Self-criticism is the right thing to do, but you have to grasp the proper degree—this is not easy to handle, and many films really go way too far with it. The whole trend was like this, and it only started to improve a little over a decade later, because the level of development in the motherland forced those Western film critics to accept the fact that socialism could also be high-end, impressive, and classy.

At this time, Samuel Wright felt utterly disgusted by this trend. He thought that if this could be called art, then this art was just too degrading!

So, Samuel Wright wrote exactly what he thought. He harshly criticized this filming approach that catered to the tastes of Western film critics and Western audiences. He didn’t talk much about this particular movie, mainly targeting the overall trend. Samuel Wright wrote more than two thousand words in a sweeping, eloquent style.

After finishing the exam, Samuel Wright even felt that he had done quite well. Of course, even now, the reborn Samuel Wright didn’t think he was wrong, because even in the era when he was hit and killed, countless so-called artists were doing the same thing. It’s just that, at that time, making movies wasn’t so easy, because it was hard to find locations. But photography was still going strong. As far as Samuel Wright knew, a “classroom” in a Yi ethnic village in the Daliang Mountains of Sichuan had even become a photography mecca in China. Countless professional photographers got the works they wanted there, took them to international competitions, and often won awards. As for whether the photos were staged—WHO CARES.

The third test was the interview. Samuel Wright remembered that the interview teacher gave him a hard time right from the start, and since he had fainted earlier, his mind was still groggy. So, it was no surprise that his final score was so dismal. Samuel Wright remembered very clearly what the teacher said.

“Samuel Wright, among the more than two thousand candidates applying for the literature department, you are the only one who dared to criticize director Zhang Yimou’s works. That’s why we let you into the final interview. We just want to ask you: as a literary and artistic worker, when praising certain things, should he face social reality? Should he dig into the dark side of society? Or, how should he go about digging into it?”

Samuel Wright had already entered the examination room, standing right in front of the interview teachers. Samuel Wright remembered very clearly that, at that time, he didn’t say anything at all.

On one hand, his head was spinning; on the other, Samuel Wright knew very well that the interview teacher was right—reality must be faced, and every society has a dark side, unless the day communism is achieved.

Actually, this is a question of balance—how to find a central point. Only by finding this point can one be impartial, able to both praise and uncover social problems, to show the darkness while also bringing light. That is the perfect state.

Back then, Samuel Wright couldn’t find this point. The later Samuel Wright didn’t find it either. But now, Samuel Wright would answer this question.

“Teachers, I’d like to tell you a story, if I may?” But now, instead of answering the teachers’ question directly, Samuel Wright asked a question in return.

“Oh, of course.” Although a bit surprised, the teachers still gave Samuel Wright the freedom.

Samuel Wright began, speaking very calmly: “My cousin has a friend who once studied abroad, in a country very close to us—South Korea. She rented an apartment outside the school, but when the landlord first met her, the landlord did something quite interesting.”

At this point, the interview teachers were all drawn in by Samuel Wright’s story. They wanted to know what this tall, thin candidate was going to say, because the story didn’t seem to have much to do with his essay.

Samuel Wright continued: “The landlord took out a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste, then said to her, ‘This is toothpaste and a toothbrush. You need to use these to clean your teeth. You probably haven’t seen these in your country, right?’”

“Huh?” As soon as Samuel Wright finished speaking, all four interview teachers showed looks of disbelief.

This story was something Samuel Wright had found online, told by a student studying abroad—Samuel Wright remembered it clearly. This story was still fairly acceptable; Samuel Wright didn’t even dare to embellish it with that tea egg story. The strength of the people from Taiwan is truly beyond what the interview teachers could imagine!

“This is the story I wanted to tell, and it’s also why I wrote that kind of essay. I know information is still pretty closed off right now, and there are still prejudices against us abroad. They think we’re still some kind of uncivilized people—barbaric, ugly! But don’t we ourselves have any responsibility?!”

At this point, the four teachers had stopped all their work and were just looking at Samuel Wright.

Samuel Wright was somewhat emotional: “What I actually wanted to criticize in my essay was being ugly for the sake of being ugly, digging up all the ugliness just to win awards internationally, to cater to Western tastes at all costs. This is what I hate the most! The result is that outsiders understand us even less. Not to mention the West—even Koreans, who are so close to us, have this kind of view. I deeply feel that this is selfish, shameful, and detestable!”

In the end, Samuel Wright was practically shouting, and the interview teachers were all stunned by him—this kid really dared to speak his mind!