Zhang Li (; born 1 April 1957) is a Chinese director and cinematographer best known for his directorial works Towards the Republic (2001), Ming Dynasty in 1566 (2006), Memories In China (2007), The Road We Have Taken (2008), and Young Marshal (2014).
Zhang became a frequent collaborator with director Feng Xiaogang, as cinematographer on his films Sigh (2000), Big Shot's Funeral (2001), A World Without Thieves (2004), and The Banquet (2006).
Early life and education Zhang was born in Tangshan, Hebei, on April 1, 1957. In 1974, before the end of the Cultural Revolution, he became a sent-down youth in Pingjiang County, Hunan. He was also a back man in Xiaoxiang Film Studio. In 1978, he enrolled at Beijing Film Academy, where he studied alongside Zhang Yimou, Gu Changwei, Chen Kaige, Li Shaohong, and Tian Zhuangzhuang. After graduation, he was assigned to Xiaoxiang Film Studio.
Career Zhang made his directorial debut Jungle Escape in 1986, but the film has not been released.
In 1989, he directed Fake Hero, a drama film starring Niu Ben, Ji Ling, Feng Shun and Yan Bide.
In 1995, Zhang shot Ye Daying's Red Cherry, for which he received the Best Cinematography nomination at the 16th Golden Rooster Awards.
Zhang's cinematographic career began in 1990 with cinematographer Chi Xiaoning and director Chen Guoxing on their film Roaring Across the Horizon, which earned him a Best Cinematography at the 20th Golden Rooster Awards.
Zhang worked with director Feng Xiaogang in 2000 Sigh, the film stars Zhang Guoli, Liu Bei, Xu Fan and Fu Biao. The film won several awards at the 24th Cairo Film Festival, including Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress.
In 2001, he directed Towards the Republic, a historical television series starring Wang Bing, Lyu Zhong, Sun Chun, Ma Shaohua and Li Guangjie. At the same year, he served as cinematographer for Big Shot's Funeral, his second collaboration with director Feng Xiaogang. The film stars Ge You, Rosamund Kwan and Donald Sutherland.
In 2004, Zhang was selected as cinematographer for the action drama film A World Without Thieves, his third collaboration with Feng Xiaogang. The film stars Andy Lau, Rene Liu, Ge You, Wang Baoqiang and Li Bingbing. It was released in China on December 5, 2004.
In 2006, he went on to serve as cinematographer for The Banquet. He won the Best Cinematography at the 51st Asia Pacific Film Festival, and received the Best Cinematography nomination at the 43rd Golden Horse Awards. That same year, he directed Ming Dynasty in 1566, the series has a score of 9.6 out of 10. It is one of the highest scores in TV series on Douban.
In 2007, he directed Memories In China, which earned him a Best Full-length TV series at the 4th Seoul International Drama Awards and a Third Prize of the Flying Apsaras Awards.
In 2008, Zhang directed The Road We Have Taken, the series stars Sun Honglei, Huang Zhizhong, Ke Lan, Rolling Zhang, Zhang Zhijian, and Guo Guangping. He won numerous awards, including the Outstanding TV series at 25th China TV Golden Eagle Award, the Best Television Series at the 16th Shanghai TV Festival, the First Prize of the Flying Apsaras Awards, and the Best Director at the 16th Shanghai TV Festival. That same year, he shot the epic war film Red Cliff with Lü Yue. The film was directed by John Woo and stars Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Zhao Wei, Hu Jun and Lin Chi-ling.
In 2011, Zhang co-directed with Jackie Chan in 1911. The film stars Winston Chao, Jackie Chan, Li Bingbing and Sun Chun. The rest of the principal cast, including Jaycee Chan, Hu Ge, Yu Shaoqun, Joan Chen, Huang Zhizhong, Jiang Wu, Ning Jing, Jiang Wenli, Mei Ting, Wei Zongwan, Dennis To, Wang Ziwen, Tobgyal, Simon Dutton, and James Lee Guy. The film won the Outstanding Film at the 21st Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival.
In 2013, he directed Forty Nine Days, adapted from Geling Yan's novel The Flowers of War.
In 2014, Zhang directed Young Marshal, a biographical historical drama television series centered on Zhang Xueliang, a warlord in the Republic of China (1912-1949) during the early 20th century. The drama stars Wen Zhang as Zhang Xueliang, alongside Li Xuejian as Zhang's father, Song Jia as Zhang's first wife Yu Fengzhi and Zhang Xinyi as Zhang's second wife Edith Chao.
In 2016, Zhang directed Martial Universe, a TV series adaptation based on the internet novel of the same name by Tiancan Tudou. The series stars Yang Yang, Zhang Tian'ai, Chun Wu, Wang Likun, Ashton Chen, and Ada Liu. The series set to air on Hunan Television and will premiere in 2018.
In 2017, Zhang directed Cao Cao, based on the life of Cao Cao, a warlord and the penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty who rose to great power in the final years of the dynasty. Actor Jiang Wen confirmed that he would portray the male lead.
Personal life Zhang Li married actress Liu Bei in 2003, the couple have a son, and they divorced after three year of the marriage.
Filmography As cinematographer Cinematographer Year English title Chinese title Director Notes 1990 Roaring Across the Horizon Chen Guoxing with Chi Xiaoning 1995 Red Cherry Ye Daying 1996 The Days Without My Comrade Kang Ning and Lei Xianhe 1999 A Time to Remember 2000 Sigh Feng Xiaogang 2001 Big Shot's Funeral 2004 A World Without Thieves 2006 The Banquet 2008 Red Cliff John Woo with Lü Yue
As director Director Year English title Chinese title Notes 1986 Jungle Escape Film 1989 Fake Hero Film 2001 Towards the Republic TV series 2003 Military Secrets TV series 2005 Blades TV series 2006 Ming Dynasty in 1566 TV series 2007 Memories In China TV series 2008 The Road We Have Taken TV series 2009 Confucius TV series 2010 The Shengtianmen Gate TV series 2011 1911 Film 2012 The Merchants of Qing Dynasty TV series Nine Years TV series Three Kingdoms Film 2013 Forty Nine Days TV series 2014 Young Marshal TV series 2016 Martial Universe TV series 2017 Cao Cao TV series2020With You在一起TV series2021LOSE&WIN输赢TV series2022Out of Court庭外TV series2024In the name of the brother哈尔滨一九四四TV series
As producer Year English title Chinese title Director Notes 2017 Legend of Sun Ruowei Zhang Ting
As art director Year English title Chinese title Director Notes 1999 Yongzheng Dynasty Hu Mei
Film and TV Awards As director Year Nominated work Award Result Notes 2005 Military Secrets Double-Top Ten Chinese TV series 2010 The Road We Have Taken 16th Shanghai TV Festival - Best Director 2016 Young Marshal 22nd Shanghai TV Festival - Best Director
As cinematographer Year Nominated work Award Result Notes 1996 Red Cherry 16th Golden Rooster Award for Best Cinematography 2000 Roaring Across the Horizon 20th Golden Rooster Award for Best Cinematography 2006 The Banquet 43rd Golden Horse Award for Best Cinematography 51st Asia Pacific Film Festival - Best Cinematography 2007 12th Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Cinematography 26th Golden Rooster Award for Best Cinematography 2009 Red Cliff (Part I) Hong Kong Film Award for Best Cinematography 2010 Red Cliff (Part II) Hong Kong Film Award for Best Cinematography
References
External links
Zhang Li Douban Zhang Li Mtime