"Sea Eagle, Sea Eagle, I am Tarzan, I am Tarzan", this classic line comes from the movie "Sea Eagle", I believe everyone is no stranger to this movie.
Because this film is the first color film produced by Bayi Film Studio, it can be called a milestone production.
And one of the female protagonists of this movie is a rare female general in our country, this old artist's life has been dedicated to China's film industry, she is - Wang Xiaotang.
Wang Xiaotang, born in Kaifeng in 1934, spent her childhood in the era of beacon fire.
At that time, she and her family moved to escape the war, and finally settled down in the picturesque city of Hangzhou.
Her artistic path can be said to have sprouted from here, and her love for Peking Opera was gradually formed under the influence of her small family. During that turbulent time, despite the difficult conditions, her parents did their best to nourish her art.
During her studies at the Beijing Opera School, Wang Xiaotang was fortunate to be personally taught by Peking Opera masters, which undoubtedly laid a solid foundation for her later acting career.
At the age of eighteen, with her love for Peking Opera and her pursuit of art, she resolutely joined the Chinese People's Liberation Army, became a literary and artistic soldier, and entered the General Political Theater Troupe.
There, she met Yan Xiaopeng, who also loved Peking Opera, and the two came together because of their common interests and ideals, and wrote the most beautiful chapter in their lives.
In 1955, a movie called "The Mysterious Traveling Companion" made Wang Xiaotang famous overnight, her acting skills and beauty won the love of the audience, and her career and love reached the peak.
That time, for her, was the most brilliant time of her life and the happiest memory of her life.
However, the good times did not last long, and from 1966, a violent political movement interrupted her acting path.
Her family was involved, the family of three was forced to separate, and her 17-year-old son Yanqun unfortunately fell ill and died, which was undoubtedly a huge blow to her and became a wound in her heart that will never heal. During that time, her life was full of struggles and helplessness, but her tenacious character kept her from giving up.
In 1975, Wang Xiaotang returned to the literary and artistic world with her dedication to art and love for life, and her return was like a ray of light, illuminating the stage of that era.
In 1988, she was promoted to deputy director of China's Bayi Film Studio, with the rank of colonel, which is a recognition of her talent and contributions. But fate doesn't seem to intend to make her comfortable, and four years later, her husband dies and she once again faces the great challenges of life, facing the ups and downs of life alone.
Wang Xiaotang's life is like a drama of ups and downs, her tenacity, talent and love of life make her never give in in the face of difficulties. Even in the darkest moments, she persevered in her pursuit of art, interpreting in her own way what it means to be resilient and courageous. Her story is a microcosm of that era, and a portrayal of everyone who has experienced setbacks but still persevered.
Wang Xiaotang's acting skills have become more and more perfect, and with his superb performances again and again, he has been widely recognized by the industry and won numerous awards, becoming a role model in the hearts of countless younger generations, known as the "most beautiful general", and has set up a towering monument in the film and television industry.
However, Wang Xiaotang behind the halo also has a little-known bitterness. Her life was full of tribulations, and the early death of her son Yanqun due to a serious liver disease at a young age was undoubtedly another trauma to her soul.
And her husband Yan Xiaopeng also left her at the age of 57 when she was entering her old age, which made her life even more silent and lonely. But Wang Xiaotang was not crushed by these hardships, she stuck to her beliefs with an extraordinary courage and tenacity, and continued to move forward.
In the evening of her life, Wang Xiaotang chose a different way of life, she lived in a nursing home, but this was not a compromise, but another understanding of life.
She firmly believes that no matter what difficulties she encounters, life must always go on, and she must have the courage and optimism to live. She often smiled and said the phrase "life must be lived", which is not only an encouragement to herself, but also a revelation to everyone, showing her open-mindedness and tenacity after going through vicissitudes.
In February 2024, at the ""Classic Night" Annual Ceremony held by China Central Radio and Television, Wang Xiaotang, as a special guest, stood in the spotlight and looked back on her artistic journey with affection, as if to tell the world that no matter what she has experienced, she has never forgotten her original intention, and has always maintained her love and dedication to art.
As a national first-class actor, vice chairman of the China Film Association, and former director of Bayi Film Studio, she not only left a deep imprint on the screen, but also interpreted what is the true spirit of an artist with practical actions in life.
Her story teaches us that the setbacks and hardships in life do not define a person, only tenacity and grace can shine in the baptism of time.
May this old artist enjoy tranquility and serenity in the later years of her life, despite the ups and downs in life, she still smiles at life, and that tenacity and elegance will always remain in people's hearts.