What is embarrassing is that on August 18, 2020, Xie Yuan, who was once known as one of the "Three Musketeers of Mainland Comedy", and was well-known at home and abroad, drew a perfect end to his artistic career with his 61-year-old strong life.
Although his deeds may not be known to everyone, judging from films such as "The Child King" and "The King of Chess", he is undoubtedly a dazzling pearl in the history of Chinese domestic films, however, unfortunately, because these works have been around for a long time, his popularity among young audiences is difficult to match with the current stars.
Throughout Xie Yuan's life journey, he has always maintained a low-key and introverted quality, but when the news of his departure came, the entire entertainment industry suddenly set off a great shock.
Heavyweight artists like Zhang Yimou, Ge You, Song Dandan, Liu Xiaoqing, Zuo Xiaoqing, and Feng Yuanzheng have expressed their condolences at the first time, many of them are Xie Yuan's close friends, and some are classmates and alumni from the Beiying period.
Zhang Yimou said affectionately: "I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of the unfortunate untimely death of my dear friend Xie Yuan. May you still be full of laughter and laughter in heaven.
However, compared to the grief and blessings of other artists, Xie Yuan left behind a puzzling will: he decided not to set up a mourning hall after his death, nor to hold any kind of farewell ceremony or memorial service.
It turned out that deep in Xie Yuan's heart, there was a little-known emotional entanglement. According to his friend Liang Tian on the show, Xie Yuan has a certain degree of fear and persistence in death, and he has never been willing to attend anyone's memorial service, because he is afraid that the "dead man" will suddenly wake up and bring great fright to the relatives and friends present.
This unique "quirk" is the deep reason why he is reluctant to hold a "funeral".
To solve the mystery of Xie Yuan's will, we need to go back in time to his past. In 1978, Xie Yuan, a childish teenager, was successfully admitted to the Beijing Film Academy with his own efforts, and became classmates with outstanding students such as Zhang Fengyi and Zhang Tielin, and formed a deep friendship with Zhang Yimou, Chen Kaige and others.
In campus life, Xie Yuan is like a walking comedian. Not only is he good at imitating characters from various industries to tell funny jokes, but he can also perform for hours at dormitory evenings, making the students in the audience laugh and laugh one after another.
Everyone firmly believes that this young man with quick thinking and a sense of humor will have an incomparably bright future, and perhaps one day he will become a world-renowned critic, a big-name director, and even an accomplished superstar in the film and television industry! However, the tutors of the Beijing Film Academy at that time did not see it this way, and in their comments, they even pointed out bluntly: "The image is ordinary, and the acting skills still need to be honed."
In reality, however, the teacher was only partially right. Xie Yuan's appearance is indeed not outstanding, and it cannot be compared with stars such as Ge You and Liang Tian, their looks are unforgettable.
However, if he lacks acting skills, then this is obviously too one-sided evaluation.
In the following years on campus, Xie Yuan, with his outstanding talent and unremitting efforts, successfully proved his strength and fought back fiercely against those who had questioned him.
He often carefully planned and personally starred in various wonderful programs in various literary and artistic activities held by the school, vividly reproducing the characters from all walks of life, making the audience laugh and admire.
Xie Yuan's love and unique talent for the art of comedy is unrivaled on the entire campus.
In this way, Xie Yuan got acquainted with well-known directors such as Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige, and established a deep friendship. Although they have different personalities, they all share the same persistent pursuit of stage dreams, and they have jointly opened a new chapter in the pursuit of dreams at the Beijing Film Academy.
The direct evaluation of the tutor of the Beijing Film Academy was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Xie Yuan at that time. However, the optimistic young man was not discouraged.
In 1987, he won the Best Actor of the Chinese Film Golden Rooster Award for his superb performance in the movie "The King of Chess", thus officially kicking off his brilliant acting career.
Since then, his acting career has become more and more brilliant. In 1992, he won the award again for his outstanding performance in the TV series "Shanghai Family", winning the China TV Golden Eagle Award for Best Supporting Actor and the same award at the China TV Feitian Award.
The 1995 movie "Born Timid" won him the title of Best Supporting Actor at the Hundred Flowers Award for Popular Films.
His outstanding acting skills have made him as famous as Ge You and Liang Tian, two actors who are also acting schools, and he is known as the "Three Musketeers of Mainland Comedy". Since graduating from Beijing Film Academy, the three of them have always maintained a close relationship, and their brotherly feelings are deep, and they can be called confidants when they talk about everything.
