Playwright Xia Yan can't put down the novel "Lin Family Shop". This classic of Mao Dun makes him feel something every time he reads it. So, in this year, Xia Yan came up with the idea of adapting this novel into a movie.
As soon as this idea was born, it spread quickly in his heart like a spark.
Xia Yan devoted himself to the creation of the script, and he carefully preserved the complex character traits of Boss Lin, showing the shrewdness of the small trader, but also depicting his helplessness under the pressure of livelihood.
Xia Yan deeply understands that Boss Lin is not a solidified villain, nor is he a perfect person, but an ordinary person in the fierce competition for survival.
In order to adapt the work to the needs of the development of the times, Xia Yan rewrote the character image of Miss Lin in the original book. In Xia Yan's pen, Miss Lin is no longer a cliché character who only likes oriental goods, loves makeup and buys new clothes, but has become a progressive young woman who always pays attention to the current affairs of the country and keeps up with the development of the times.
This rewriting makes the characters in the work fuller and more in line with the social background of the time.
After the script was completed, Xia Yan began to look for a suitable director to direct. He thought of Director Shui Hua of Beijing Film Studio, and thought that Director Shui Hua's "White-Haired Girl" left a deep impression on him.
"The White-Haired Girl" not only won high praise in China, but also won awards at many international film festivals, becoming a classic of that era.
With anticipation, Xia Yan handed over the script to Shui Hua. After Shui Hua read the script, the two looked at each other and smiled, as if they had a heart. Shui Hua became intrigued by the story and came up with his own vision for a film.
As a result, Xia Yan and Shui Hua reached a consensus and began their first cooperation, and the creative journey of the movie "Lin Family Shop" was officially launched.
This collaboration is not only a collision between literature and film, but also a like-minded collaboration between the two artists. They all have a love for art and a sense of responsibility for the times, and plan to put this work that reflects the social reality on the screen and present a generous gift for the upcoming 10th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
The preparations for the movie "Lin Family Shop" are in full swing. Director Shui Hua personally led a team to the filming location for inspection, and they ran around many ancient towns in the south of the Yangtze River such as Linghu, Wuzhen, and Xinshi.
Director Shui Hua carefully observes the architectural style and living customs of each place, and even the shouts of street vendors cannot be missed, which reflects his fanaticism and pursuit of art.
However, there is always a gap between the ideal and the reality. Due to the limited filming conditions, the crew finally had to decide to build a set that imitated a small town in the south of the Yangtze River in Xinjiekou, Beijing.
Although this decision was a bit helpless, it also inspired the creativity of the creative team, Shui Hua and artist Chi Ning worked day and night, striving to perfectly present the charm of the Jiangnan water town in every detail, from the structure of the house to the fruit decoration on the table, they were meticulous in scrutinizing Shui Hua and even personally asked about the types of fruits placed on the table, this kind of strict attention to detail, injected a real and textured atmosphere into the film.
In the casting process, screenwriter Xia Yan favored the role of Boss Lin very much, and he hoped to invite actor Xie Tian to play. Xie Tian has created many classic roles in his previous works, and Xia Yan thinks he is very suitable for the role of Boss Lin.
However, after reading the script, Xie Tian chose to decline the invitation, and he thought that the role of Boss Lin was too philistine, not positive enough, and did not match his usual standards for taking on the role.
In the face of rejection, Xia Yan did not give up. He wrote a sincere letter, analyzed Boss Lin's character characteristics in detail, and pointed out that he is not a complete villain, but an ordinary person who has a helpless life.
In the letter, Xia Yan expressed his understanding of the role and why he thought Xie Tian was the most suitable candidate.
Xia Yan's sincerity moved Xie Tian and examined the script again. This time, he saw the complexity and challenge of Boss Lin's role. After careful consideration, Xie Tian decided to challenge himself, leave his comfort zone, and finally take on the role.
The twists and turns in the casting process of the film "Lin Family Shop" just reflect the creative team's dedication to character building. Xia Yan's persistence and Xie Tian's breakthrough injected more possibilities into the role of Boss Lin, and also laid the foundation for the success of the movie.
