Billed as the second most-read book in China behind a certain little red specimen, Wolf Totem is getting the 3D-film treatment. Jiang Rong’s bestseller has been adapted by an eye-catching production crew headlined by Academy Award-winning director Jean-Jacques Annaud. Opening on February 19, it will battle Dragon Blade for the Spring Festival’s box office supremacy.
Few books enjoy the hallowed status of Wolf Totem. The semi-autobiographical account about a young Beijing student sent to Inner Mongolia during the Cultural Revolution won the first Man Booker Asia Prize, set a record for translation rights of a Chinese book and inspired numerous (fraudulent) sequels.
Set in 1967, the story follows Chen Zhen and Yang Ke who are assigned to the E’lun Prairie in Inner Mongolia. Adapting to their new lives as nomads, the two befriend the local Bilige family and soon receive an unexpected visit from some wolves.
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Initially terrified, Chen becomes increasingly interested in the animals. However, conflict arises when intruders attempt to poach the area’s gazelles and wolves. As tensions escalate, Wolf Totem explores the tangled relationship between humans, animals and nature.
While Peter Jackson, of Lord of the Rings fame, initially purchased the story’s film rights in 2005, the state-run China Film Group has now taken the reigns. They’ve assembled an expert crew, featuring leading Hollywood music producer James Roy Horner, top-ranking aerial photography team Lantian Feiyang and the Harry Potter films’ post-production team. Anticipation hit a peak in 2009 when China Film Group they confirmed Annaud’s participation as director.
“I read the book in a magnificent French translation,” Annaud recalls. “I was fascinated by the fact that a Chinese writer had incredible success in China with a novel about nature conservation, and was fighting for a number of themes that have long been at the center of my own preoccupations.”
For the film, 17 wolves were raised on four ranches: some located an hour outside of Beijing, and some in Inner Mongolia. Annaud recruited Andrew Simpson, who he describes as “the best wolf trainer in the world.”
The Canadian specialist spent several years in China, building a rapport with the wolves and raising them from pups. “The most important thing is to make sure they see you when they first open their eyes,” he explains.
While Annaud resolutely proclaims that no computer-generated effects were used in the film, rumors remain rampant that it was impossible to shoot the wolf-pack scenes without special effects.
Lu Wei, one of the screenwriters, told MTime about his doubts. The acclaimed adapter of Farewell My Concubine said, “I heard that Annaud was raising a wolf pack, but shooting them is a different story. But he told me to write as I wanted, and he would make it happen.”
Simpson explains that the key to raising wolves and earning their trust is to attempt to see the world through their eyes. Not only were the actors and director required to get close to the wolves, but it became a requirement for even the aerial photographers.
With experience filming full-length documentaries for CCTV, Lantian Fenyang were up for the task. “To be able to join the filming team was very significant for us,” a member of their team says. “We expected it could be challenging, but not impossible. The most difficult thing was shooting under extreme weather, anything from strong winds to heavy storms.”
In addition to working with the wolves, Lantian Fenyang was tasked with capturing the breathtaking landscape of E’lun Prairie. They admit to using few tricks, explaining, “We used drones to film certain scenes. Given the unpredictable weather and the wolves, we were forced to rely heavily on our experienced drone pilots to make sure we’d get the shot.”
After six years, Wolf Totem completed shooting last August and will hit cinemas on February 19. The preview has already set a record for online views, justifying Annaud’s gambit in turning down an opportunity to direct the Academy Award winning Life of Pi.
“I love to be reminded that we share the same basic instincts and emotions as animals,” he says. “Directing animals is a great,humbling lesson compared to directing babies, children or Hollywood film stars.”
// Wolf Totem opens across the country on February 19.
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