The 89-year-old "Major General" full of regrets
89-year-old Wang Xiaotang, although she won the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival and is regarded as a model of people's artists by the world, her eyes full of traces of time can hardly hide her regretful look.
In her later years, she was alone, her former lover Yan Xiaopeng had already passed away, and her only son Yan Qun also regrettably passed away when he was young and vigorous.
Despite this, Wang Xiaotang still lives tenaciously and tirelessly on the road of art. Even in the most difficult times, she did not give up her pursuit and love for the film industry.
It was this persistent adherence to artistic ideals that rekindled the flame of life in her later years. She led the team of Bayi Film Studio to shoot a series of classic films such as "The Great March" and "Dabie Mountain", using the vicissitudes of life to praise the spirit of revolutionary heroism and pay tribute to those martyrs who sacrificed for their ideals.
Whenever these works are mentioned, Wang Xiaotang's face that has experienced many vicissitudes of life always shows a look of pride. Although she almost gave up at a low point in her life, she finally got back on her feet with her tenacious will and explained to the world what a true artist is with practical actions.
The dream of a Peking Opera girl sets sail
For dramatic art, Wang Xiaotang has had an obsessive heart since he was a child. In 1934, she was born into a family of scholars, and most of her family were engaged in literary and artistic work.
Although the family did not have to work, due to the war, the family still had to flee and hide in Tibet.
The young Wang Xiaotang has witnessed too many tragic scenes of life and death, and she has experienced the impermanence and preciousness of life very early. Perhaps it was these unforgettable experiences that gave her a firmer understanding of her determination to pursue her dreams.
Although her parents did not approve of her at first, seeing that the child was so persistent in this, her mother still invited her to Lang Dingyi, the most prestigious Peking Opera teacher at that time.
After apprenticeship, Wang Xiaotang was like an obsessed apprentice, studying hard day after day and absorbing superb Peking Opera skills. Her diligence and hard work impressed Master and placed high hopes on her.
When he got older, Wang Xiaotang resolutely came to Shanghai singlely, hoping to further his artistic dream here.
Although she repeatedly failed to achieve her dreams at the beginning, her persistent pursuit of her dreams has never wavered. She would show up at the door of the Shanghai Drama School on time every day, stubbornly waiting for a new opportunity to enroll.
This desire and persistence for the dream finally attracted the attention of Huang Zongying, the head of the Shanghai Drama School at that time. After some evaluation, Huang Zongying was quickly impressed by Wang Xiaotang's outstanding talent and seedlings, and finally admitted her exceptionally, giving her the opportunity to join the famous General Political Peking Opera Troupe.
In this way, with an infinite longing for art, 18-year-old Wang Xiaotang officially stepped on the stage of his dreams. Here, she will not only learn more advanced art, but also meet a partner who will change her life.
The dark years of the "Cultural Revolution" sharpened the will
Just when Wang Xiaotang's career was smooth sailing, the "Cultural Revolution" movement that swept away intellectuals was born. Just because of their family background, Wang Xiaotang and her husband Yan Xiaopeng were severely persecuted and imprisoned in the notorious "cowshed".
In that dark, damp dungeon-like environment, they face constant physical and mental devastation and humiliation. Wang Xiaotang recalled those days, and his expression is still gloomy.
She was blinded by bright lights, violently pushed and questioned, and asked to confess to so-called "crimes" that did not exist. And her only wish at that time was to survive this disaster with her husband safely and live well.
After suffering all kinds of inhuman torture, the family was finally sent to a remote forest farm for labor reform. There, Wang Xiaotang and her husband used their weathered hands to create a difficult life.
They once thought that as long as they survived this dark period, they would definitely be able to usher in a new sunshine.
However, fate played tricks on them again - the only son Yanqun, who was only 18 years old, contracted a terminal illness that year and died due to lack of money for treatment. This is undoubtedly the most cruel torture to Wang Xiaotang's mother's heart, which made her fall into the abyss of despair for a while.