From field visits to set construction, from character design to actor selection, the film has condensed the efforts of the creative team at every step of the preparation process, demonstrating their persistent pursuit of art.
After the filming officially began, Director Shui Hua had the ultimate requirements for each shot. He often asked a scene to be rehearsed many times before it was started, and sometimes only shot a few shots a day.
This kind of almost demanding requirements for details made the entire crew tense their nerves, however, it is this attitude of pursuing perfection that makes every picture of "The Lin Family Shop" full of texture and depth.
When Xie Tian created the role of Boss Lin, he tried a new way of acting. This innovation stems from a special experience he had before. In another film, he played a small person who was in distress in life, and in order to show the hardships of the character, he told the hardships of life while shedding tears.
After the shooting, an onlooker worker excitedly said to him: "You acted so well, our tears were dry."
Xie Tian was deeply inspired by this ordinary sentence, and he realized that true emotions do not need to be expressed by exaggerated expressions or movements, and the most important thing is the inner fluctuations.
Therefore, in the movie "Lin Family Shop", he decided to try a new way of acting: reducing facial expressions and paying more attention to the delicate communication of inner emotions.
With subtle movements and eyes, Xie Tian profoundly portrayed Boss Lin's complex inner world. He not only accurately shows the shrewd speculation of small traders, but also deeply interprets the helplessness and sadness under the pressure of livelihood.
This innovative way of performing not only created a three-dimensional and vivid Boss Lin, but also brought Xie Tian to a new level in his acting career.
When filming was in full swing, an unexpected news interrupted the crew's progress: Shu Xiuwen, who was originally scheduled to play Zhang's widow, suddenly fell ill and needed to be hospitalized. This accident made the entire crew face anxiety.
Director Shui Hua was faced with a dilemma: how to find a suitable actor to play the important role of Widow Zhang without affecting the filming schedule?
Through emergency contact, Shui Hua finally found actor Yu Lan. When Yu Lan received the invitation, she felt very apprehensive in her heart. She didn't have enough time to prepare, and the pressure to play an important role in such a tight situation can be imagined.
However, her professionalism and love for art led her to take on the challenge.
The addition of Yu Lan not only solved the urgent needs of the crew, but also brought new possibilities to the movie. She spends every free time studying the script and figuring out the characters. On the set, she devoted herself to every scene, striving to perfectly interpret Widow Zhang's mental state.
These challenges and innovations, whether it is director Shui Hua's strict requirements for actors, actor Xie Tian's performance breakthrough, or Yu Lan's tasks in times of crisis, all show the entire crew's perseverance in the pursuit of art.
Their diligence and imagination have injected unique artistic charm into "Lin Family Shop" and also promoted the development of Chinese film art.
Yu Lan's participation in the filming of "Lin Family Shop" was a very critical turning point. At that time, Yu Lan, as an actor who was temporarily seconded to the crew, was facing great pressure.
With not enough time to prepare, it would be a huge challenge for any actor to play the important role of Widow Zhang in such a stressful situation.
However, with her professionalism and love for the performing arts, Yu Lan quickly threw herself into the role. She used every minute between filming to read the script and deeply ponder the character characteristics and psychological state of the character of Widow Zhang.
On the set, Yu Lan devoted herself to every scene, striving to perfectly present the spiritual outlook of Widow Zhang.
Yu Lan's professionalism and outstanding performance quickly won the appreciation of Director Shui Hua and the entire crew. She quickly integrated into the crew, bringing new energy and possibilities to the film.
In the process of filming the collapse of Lin's shop, Yu Lan showed her in-depth insight and innovative spirit as an actor. She took the initiative to give advice to Director Shui Hua, hoping that this scene could be presented with two long shots.
This suggestion was endorsed by Shui Hua, showing the director's respect and support for the actor's creativity.
During the filming, Yu Lan's acting skills were breathtaking. Every time she shoots, she is fully engaged, crying silently, and showing the grief of Widow Zhang. She not only accurately captures the emotions of the characters, but also pushes the tragic atmosphere of the whole scene to a climax.
Everyone present was deeply moved by her acting skills, and the director and staff were all moved to tears.
