He Ping dies: The Chinese director of “Sun Valley” and “Warriors Of Heaven And Earth” was 65

The Chinese director, screenwriter and producer He Ping, who is best known internationally for his hybrid “Chinese Westerns”, has died at the age of 65. Local press reported that he died of illness on January 10 in Beijing.

Known at international film festivals, He Ping was one of the first Chinese filmmakers to work and direct with an American studio. Warriors of Heaven and Earth with backing from the now-defunct Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia (CPFPA) in 2003. Similar to two award-winning films he made in the 1990s, the film is set in the western deserts of China and combined elements of classic westerns and Chinese wuxia . (sword fighting) movies.

Born in Shanxi Province, he began his career in the 1980s. He initially directed stage productions and documentaries and later switched to the state-owned Xian Film Studio, where famous directors such as Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige began their careers. His early feature films included We are the world (1988) and Yoshiko Kawashima (1989) about the Manchurian-Japanese princess of the same name.

In the 1990s he made his first two Chinese westerns, Swordsman in the city with double flag (1991) and sunny valley (1995), along with historical drama Red fireworks, green fireworks (1994), which received a special mention from the jury at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. Swordsman in the city with double flag won the grand prize at the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival in Japan sunny valley was honored with the Alfred Bauer Prize at the Berlin Film Festival.

Warriors of Heaven and Earth, starring Jiang Wen and Zhao Wei, was China’s entry in the Best Foreign Language Film (then known) category at the 2004 Academy Awards. Sony’s CPFPA, then directed by American producer Barbara Robinson, co-produced the film with Huayi Brothers & Taihe Film. Investment Co. and Xian Film Studio. The CPFPA’s Chinese list also included films such as Ang Lee’s during this time Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Stephen Chows Kung Fu hype.

In 2009 he directed a historical drama Wheatstarring Fan Bingbing, which he also co-produced with Polybona Films (later known as Bona Film Co) and Xian Film Studio. His 2015 film, The Promised Landabout a ballet dancer who moves to Beijing to advance her career, received an honorable mention from the Platform Jury at the Toronto International Film Festival.

A statement in honor of He released by the China Film Directors Association said: “We are shocked to learn that Mr. He Ping, a member of the China Film Association, former vice president and secretary general of the China Film Director Association and a prominent national director, died of illness. We express our deepest condolences to Mr. He Ping’s family.”

The statement went on to say that He’s films are “deeply loved by movie audiences and praised by industry experts for their strong artistic pursuits and unique creative style. Mr. He Ping made outstanding contributions to the country’s film industry and left valuable artistic wealth. His death is a great loss to the Chinese film industry.”