First, in 1979, the Chinese film industry ushered in a major breakthrough. The filming of "Lushan Love" kicked off, this film is not only the first film with the word "love", but also set off a cultural boom.
Director Huang Shuqin faced a challenge in casting, when the image of "tall and complete" workers, peasants and soldiers was popular, but she finally chose the young Zhang Yu and Guo Kaimin. The duo is a newcomer to the Shanghai Film Studio's actor troupe, and their innocent appearance and youthful acting skills just meet the needs of the role.
The film tells the story of returnee girl Zhou Yun (played by Zhang Yu) and Geng Hua (played by Guo Kaimin), a son of a high-ranking cadre, who meet and fall in love in Lushan. In the film, Zhang Yu inadvertently set a fashion trend by wearing 43 sets of the most fashionable dresses of the time purchased from Hong Kong.
And the dragonfly kiss between her and Guo Kaimin was hailed as the first kiss on the Chinese screen, which caused an uproar in the social environment at that time. The filming process was challenging, and the two leading actors had no experience in love, and they were often at a loss for the camera.
Second, Guo Kaimin recalled that at that time, there was a saying of "film consumption ratio", if a shot was shot three times, the actor might be replaced. This puts a lot of pressure on them, but it also pushes them to fully commit to their roles.
In 1980, "Lushan Love" was officially released. In the era when there was no Internet, the film relied on word-of-mouth and quickly became popular across the country. Zhang Yu won the Hundred Flowers Award with an astonishing score of 12.6 million votes for the role of Zhou Yun, setting a record that no one has broken so far.
This achievement fully reflects the audience's love for this movie. "Lushan Love" not only changed the fate of the two leading actors, but also profoundly affected the understanding and yearning of an entire generation of people.
It broke through the limitations of the film theme at that time, brought a fresh romantic atmosphere to the audience, and became a cultural symbol of that special era. The success of "Lushan Love" pushed the 22-year-old Zhang Yu to the peak of his career.
Third, in 1981, she became the first actor in the history of Chinese film to win four awards in a year, and she was in the limelight for a while. She starred in movies such as "Bashan Night Rain", "Bosom Friend" and "Small Street", which have received great responses, making her a stable position in the film industry.
Behind the honor, Zhang Yu's heart is full of confusion and anxiety about the future. At that time, Zhang Yu was purple, but her monthly salary was only 43 yuan. Her popularity was so high that she was recognized when she was buying zongzi on Nanjing Road in Shanghai, causing traffic paralysis and forcing her to hide in a friend's house for five or six hours.
This huge contrast made the young Zhang Yu start thinking about his future. In 1984, Zhang Yu and director Zhang Jianya tied the knot, and it seemed that their lives had reached perfection. However, just a year later, she made a decision that shocked everyone: give up all her honors and go to the United States to further her studies.
This decision not only cost her the prime of her career, but also brought her marriage to an end. Life in the United States has not been easy. The former actress had to face the language barrier and culture shock, and she couldn't even make long-distance phone calls at one point.
Fourth, she wants to enter Hollywood, but she can't accept a job; She wanted to give up her studies and return to China, but she was worried that she would not be able to face the eyes of everyone. In the midst of this torment, she drifted away from her husband in China, and finally filed for divorce in 1989.
In 1990, Zhang Yu returned to his homeland. However, time has passed, and the former screen goddess is no longer able to find the glory of the past. She first signed a contract with Taiwan TV to shoot Taiwanese dramas, such as "A Generation of Famous Prostitute Li Shishi" and "The Sky Outside the Yellow Earth", but the response was mediocre.
After that, she tried to transform behind the scenes and produced "Lushan Love 2010", trying to regain its former glory, but it ended dismally. The Douban score is only 4.8 points, and the box office is only 5.02 million, far lower than the investment of more than 10 million.
After this defeat, Zhang Yu gradually faded out of the public eye. Today, at the age of 65, she is still single and has no children. Looking back on her life, she may have some regrets, but more of a cherishing of those eventful years.
She once said in an interview that Zhang Jianya was her first and last husband. Although the two didn't get together in the end, that relationship still occupies a special place in her heart.
Zhang Yu's life trajectory, from a bright superstar to fading out of the screen, is like a movie with ups and downs. Her story is not only a personal legend, but also reflects the opportunities and challenges faced by actors in that special era.
Fifth, "Lushan Love" not only changed the lives of Zhang Yu and Guo Kaimin, but also deeply affected the fate of other main creators. Although these supporting actors don't have many scenes, their performances add a lot to this classic movie, and their subsequent life trajectories are also distinctive.