Yu Lan's performance not only perfectly interprets the role, but also adds a lot to the whole movie. She vividly shows the sorrow, helplessness and strength of Widow Zhang, allowing the audience to feel the emotions of the characters as if they were there.
However, the process of making art is always full of choices and renunciations. In the post-editing, for the sake of the overall effect, director Shui Hua finally chose only a very small part of these two long shots.
Although this decision is regrettable, it also reflects the director's pursuit of the overall artistic effect.
Despite this, Yu Lan's outstanding performance in "Lin Family Shop" has become a highlight. With her professionalism and enthusiasm, she has successfully interpreted a real and contagious image of Widow Zhang.
Yu Lan's emergency rescue not only successfully resolved the crisis of the crew, but also added a touch of color to the film, making it an indispensable part of a classic.
This experience has become an important chapter in Yu Lan's acting career, further demonstrating her strength and potential as an actor.
In 1959, the artistic tribute film "Lin Family Shop" was finally filmed and produced. The film was the brainchild of many artists and staff members and attracted a lot of attention from the very beginning of its release.
The delicate portrayal of the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River in the film, from the structure of the houses, the layout of the streets to the details of life, strives to restore the world of Mao Dun's pen. Director Shui Hua and artist Chi Ning worked day and night, meticulously crafting every detail, and even the fruits on the table were repeatedly scrutinized.
This pursuit of detail infuses the film with a sense of authenticity and a textured atmosphere.
Boss Lin starring Xie Tian, he vividly reveals the survival plight of small traders in a complex social environment with a novel performance. By reducing the excessive exaggeration of facial expressions and paying more attention to the subtle expression of inner emotions, he has created a three-dimensional character who is both shrewd and speculative and helpless.
Xie Tian successfully performed this role, which not only showed his superb acting skills, but also became one of the classic images in the history of Chinese cinema.
Yu Lan was commissioned to play the role of Widow Zhang, and despite the tight filming schedule at the time, she still presented a moving performance. Especially in the scene where the Lin family shop collapsed, her performance made everyone present feel deeply shocked.
Although only a small portion of the footage was eventually retained, the character still became a highlight in the film.
During the visit of foreign missions to China, "Lin Family Shop" was listed as one of the films they watched. When the film ended, the members of the mission gave a standing ovation and continued to give sincere praise, which shows that the outstanding performance of this film has been highly praised and recognized by them.
"The Lin Family Shop" is not only an outstanding literary adaptation, but also represents one of the highest achievements of Chinese cinema at the time. The film shows the Chinese filmmaker's persistent pursuit of art, strict requirements for details, and deep insight into human nature.
The success of this film is not only a tribute to the original work, but also the condensation and crystallization of the artistic pursuit of new Chinese filmmakers.
Time flies, and the main creative team of "Lin Family Shop", including director Shui Hua, starring Xie Tian and Yu Lan, has passed away. However, the artistic value and historical significance of this outstanding representative film work in the initial stage of the new Chinese film industry have become increasingly prominent.
Xie Tian's portrayal of Boss Lin has become a classic character in the history of Chinese cinema, and his innovative and highly emotional performance method reduces some exaggerated expressions and movements, opening up a new path for Chinese film performance art.
Yu Lan was appointed and performed well, and her professionalism became a model of the professionalism of the actors, and although her brilliant long-shot performance was partially edited, this clip still left a strong mark on the history of Chinese cinema.
"Lin Family Shop" is not only an excellent movie, but also a microcosm of an era and a precious historical memory, witnessing the artistic pursuit of new Chinese filmmakers and recording the social changes of that special era.
The delicate portrayal of the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River and the profound revelation of the living conditions of the little people in the film all demonstrate the Chinese filmmakers' dedication to art and their concern for society.
This film has a unique artistic charm, and it will forever shine in the starry sky of Chinese cinema. It is not only a representative work of the successful adaptation of Mao Dun's literary works, but also a milestone in the development of new Chinese film art.
The success of "The Lin Family Shop" has set an example for subsequent Chinese filmmakers, inspiring them to continue to explore and innovate on the road of art.