They often gather together to enjoy good wines, talk and laugh. When laughing, they not only expose each other's shortcomings, complain, but even play some deliberately set "bets" to decide the winner.
For example, Ge You's sharp insight and adaptability undoubtedly make him a master in the entertainment industry, and Liang Tian, who is naturally smart and witty, may be qualified for the important position of producer in the future; as for Xie Yuan, who is eloquent, he is naturally a critic.
However, these seemingly intense gambles are actually just a light-hearted and humorous game between the three friends. Just when their careers were in full swing, it was surprising that Xie Yuan and Liang Tian announced their retirement from the showbiz at the same time, leaving Ge You alone to forge ahead on the road of art.
Although they frolicked and played when they were young, they already had a deep understanding and perception of the profession of actors. In an interview, Xie Yuan frankly explained the reason why he left the entertainment industry that year: "The passion has dissipated like smoke, and 1994 has become the end of my acting career.
He said that he could no longer find the unrestrained joy of creation.
In 2005, in an exclusive interview with the Beijing News, when asked which work he was most satisfied with, Xie Yuan replied without hesitation: "The Child King." When it comes to this 1988 classic, Xie Yuan's eyes are full of pride and affection that is difficult to hide.
There is no doubt that "The Child King" not only gave Xie Yuan the honor to work with Chen Kaige and other fifth-generation directors, but also won him a nomination for the Palme d'Or at the 41st Cannes International Film Festival, which can be called the pinnacle of his acting career.
This film depicts the loneliness and struggle of a generation in the context of that special era in a simple and real way.
In order to perfectly interpret the role of the rural teacher "Lao Pole", Xie Yuan resolutely did not take a bath, did not brush his teeth during the whole filming process, and let the sun shine, making himself even darker and thinner.
It is this kind of professionalism that makes the image of the "old rod" in the lens seem so simple and natural, which deeply touched the audience back then.
Xie Yuan is very proud and fortunate to be able to participate in such a pure film shooting. He firmly believes that what this film conveys is precisely the unspeakable but unspeakable voice of that generation at that time, and it is the common historical memory of thousands of generations of Chinese.
Unfortunately, despite the awards, "The Child King" failed to win the coveted Palme d'Or at the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival, which made Xie Yuan and director Chen Kaige fall into deep regret and loss.
For Xie Yuan in particular, the defeat at Cannes has undoubtedly become a major regret in his career. When he looks back, he always believes that "The Child King" is the most satisfying and proud masterpiece of his life, but the regret that this work did not realize his ultimate dream will always hover in his heart.
Just when the careers of the three talented actors were thriving and in the limelight, Xie Yuan and Liang Tian suddenly announced their retirement from the entertainment industry, which shocked the entire entertainment industry.
Ge You, on the other hand, sticks to this artistic path full of regrets and brilliance alone, forging ahead.
As for why he made such a decision back then, Xie Yuan candidly revealed the reasons in an interview. He said that he devoted himself to his acting career at the most youthful age, just to experience the wonderful feeling of passion and happiness brought about by the creative process.
However, with the passage of time, that passion has dissipated like a cloud of smoke, and it is impossible to regain the enthusiasm and drive of the year.
"It's as if the window of my heart has been welded shut, and there are few opportunities in this life, and I can't touch the passion of the year. Xie Yuan was full of emotion. He is well aware that changes in the external environment are not the key to the problem.
The real problem lies in their hearts, their inner world has long been closed, and they have long lost their former love for this profession.
With the changing times, the aesthetic tastes of the audience are also constantly evolving. Now, the reputation of the "Three Musketeers of Comedy", which they once pursued wildly, has gradually faded out of people's sight and disappeared in the torrent of social tide.
As a result, Xie Yuan finally chose to devote himself to the catering industry, while Liang Tian devoted his energy to the career of Go. Ge You is the only one who can not support himself and continues to move forward on this road full of thorns.
Although the three of them still occasionally meet together, they reminisce about the past years together, laughing, laughing and scolding, teasing each other, and savoring the good times of youth.
However, whenever he looks back on the past, Xie Yuan can't help but reveal a faint trace of regret and melancholy. He said frankly that he had shouted in the ice and snow with all his heart and soul in his most youthful years, and the joyful passion and experience were unforgettable.
However, we all know that nothing in the world can escape the baptism of time, and those unforgettable experiences will gradually disappear with the passage of time, and can never be restored!