Wen Xiying, who plays Geng's father (Geng Feng), is an actor with a professional background. He started making movies at the age of 28 and continued until he was nearly 70 years old, and his acting career lasted for nearly 50 years.
Wen Xiying passed away in 2008 at the age of 88, contributing her life to the Chinese film industry. Zhi Shiming, the actor of Geng's mother, was the deputy head of the Shanghai Film Actors Troupe and the predecessor of the young actors in the film.
Her acting career began in the 50s and lasted until the mid-80s. After choosing to retire from filming, Zhi Shiming lived in a simple house, and there was little news about her, as if he deliberately stayed away from the once familiar screen world.
Wu Hao and Gao Quen, the actors of Zhou's father and Zhou's mother, are a loving couple in real life. Wu Hao is a well-known drama actor who has starred in movies such as "The Legend of Tianyun Mountain" and "Acacia Women's Inn".
Sixth, Gao Qu is an important actor of Zhujiang Film Studio and Shanghai Film Studio, and has starred in many popular movies such as "Spring Miao" and "Good Things Grind". They have shown an enviable relationship on and off the screen, and have worked together for decades.
Fate is unpredictable. In 1998, Wu Hao and Gao Quenjing died of gas poisoning due to improper installation of gas water heaters at home, which made people sigh. This tragedy also casts a faint layer of sadness over the history of "Lushan Love".
The life trajectories of these actors are different, some have a glorious life, some choose to retire, and some suffer misfortune. But they all left an eternal mark in "Lushan Love" and became an indelible memory of that era.
In the film, Zhou Yun, played by Zhang Yu, is a foreign girl who has lived abroad since she was a child and returned to her motherland Lushan for tourism. She wore 43 fashionable dresses purchased from Hong Kong at the time, and the film sparked a craze for fashion as the film aired.
Seventh, young people began to pay attention to their dress and appearance, which was a significant change in the social environment of the time. What's more, "Lushan Love" is the first movie with the word "love", boldly depicting the pure love between young people.
In the film, Zhang Yu and Guo Kaimin's "first kiss on the screen", although it is just a drop in the water, makes the audience instantly feel ape. This direct expression of love has made many people start to think about the concept of marriage and love and pursue free love.
The film also shows the emotional connection between China and overseas Chinese in the early days of reform and opening up. Although Zhou Yun's father, Zhou Zhenwu, was a Kuomintang general in the old society, he still cared about the development of the motherland and persuaded his daughter to come back to serve the motherland.
This kind of emotional resonance had a special meaning in the social context of the time, conveying the feelings of overseas travelers who missed their motherland. "Lushan Love" also skillfully combines the love story with the beautiful scenery of Lushan, and uses a simple love story to show the beauty of Lushan to the world to the greatest extent.
This not only enhances the artistic value of the film, but also has a positive impact on China's tourism industry. To this day, "Lushan Love" is still regarded as an important milestone in the history of Chinese cinema.
It not only recorded the appearance of a special era, but also set a precedent in art and set a model for later romance films. 42 years have passed like an arrow, and the golden boy and girl in "Lushan Love" are now in the year of sixties.
Eighth, although Zhang Yu has no children, the beautiful image she left on the screen is still alive in the hearts of the audience. At the age of 65 this year, she played Li Xiaoran's mother in the TV series "Lin Shen Sees the Deer" broadcast in June this year, which once again attracted the attention of the audience.
Although the years have left marks on her face, the grace remains. In contrast, Guo Kaimin's life trajectory is richer. Both of his sons inherited their father's handsome appearance.
Although the eldest son Guo Cheng is far away from the entertainment industry, he is also a handsome young man. The youngest son, Guo Yihuan, inherited his father's acting career and is working hard in the film and television industry with the support of his father.
Guo Yihuan has participated in dramas such as "Burning Rose Lake" and "New Bitter Cauliflower", although he has not yet achieved breakthrough achievements, he is still looking for his place in this highly competitive industry.
Looking back on the past, the creators of "Lushan Love" may be full of emotion. Some have passed away, such as Wu Hao and Gao Quen, who played Zhou's father and mother; Some chose an ordinary life, such as Zhi Shiming who played Geng's mother; Some are still chasing their dreams, such as Guo Kaimin and his youngest son.
But in any case, this movie is an indelible mark in their lives. "Lushan Love" is not only a movie, but also a microcosm of an era and the common memory of a generation.
Today, 42 years later, when we revisit this work, we can still feel the warmth and strength it conveys. It allows us to see that despite the passage of time, the longing for love and the pursuit of a better life have never changed.