Recalling the scene of that year, Wang Xiaotang still cried to this day. Her only son died like this, and she felt incomparable pain and self-blame at that time.
But it is this tragically adv. The tragic blow made her stronger will. She vowed to live for her son and create an extraordinary life with her hands.
Bumpy fate is unhindered in the pursuit of art
In 1975, the state finally forgave Wang Xiaotang and her husband again, giving them the opportunity to return to Bayi Film Studio and continue to engage in the film career they loved.
However, before this, fate gave them a heavy blow - the former relatives relied on, but her husband Yan Xiaopeng passed away due to physical reasons.
The sudden bad news undoubtedly plunged Wang Xiaotang into unprecedented despair. At her most frustrated and isolated, her heart seemed to be completely swallowed up by boundless darkness.
If it weren't for the desire for a glimmer of artistic ideals, perhaps she would have really given up on life completely. Fortunately, the self who tried his best to pursue his artistic dream back then is still burning in his heart and has not been completely extinguished by the ordeal.
Moreover, the hard work experience of the devolved forest farm also gave her a new perspective on art. She finally truly experienced the life of ordinary working people, which undoubtedly gave her more unique insights into creation.
In this way, with his persistent enthusiasm for art, Wang Xiaotang picked up his fallen body again and again and stood up again. After returning to Bayi Factory, she poured all her efforts into the work of screenwriter and director.
She aspires to create more simple and touching works of art through her own unique and empathetic perspective.
The movie "Xiang" is the child she has put all her heart and soul into. This movie can be said to be Wang Xiaotang's autobiographical film, she not only wrote and directed herself, but also played the heroine.
From conception to filming to final screening, she participated in the whole process, using her unique artistic language to tell the extraordinary life process of an ordinary person.
As soon as this movie came out, it won the love of the audience, and it made Wang Xiaotang realize his dream of directing. Since then, she has galloped on the front line of choreography and directing with the nickname of "Desperate Sanniang", directing and shooting countless acclaimed masterpieces, including films such as "The Great March" and "Dabie Mountain", which praise the spirit of revolutionary heroism.
Whenever these works are mentioned, Wang Xiaotang's face full of the marks of time always shows a proud look. Although she has experienced countless hardships in her life and has fallen into desperate situations several times, she finally got back on her feet with her tenacious will and explained to the world with practical actions what a true artist should be.
The noble demeanor of the people's artist
Looking back now, Wang Xiaotang has used his life to interpret what a real people's artist is. Born in those turbulent times, she grew up witnessing the horrors of war, but that didn't dampen her passion for art.
At the age of 18, she came to the unfamiliar city of Shanghai alone and tried her best to pursue her dreams.
Although she repeatedly hit a wall at first, she never gave up. It was this dedication to her dream that gave her the opportunity to show her talent and was admitted to the prestigious Peking Opera Troupe of the General Political Corporation.
Since then, she has devoted herself wholeheartedly to her artistic career.
Even in the dark years of the "Cultural Revolution", Wang Xiaotang has never been extinguished by the ideal fire in his heart. After suffering all kinds of inhuman persecution, she and her family were sent to remote villages for labor reform.
But it was this experience that made her feel more truly the life of ordinary working people, and won a unique perspective for her later artistic creation.
Although in the process, she also suffered the most brutal blow of her life - the death of her only son at the age of 18, she was not completely knocked down. On the contrary, this great grief strengthened her will, and she vowed to live for her son and create an extraordinary life with her hands.
After returning to the film industry, she realized her dream of directing again and again, and directed and created countless classic masterpieces with eternal artistic value. Films such as "The Great March" and "Dabie Mountain" tell the great spirit of revolutionary idealism with simple and simple lenses, and witness the vicissitudes of that turbulent era.
It is precisely with this indomitable artistic pursuit and selfless love for the people that Wang Xiaotang has become a well-deserved "people's artist" and has won the respect and affirmation of the world.