Han Yadong, Chai Yaxin/China Discipline Inspection and Supervision Daily
China Discipline Inspection and Supervision Daily reported on November 18 that recently, after the broadcast of a TV series on the theme of the War of Resistance called "Thunder Warrior", it was criticized by public opinion and was removed from the shelves because of the continuous "lightning points".
In recent years, the quality of some TV dramas on the theme of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression has been uneven, and the content that deviates from historical facts has been criticized and has been called "Anti-War Thunder Drama" by netizens. What kind of creative misunderstandings are exposed by these works? How should the creators write about this arduous struggle for national liberation?
The picture shows the scene of the Anti-Japanese War drama "Thunder General", which was completely removed from the online platform recently. (File photo)
"Anti-War Thunder Drama" exposes creative misunderstandings:
Divorced from historical facts, contrary to common sense
The enemy will take a sip of a cigar before, because "my soldiers will not be confused when they see me smoking a cigar";
His hair was polished with hair wax, his face was blackened by the flames of war when he charged and killed the enemy, but his military uniform did not have a single wrinkle...
In "Thunder General", the combat conditions, clothing, and makeup of the Eighth Route Army are particularly "exquisite". If it is an idol drama, such a configuration may be understandable. When a war drama is presented in such a way, the audience suddenly has the feeling of "time and space dislocation".
In addition to the obvious holes in the costumes, makeup and props, the show has also been questioned in terms of plot. Some viewers commented on social media: "The Eighth Route Army charged, did not find cover, everyone lined up in a row and did not get hurt, is this reasonable?" ”
In recent years, some anti-war film and television works have "opened their minds", or disregarded historical facts, or violated common sense, or excessively entertained, and their plots are bizarre and exaggerated, which makes people laugh.
"Some anti-war dramas only borrow the shell of the anti-war war, and the actual content is not fundamentally different from the dramas involved in the case, martial arts dramas, and idol dramas." Relevant experts in the interview commented on this.
Anti-war works cannot deviate from historical truth
Creators should delve into the historical context
No matter how beautiful the actors are, no matter how gorgeous the props are, once the work deviates from the historical truth and violates common sense, it will lose its soul foundation.
It is understood that "Thunder Warrior" is a TV series adapted from the original novel "Bright Sword". Based on the same novel, the TV series "Bright Sword" 15 years ago was acclaimed and popular, and Li Yunlong, played by Li Youbin, became a household name on the screen.
"As far as I know, the author of the novel and the screenwriter of "Bright Sword" have conducted an in-depth and meticulous investigation of Li Yunlong's character archetypes and their deeds in the War of Resistance. The author of the novel also did a lot of interviews on how his father's generation participated in the War of Resistance, and truly showed the heroic image of that generation in the War of Resistance. Liu Heping, a well-known screenwriter, told reporters.
Respect for history, the premise is to correctly understand history and understand history. Liu Heping believes that the creators must thoroughly investigate the historical background of the war in an all-round way, including the scale of the campaign, the strength of the two sides, weapons and equipment, etc. "There is a large number of audiences who are particularly interested in and know a lot about the history of the war, which can be called 'professional audiences'. If the creator is less familiar with his war than the audience, it will inevitably be criticized. ”
The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the longest-lasting, largest- and most sacrificial national liberation struggle of the Chinese people against foreign invasion in modern times, and it was also the first national liberation struggle to achieve complete victory.
In September 1937, the Eighth Route Army blocked the Japanese offensive at Pingxingguan, and for the first time concentrated a larger force to conduct a successful ambush battle against the Japanese army, and won a great victory at Pingxingguan. The picture shows the soldiers of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army ambushing the Japanese army on both sides of the Pingxingguan Highway. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On September 18, 1931, the Japanese army brazenly launched the "918" incident that shocked China and foreign countries. Since then, the flame of resisting Japan and saving the country has quickly burned throughout the country, and the people of the Chinese have risen up to resist and waged a protracted war of resistance for 14 years. According to statistics, during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, more than 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians suffered casualties, of which more than 3.8 million were military casualties, accounting for one-third of the total casualties of various countries in the world's anti-fascist war.
"Unlike ordinary TV dramas, revolutionary historical themes such as anti-war dramas are a window for the audience to look back at history, carrying important historical and cultural functions. With regard to this war, which has brought painful historical lessons to the Chinese people, we must remember history through literary and artistic works, tell future generations that peace is not easy to come by, and encourage the people of our country not to forget the national shame and strive to be angry and strong. Li Zhen, an associate researcher at the China Film Art Research Center, said.
