Changing Values

Zhang Ziyi is hot! One of the Four Young Dan actresses in China, the others being Zhao Wei, Xu Jinglei and Zhou Xun, Zhang Ziyi has had a string of Chinese and International hits including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha which were directed by Ang Lee and Rob Marshall respectively. I remember seeing Zhang Ziyi for the first time in Chang Yi Mou's The Road Home, an exquisite, heart warming love story between a school teacher and a country girl. Zhang Ziyi had looked so sweet and innocent then and one'd probably not dream that she would be caught sunbathing topless and frolicking on a Caribbean beach. The series of 81 photos of her getting intimate with her Israeli fiancé, billionaire Vivi Nevo recently has inccured the wrath of critics. A critic wrote: Zhang Ziyi is really shameless. She is with a foreigner, but should remember certain conduct is expected of Chinese women. Of course, Chinese especially in ancient time, require a woman to be prim and proper. Kissing or even holding hands in public used to be taboo but nowadays, many Chinese women have learned from their Western counterparts and have learned to be less of a prude . Going topless in public in whatever circumstances however still draws frowns and what more when there is a suggestion of sex is involved. In the case of Zhang Ziyi, what has transpired perhaps shows the changing values and if the changes are good, I suppose, it should be welcome. In her case too, I just wonder: Many artistes, Chinese or otherwise, often strips and perform love scenes in movies. Now, is there any difference if one strips for the movie and another strip for his or her own pleasure?



Zhang ZhiYi as she appeared in The Road Home...


Zhang ZhiYi in a sexy pose...

Zhang Ziyi watching a basketball game between New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets with a boyfriend...