From a book of interviews with Chinese film director, Zhang Yimou:
Displaying modernity is the same as displaying antiques. All these things become unimportant when you put your sights on people, when you begin to penetrate the spiritual world of people. When you make a film, the packaging becomes part of the story—part of the narrative—but it doesn’t represent it. Relying on its wrapping and mold to establish yourself should be a thing of the past…The setting of a film—no matter if it’s yellow earth or a five star hotel—if the story requires it, you just go film it. When its no longer required, nothing will fit. The pure image can’t support the life of a film anymore…