Fan Wei, "The Long Season", how well he acted
Fan Wei, "The Long Season", how well he acted
In the drama "The Long Season", Fan Wei's performance can be called a textbook level. The role of Wang Xiang created by him is both plain and profound, delicate and atmospheric, and interprets the fate of an ordinary person to the heart.
The role of Wang Xiang is not easy to control. He is neither the kind of juvenile feelings that can resonate with the audience, nor the tragic experience that can arouse sympathy, nor is he a heroic image that can inspire worship. He is just an ordinary small town driver, living silently with the pain of the past. What Fan Wei wants to do is to make such an ordinary character leave a deep impression in the hearts of the audience.
The most impressive thing about Fan Wei's performance is his grasp of details. Wang Xiang was high-spirited when he was young, calm and introverted in middle age, and indifferent and detached in old age, and the changes at each stage were just right. The complex emotions in his eyes and the breath of life in his gestures are all the result of careful design.
In the play, Wang Xiang has to face a variety of characters. Facing his childhood lover Meisu, his eyes flashed with the light of the past, but with the calm of years of precipitation. In the face of the sinister and cunning uncle, he showed a silent resistance. In the face of his former friend Shen Mo, he has both understanding and sympathy, but also disappointment and helplessness. Fan Wei's performance in these scenes all shows Wang Xiang's inner world appropriately.
The most commendable thing is that Fan Wei has always maintained a restrained performance style throughout the play. He has no exaggerated expressions, no violent movements, and even his voice always maintains a state of peace. But it is this kind of restrained performance that can touch the heartstrings of the audience even more.
When Wang Xiang experienced a major turning point in his life, Fan Wei's performance was particularly outstanding. When he learned the news of the death of his wife and children, Fan Wei did not cry, but used an almost numb expression and movement to show a person's true reaction under a huge blow. This kind of performance resonates with the audience more than any exaggerated performance.
Fan Wei also successfully showed the changes of Wang Xiang in different eras. In the scene of the 90s, he carries with him the vitality and hope that is unique to that era. And in the scene many years later, he showed a kind of indifference after the vicissitudes of life. This subtle change is not only reflected in his expression and movements, but also in his eyes and temperament.
Compared with other roles, Wang Xiang's role tests the actor's skills more. Lao Ma has the identity of a passionate dancing king, and Biao Zi has a transformation from innocence to sophistication, which provides space for actors to play. But Wang Xiang is a character who has always kept a low profile, which is a greater challenge for Fan Wei. He must see the profundity in the plain, and the strength in the silence.
Fan Wei's performance in "The Long Season" is different from many of his previous roles. Fan Wei, whom we are familiar with, is often known for his humorous and witty performances, such as the funny robbery in "No Thieves in the World" and the self-challenge in "Private Custom". But in this drama, he shows another side of himself as an actor - calm, restrained, and deep.
The most touching thing is that Fan Wei brought the role of Wang Xiang to life. When we see Wang Xiang, what we see is not Fan Wei performing, but Wang Xiang living. Every look and every movement of his eyes seemed to be Wang Xiang's true reaction. This ability to fully immerse oneself in the character is the hallmark of a truly good actor.
At the end of the play, when Wang Xiang said the sentence "Look forward, don't look back", the audience's tears were not because they were moved by Fan Wei's performance, but because they were moved by Wang Xiang and the fate of the generation he represented. This is the pinnacle of Fan Wei's performance - to make the audience forget that he is acting and completely immerse themselves in the world of the character.
Fan Wei's performance in "The Long Season" is not the kind of earth-shattering explosion, but like a long stream of water, moisturizing things silently. He used his performance to interpret the life of an ordinary person, showing the changes of the times and the complexity of human nature. This kind of performance, which has both the texture of life and the sublimation of art, can be called the pinnacle of contemporary Chinese film and television performance.
In general, Fan Wei's performance in "The Long Season" is a kind of art of big voice. He did not deliberately pursue a stunning performance, but used the most unpretentious way to show the rich heart and complex fate of the character. This kind of performance requires a high level of artistic attainment and a deep understanding of life. Fan Wei did it, and did it extremely well. His performance will become an important benchmark in the history of Chinese film and television, which is worth tasting and learning repeatedly.