Title: Wu Qingyuan
Film Title: The Go Master
Year: 2007
Region: China/Japan
Category: Drama/Biography
Language: Chinese
Subtitles: Chinese
Duration: 106 min
Director: Tian Zhuangzhuang
Cast: Zhen Zhang as Wu Qingyuan, Sylvia Chang as Shu Wen (Wu's mother), Keiko Matsuzaka as Fumiko Kita, Akira Emoto as Kensaku Segoe, Ayumi Ito as Kazuko Nakahara, Yi Huang as Wu Qingying, Teruyuki Kagawa, Xuejian Li as Li Yutang, Bai Qing Xin as Wu Yan, Aki Fujii as Mrs. Segoe, Mansaku Fuwa as Matsutaro Shoriki, Takayuki Inoue as Shusai Honinbo, Yoichiro Ito as Kaoru Iwamoto, Kaho Minami as Jikou Son, Takashi Nishina as Minoru Kitani, Hironobu Nomura as Yasunari Kawabata, Nao Omori as Utaro Hashimoto, Chiharu Uchiyama as Mrs. Kitani
Introduction:
Wu Qingyuan, a child prodigy of the Go game born in the Republic of China era. At the age of 11, he became a chess guest under warlord Duan Qirui and supported his family with his extraordinary talent for Go; at 14, he first crossed over to Japan and immediately competed against the newly crowned champion of the Japanese Go Institute, winning mid-game; five years later, Wu Qingyuan co-founded a new Go layout with Japanese up-and-coming Go players, sparking a Go revolution. Between 1939 and 1956, Wu Qingyuan single-handedly defeated the seven most top-tier super Go masters in all of Japan, achieving ten major victories in "Ten Game Matches" and was hailed as the "Go Saint of the Showa Era." With his "95 match-style" "Ten Game Matches," he caused all the grandmasters of the Japanese Go scene to be demoted, creating what the Japanese Go world referred to as the "Wu Qingyuan Era." In his later years, he even invented "21st Century Go," abandoning its utilitarian nature and promoting its artistic value, revealing the profound realm of Go.
"The Go Master" is adapted from his life story. With Zhen Zhang portraying Wu Qingyuan, this legendary Go king traveled to Japan during the peak of his creative brilliance, only to encounter the Sino-Japanese conflict, causing immense pain to Wu Qingyuan's patriotic heart. Under director Tian Zhuangzhuang's handling, "The Go Master" captures the film's beautiful elegance while possessing an incredibly powerful psychological impact, making it an extraordinary work.
"The Go Master" not only aims to expound on the art of Go but also to depict the Eastern culture embodied by Go master Wu Qingyuan under specific historical conditions - Wu Qingyuan's love for Go is extremely pure, allowing him to fully dedicate himself entirely to his work that makes him obsessed. It is precisely because of this spirit that he was able to overcome all difficulties and break free from the constraints of life.
Tian Zhuangzhuang once remarked with emotion that "The Go Master" was the hardest movie he had ever made - because capturing the spiritual world of a person is incredibly challenging, especially since Go itself is already a solemn art form. To convey the inner world of a Go player through the limited scope of a film is even more difficult. Tian Zhuangzhuang believes that in today's world, people need a kind of spirit, a belief; he saw this spirit in Wu Qingyuan - the dedication and persistence towards what one pursues. With this spirit, everyone can transcend societal constraints and achieve their goals. However, this spirit is not easily attained, and truly accomplishing it is rare. Wu Qingyuan achieved it, which represents respect for oneself, life, and society.