As a popular art, TV dramas have their own creative space, but they still have to deal with the relationship between historical truth and artistic truth. Wang Hailin, vice president and screenwriter of the China Film and Literature Society, said bluntly that in the creation of anti-war works, it is necessary to pursue a sense of historical reality, strengthen the historical atmosphere, and write out the historical environment. "The problem with many 'thunder dramas' is that the historical atmosphere is wrong, the historical environment is confused, and it deviates from the creative principles of realism."
"To shoot this history, first, we must be responsible for history and cannot live up to the military and people who fought in blood at that time; second, we must be responsible for the present and let people cherish the hard-won peace; third, we must be responsible for the future; if we do not treat the history of the War of Resistance with correct historical views and values, then this history is likely to be falsely rumored." Screenwriter Song Fangjin said.
The struggle against the enemy reflected in the theme of the War of Resistance is complex, arduous, and serious
Courage and wisdom must be demonstrated
In the magnificent process of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Chinese people bred a great spirit of resistance against Japanese Aggression, and demonstrated to the world the patriotic feelings of rising and falling under the heavens and the responsibility of the people, the national integrity of treating death as a homecoming and preferring to die unyieldingly, the heroic spirit of not fearing violence and fighting to the end in blood, and the conviction of victory in perseverance and perseverance. Anti-War works are precisely to use the image of individuals or groups to show the mental state of the characters in this harsh environment.
"Why have some classic anti-war dramas endured? It is very important that they are very clear expressions of the mental state of the group in the War of Resistance. The details and bridge sections will be forgotten by the audience, but the touching spirit presented by the characters will not be forgotten by the audience. Liu Heping said.
In 1984, the first anti-japanese war-themed TV series "Harbin at Night" was a hit, telling the story of the heroic struggle between the underground party and the Japanese after the "918" incident. Later, works such as "Railway Guerrilla" and "Armed Workers Behind Enemy Lines" also focused on the arduous, brave and tenacious fighting spirit of the revolutionary contingent.
The same is true of the anti-war drama "Bright Sword": Li Yunlong dared to start a war with the ferocious Japanese army that was several times larger than himself, was good at learning war in war, and summed up lessons in defeat; he was thick and thin, and he was a clever soldier, effectively resisting the sneak attack of the Japanese army. As he himself said: In the face of a powerful opponent, knowing that he is invincible, he must resolutely show his sword, even if he falls, he must become a mountain, a ridge... It is precisely because there are thousands of heroes like Li Yunlong who dare to "shine their swords" in the face of the enemy that they have exchanged a new China.
The reason why some anti-war dramas have aroused controversy is precisely because they deviate from the spiritual core of the war of resistance. For example, in a war drama, dozens of Japanese soldiers were either killed by bows and arrows in a few seconds, or killed by points and knives. Some veterans of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression once mentioned in an interview with the media that the war was extremely cruel, and they were very disgusted with the "anti-war thunder dramas", which portrayed the enemy as too weak and small, which was not only a distortion of history, but also a disrespect for the martyrs who defended their homeland in blood.
In order to simply cater to the audience, some creators have made anti-war dramas into idol dramas. In this regard, Yan Jiangang, vice president and secretary general of the Television Drama Directors Working Committee of the China Broadcasting Federation and a well-known director, criticized: "We must not use the red of revolutionary history as the lipstick of idol dramas. This red color is exchanged by the entire nation for the sacrifices of successive generations. It is a heroic color, a blood color. ”
"The revolutionary struggle reflected in the theme of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression should be complex, arduous, and serious, and must show the courage and wisdom of the struggle against the enemy in war." Yan Jiangang said.
"A good anti-war drama can not only let the audience experience the hard-won victory of the anti-war war, but also let people harvest valuable spirit from it." Liu Heping pointed out that creators should enhance the audience's historical cognition and national feelings through the exploration of resources and artistic processing of the history of the War of Resistance, so that the great spirit of the War of Resistance as an important component of the national spirit will continue to be passed on and passed on from generation to generation.
Write the history of the War of Resistance
The most important themes are patriotism, national integrity, and the will of the people
"Whenever I want to write a work, I first ask myself: What is your subject? What kind of values do you want to express? Zhao Dongling, a deputy to the National People's Congress and screenwriter, said.
