that for He is getting exceptional results from our blue- with the China Film Group, the inluential decades have been at the center of my own eyed, brown-leeced Mongolian stars.” state-run enterprise that owns stocks in preoccupations.” Beijing Forbidden City Film Company, but Simpson and his company Instinct have utilized Annaud hopes to inalize the cast in a few His original peregrinations to China’s northern their expertise in numerous commercials, weeks and start second unit photography border were taken with Lu, visiting the area in television shows and ilms that required in the fall. With the promotion for his last preparation for writing the screenplay. What potentially dangerous beasts, including the ilm, Middle Eastern drama Black Gold, started out as a professional acquaintance has 2009 Loup, shot in Siberia and described as the now behind him, he can concentrate all his since blossomed into a true bond. “He is a biggest wolf ilm ever. The trainer has even had attention on the Jiang Rong adaptation. man I love and respect. He has become in an award-winning documentary made about his the meantime a wonderful friend of mine,” affectionate relationship with his canine friends, “For a ilmmaker, next year sounds like an says Annaud. Wolves Unleashed. eternity,” remarks Annaud. “Wolf Totem is my eternity.” As the title suggests, Wolf Totem deals In an interview with Canadian weekly extensively with Canis lupus, particularly Maclean’s, Simpson mentioned that the wolf