Xu Ang's debut a triumph in Rome

Xu Ang's Twelve Citizens－an adaptation of 1957 US movie 12 Angry Men－won the best movie award at the Roman International Film Festival. Luca Dammicco / China Daily

Xu says: "Almost all the major countries in the world have remade 12 Angry Men. A French adaptation was sent to the Roman film festival last year but was not nominated. The American hit TV series The Good Wife used the story as a template for its second episode in the second season.

"It's very interesting. Different versions show the different values in their respective countries."

Xu says he tried to adapt the US movie in 2005, but he found it hard to write a script setting the Western jury system in modern China. He finally arrived at a clear conception in 2012.

Xu hardly takes a break during the two-hour interview. The veteran drama director is eloquent and often weaves philosophy into his conversation.

The location that he has picked for the interview is nestled in a corner in the chaotic central business district, which the Beijing native says gives him inspirations.

"I live in this area, which gives me an unreal feeling," Xu says. "The streets and commercial buildings are noisy on typical days. But when the Spring Festival comes, all the buildings are empty."

The difference provides Xu with a fresh angle to think about prejudice.

"People usually just believe what they see, but it's actually a bias," he says.

"My movie tells of 12 biases from the mouths of the 12-member jury, which reflects the social conflicts in today's China."

Chen Wei, a stage artist and his studio partner, attributes Xu's achievements to his single-mindedness. "He is someone who can ignore all the worldly affairs and just concentrate on his creative work."

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