After "Bright Sword", the anti-war drama "China Land", directed by Yan Jiangang, written by Zhao Dongling and starring Li Youbin, won the Golden Eagle Award and the Feitian Award for Chinese TV dramas in one fell swoop.
The story of "Land of China" begins on the day of September 18, 1931, when China was less than 20 years after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, and many people in remote rural areas still had a vague concept of the state. At the beginning of the story, in the view of Zhao Laoga, starring Li Youbin, the so-called "Chinese land" is just a large piece of land slapped by Qingfengling. But in the span of 38 episodes and 14 years, he slowly grew in blood and fire, and the national spirit slowly developed. Like many fighters, he realized in the course of the War of Resistance against Japan that Qingfengling was only a part of China, and that there would be no home without a country.
"I have always believed that when we write about the history of the War of Resistance, the most important themes are patriotism and the spirit of struggle." Liu Heping reminded that some works on the theme of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression have the problem of chaotic themes and not being prominent. "For example, some works try to engage in national criticism in anti-war dramas, over-exaggerating deserters and refugee traitors, which will dilute the theme of patriotism."
In fact, the war-themed works of various countries highlight patriotism and will not amplify the weaknesses of their own nation in war. We must also highlight patriotism clearly and firmly. Liu Heping said.
Not long ago, he just created a film about the defense of Hengyang, "Reinforcements Arrive Tomorrow". In the film, the Allies gradually win victories in the face of the fascist camp, while the frontal resistance of the Kuomintang army is gradually defeated. The Japanese army gathered hundreds of thousands of troops and captured Changsha, Hunan at any cost. The military and people who insist on hengyang will adhere to a belief: If Hengyang is lost again, the dignity of the Chinese nation will be gone, and they will fight for the dignity of the Chinese nation. "From beginning to end, there is not a single detail in the film that does not highlight the patriotism of that war." Liu Heping said.
"Regarding the creation of the theme of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, my personal experience is that no matter what story, what plot, and what characters, we must not lose three elements: the national spirit of unremitting self-improvement, the national integrity that prefers not bending, and the indomitable will of the people. If these three elements do not exist, it cannot be called a war drama. Yan Jiangang said.
The War of Resistance Against Japan was a great war in which justice triumphed over evil, light over darkness, and progress over reaction
It is necessary to uphold the correct view of history and war to create
To have vitality in a work on the theme of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the key is to uphold a correct and objective view of history and war.
Liu Heping analyzed that China's War of Resistance is different from the wars of some other countries, and China has never invaded other countries and never plundered the resources and wealth of other countries. This is a war against foreign aggression and the defense of the country. It is absolutely just for the Chinese nation to rise up to resist the war; it is absolutely unjust for fascism and Japanese militarism to invade China.
"This is a great war in which justice triumphs over evil, light triumphs over darkness, and progress triumphs over reaction, and we must be particularly bold in this when creating works on the theme of the War of Resistance." Liu Heping believes that if we deviate from this basic view of history and war and write about the War of Resistance, we may have problems.
Liu Heping said that when creating works on the theme of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, we must avoid filming the war as a "duel between soldiers and soldiers", or a contest between military groups.
"We are the party of justice, the party of victory, and the victor has the posture of a victor." Wang Hailin said.
In the anti-war drama "Patriots", Wang Hailin created such a scene: the generals of the Northeast Anti-Japanese League brought the captured Japanese troops to the scene where they had slaughtered civilians before them, and they all thought they were going to be forced to be martyred. At this time, the general of the Anti-Japanese League said: "We do not do this like you, we do not kill prisoners, because we are human, but I want you to see what you have done, and I want to tell you that we will win, and this war cannot continue..."
"Our creation conveys a more powerful idea and the power of the victor, and it must be expressed with particular confidence: our victory is the triumph of civilization over barbarism. This concept of civilization must be reinforced. Wang Hailin said.
The theme of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression shows a history of national peril, and it needs a serious attitude more than other themes. "This kind of theme is more suitable for performance in the main drama, and it is not suitable for drama." Even if we deliberately exaggerate our power, once we joke about it, it is likely to degenerate into absurdity. Liu Heping said.
How to make serious thinking about war touch more young audiences poses a challenge to today's creators. "You have to fight to hit them in the heart, to present your understanding of history, of reality, of the national spirit and the nature of war, to resonate with them." That's what we're trying to do. Zhao Dongling said.
This issue is edited by Zhou Yuhua