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责任编辑&排版 | 向晚晚
In 1993, Chen Kaige's movie "Farewell My Concubine" was released in Hong Kong, which caused a huge response in just a few days, and several leading actors in the film gained great attention.
Leslie Cheung plays Cheng Dieyi in the film who is not crazy and can't live.
In the play, he is an old actor who twists his character, talks delicately, and laughs sourly; outside the play, he is extremely strict with himself, like a drama idiot.
And behind the filming of the movie, there are many untold stories.
01
In 1991, after Xu Feng watched the original work of "Farewell My Concubine", he decided that Cheng Dieyi's role was none other than Leslie Cheung.
However, Chen Kaige didn't know Leslie Cheung at that time, so Xu Feng showed him Leslie Cheung's film disc to help him understand Leslie Cheung's acting skills.
It doesn't matter if you look at it, Chen Kaige was deeply attracted by Leslie Cheung's performance, and immediately decided to go to Leslie Cheung in person.
Chen Kaige flew to Hong Kong to meet Leslie Cheung, but because there was no script, he simply told Leslie Cheung the plot on the spot.
And Leslie Cheung just listened silently throughout the whole process, after Chen Kaige finished speaking, his hand holding the cigarette trembled slightly, stood up, and only said one word to Chen Kaige: "I am Cheng Dieyi!"
In order to better understand and interpret the role of Cheng Dieyi, Leslie Cheung had in-depth exchanges and discussions with Chen Kaige and screenwriter Lu Wei, and constantly adjusted and improved his performance.
Not only that, in order to be closer to the role in the play in terms of image, Leslie Cheung went to Beijing half a year before the crew started filming and found the famous Peking Opera artist Zhang Manling to learn Xi Peking Opera.
At that time, Leslie Cheung was already well-known in Hong Kong and starred in many TV series and movies, but when he met Manling Cheung, he introduced himself like this: "Hello teacher, my name is Leslie Cheung. ”
This brief self-introduction left a deep impression on Zhang Manling and deeply moved her. Because Leslie Cheung does not regard himself as a star, but as a student who humbly seeks advice.
02
Leslie Cheung is particularly able to endure hardships, as the absolute protagonist, during the filming process, he never made any special requirements for the crew, and almost never rested on the scene.
Once, when Manling Cheung went to the crew, just as Leslie Cheung's scene for the day was filmed, she found that Leslie Cheung was blushing, but he was still pressing his legs.
Zhang Manling stepped forward to inquire, and learned that Leslie Cheung was having a high fever, and exclaimed: "Don't you rest even if you have a fever?"
Leslie Cheung smiled indifferently: "It doesn't matter much, I haven't studied Peking Opera, so I have to work harder." ”
Many years later, Zhang Manling recalled the events of that year, and said with emotion: "He is really a very talented person, the most important thing in Peking Opera is actually Shen Yun, and he did it." ”
It is precisely because of his almost strict requirements for himself that Leslie Cheung can perfectly interpret the role of Cheng Dieyi, in and out of the play, he is that person.
In addition to carefully studying the part of Peking Opera, during the filming process, Leslie Cheung also has his own insistence on the presentation of the film effect.
When filming the scene of Cheng Dieyi quitting smoking, there was a scene where Leslie Cheung needed to smash the glass hard, and after a set of shots, the director said that it was okay, but Leslie Cheung was not satisfied with his performance and asked for a reshoot.
So, this shot was shot several times at Leslie Cheung's insistence, and the last time, he smashed the glass too hard and directly cut off a piece of the flesh on his little thumb.
Everyone was very nervous and wanted to send him to the hospital, but Leslie Cheung smiled and said, "It's okay, it's finally done now!"
03
In addition to carefully studying his own roles, Leslie Cheung also cooperated very well with actors such as Zhang Fengyi and Ge You, and interpreted the emotions in the film deeply into the hearts of the people.
Once, when filming a Peking Opera scene, Leslie Cheung and Ge You both needed to wear Peking Opera costumes.
Since their costumes are so gorgeous, makeup artists need to spend more time putting them in makeup.
While waiting for the makeup, Leslie Cheung and Ge You chatted.
They talked about the history of Peking Opera, the career of the actors, and so on, and both of them were very interested. By the time the makeup artist had put on their makeup, they were already chatting very happily.
When filming an emotional scene, Leslie Cheung and Ge You need to express deep emotions.
In order to better enter the role, the two did a lot of communication in private, and Leslie Cheung affectionately called Ge You "buddy".
Through in-depth communication, they have a deeper understanding of the role and are more comfortable when shooting. After the filming of this scene, the two became closer.
Once after filming, everyone was talking and laughing together, and when Ge You unexpectedly learned that Leslie Cheung was 1 year older than him, he asked in disbelief: "How did you grow up?"
Ge You's serious expression and his exaggerated tone made everyone laugh.
Leslie Cheung pretended to pat Ge You's shoulder deeply and shouted: Brother Ge Youxian.
Since that day, Leslie Cheung has been calling Ge You "Brother Ge You".
After the movie was completed, Leslie Cheung still maintained his usual elegance, giving Ge You a signed version of the concert CD, solemnly writing five words: "To Brother Ge Youxian".
Write at the end
It can be seen that Leslie Cheung is not a person who cares about life for the sake of work.
In between filming, he is also a person who loves to laugh and make trouble, and if he finishes work early, he will pay out of his own pocket to invite the crew to drink coffee together.
Perhaps it is precisely because of Leslie Cheung's perfect interpretation of the role, as well as his full understanding of the feelings of the people in the play, and the cooperation with other actors that "Farewell My Concubine" has achieved so many good results.
It is said that drama is like life, life is like drama, and those who know Leslie Cheung know that the reason why he took this drama is because of his original family.
Leslie Cheung's family is very good, and his father is the owner of a tailor shop, but he doesn't give him much love.
Once, when he went to his father's company, he was jokingly asked by the staff if his father had taken him to tea.
Who knew that Leslie Cheung blurted out that he was not familiar with him.
Maybe in the eyes of Leslie Cheung, Cheng Dieyi in the play has a similar and not so happy childhood to himself, so he will do his best to interpret it with all his heart.
This year is the 20th anniversary of Leslie Cheung's death, and although he has been gone for so long, in the hearts of many fans, his brother has never been far away.
This is probably my brother's unique personality charm!
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