Lost in translation

Bale and Chinese director Zhang Yimou,who communicated through an interpreter while making the film spoke about overcoming cultural barriers and revisiting an infamous episode of Chinas past.

This is your first time working with a western film star. Did the collaboration meet or defy your expectations?

Zhang: First,Im amazed at how low key and humble Christian is. The stereotype that Chinese have of Hollywood actors is they probably have an entourage and assistants. So thats definitely changed how I viewed Hollywood actors. And also Christian didnt want to stay in a five-star hotel either. He lived with everybody else. Christian also gave up his weekends to work with us because we work seven days a week.

Bale: However,this seven-day week schedule became something I quite enjoyed cause I liked the momentum. Yimou is top dog in his profession,and he genuinely seemed to have a great deal of humour and laughter on the sets. I didnt always know what the laughter was about but I would laugh with them. I hope theyre not all laughing at me! I felt surrounded by good friends and even if I didnt understand nuances of what was being discussed,I got the essence in the presence of people.

Do you find that your shared experience in filmmaking was enough to communicate despite the language barrier?

Bale: There would be moments where Yimou would come to me and we would work it out between the two of us. And sometimes we would make small adjustments with a scene. I was always convinced Yimou spoke a little bit of English,more than he ever let onto. So wed experiment and see how it works out and sometimes it did and sometimes it didnt.

How are Western actors different than Chinese?

Zhang: Christian said each line in three or four different ways,which is very unusual because Chinese actors normally cannot pull that off. While screening the film for a western audience I realised that during the first one-third of the movie,audiences would laugh at Christians lines. That actually surprised me because when I wrote the script in Chinese,I didnt think that was humorous,but clearly Christian added other layers to it.

I understand Zhang asked you to stand before the cast and give them acting tips but it proved awkward.

Bale: I always think its bad to try to alter anybody elses experience. Apart from that,its not my job. Thats the directors job. And I love very much working with actors who either have no experience or very little experience. I like to try to avoid getting any technique into my acting because I feel like the more known an actor gets,you really have to be exceptional to maintain that feeling of freshness and vitality and enthusiasm instead of falling back on your usual tricks.

Steven Spielberg recommended you for the part after working with you years ago on Empire Of The Sun when you were a child. Did working with kids on this movie take you back?

Bale: Some of the girls would say to me,I would never want to act ever again in my life,this is it. And I would say to them,Thats what I said. Thats exactly what I said when I was your age. The thing that I liked so much was the freshness that they brought.

The movie is set around the atrocities of the Japanese that was on similar lines of what the Nazis did in Europe. Why do you think the world hasnt held the Japanese accountable?

Zhang: Maybe the international community doesnt know much about Nanjing because China,at that time,was really far behind,and they didnt have enough voice or power to actually speak out for themselves. For me,rather than evoking sad feelings,the goal of the movie is to make people see the good side of humanity.